When that was done, I came outside where Nash and Duke stood talking quietly.
Nash looked up, noticing me first, palming one of the bottles of water. “Ready?”
I nodded, my stomach grumbling with the promise of fresh fruit.
“So, Duke,” I began as we followed him to the food, “where are you from?”
“I’ve lived in Puerto Rico and many of the islands in the area.”
“What did you do for a living before…?” My voice trailed away.
“Before I was lost at sea?” he finished, sounding less upset about it than I might have. I wondered if we never were found if I would come to accept it. My gut said no. I didn’t want this to be all there was. I didn’t want my family to think I had died a horrible death.
“Yeah,” I said, realizing it might be easier not to ask him questions.
“I gave guided boat tours. Mostly to tourists.”
“You must be really familiar with the area, then,” Nash observed.
He glanced over his shoulder. “That’s the thing. The ocean covers all its tracks. It drowns all its landmarks. The sea is ever changing, always moving. It’s a lot harder than one might think to learn the ‘lay of the land’ here because there isn’t much land.” But then he looked at me and winked. “But I’ve been on this island long enough to know where the good eats are.”
I smiled.
We walked forever it seemed. Although, maybe it wasn’t as long as it felt because I was impatient. I wanted to eat. Finally, Duke pointed just ahead to a bunch of greenery (that looked a lot like everything else we’d already passed) and announced the sustenance was up ahead.
The trees around use were heavy with ripe mangos. The yellowish-green-colored skin was a beacon to my belly. The only time I’d ever eaten a mango was after I’d sliced it up and peeled off the skin. Those luxuries didn’t apply here. I was starving and all I cared about was getting something in my very empty belly.
I plucked one off a tree and rubbed it on my shirt, about to bite in, but I stopped. I turned, seeking out Nash and spotting him just yards away. As I moved closer, he must have sensed my presence because he turned toward me.
I held out the fruit, offering it to him. His lips pulled up in a half smile as he leaned forward and took a bite out of the juicy flesh, still leaving it in my hand. Nectar slid down his lips, but he caught it with his tongue, dragging the sweetness back into his mouth. I watched, transfixed, forgetting I was hungry for food as a different desire swept over me.
His body stiffened as he chewed and a choking sound ripped from his throat. He wrapped his hands around his neck as his eyes bulged.
“Nash?”
He made a gurgling sound.
I looked at the mango in my hand… wondering if maybe it wasn’t a mango at all.
Maybe it was poisoned.
9
Alarm slammed into me and I threw down the fruit and reached out for him. “Nash!” I cried, so afraid he was going to die and there would be nothing I could do to save him.
Seeing my genuine fear, he dropped his hands and caught me by the shoulders. “I’m fine.”
“Are you poisoned?” I demanded, adrenaline still pumping through my limbs.
“I was only kidding.”
“Here, drink some water! Rinse out your mouth,” I said, yanking the water from his pocket and thrusting it at him.
“Ava!” he said sternly, taking hold of my wrists. “I’m fine. It was a joke.”
His words finally penetrated my anxiety and I stared at him, astonished. Then anger took hold and I smacked at his chest. “That was mean!” I squealed. “My God, you scared me half to death.”
His brows drew together. “I’m sorry. I really didn’t mean to scare you. I was teasing.”
Duke pushed his way between us, inserting his body in front of mine, and gave Nash a shove. “What the hell is wrong with you?” he growled. “Did you see how scared she was?”
I felt tears prick the back of my eyes and I pushed them away. Any other time I would have laughed. It would have been funny. But not here. Not now.
“You’re a douche,” Duke said, crossing his arms across his chest.
I stepped out around him and looked at Nash, whose jaw was working overtime, his back teeth grinding furiously. He caught me looking and pulled me against him roughly, wrapping me in his arms. “I’m sorry,” he murmured, rubbing my back. “I wasn’t thinking.”
I made a sound against his chest. What would I do here without him? What would I do if he was seriously hurt or worse? I felt my body shake and I tried to control it. I tried not to worry.
Nash reached between us, titling up my chin with his hands. “I’m not going anywhere,” he promised softly. “I’m an ass. Forgive me.” Then he pressed an ultra-light, ultra-brief kiss to my lips.
Just that brief contact made me feel better.
“It’s okay. I didn’t mean to freak out.”
Behind me, Duke snorted. Nash’s eyes flicked over my shoulder but then back to me as he yanked another mango free and wiped it on his shoulder, pressing it against my lips. “Eat.”
I forgot all about his joke and tore into the succulent fruit. I ate it in what seemed like seconds flat. Then he handed me another. “You too,” I told him, watching as he grabbed a couple and started chowing down.
I wandered through the fruit trees, eating and filling up my messenger bag until it was swollen and packed with the fruit. I caught sight of Duke at the edge of my vision and he motioned for me to join him.
When I stopped at his side, he pointed to a few palm trees reaching up into the sunlight. “There’s your coconuts,” he said.
I made a sound of disappointment. “They’re so high up.”
“I’ll get you one.”
“You can get those?” I asked, doubt lacing my tone.
“What will you give me if I do?” he asked, a hint of playfulness catching my attention. I smiled.
“I won’t turn into a cannibal and eat you,” I promised with mock seriousness.
He threw back his head and laughed.
“So are you any good at climbing palm trees?” I crossed my arms over my chest and studied him.
Duke leaned close and whispered. “I’ve got lots of hidden talents.”
The shot of heat in my belly shocked me. I felt my eyes widen.
He chuckled and handed me a few mangos he was holding. Then he shimmied up the trunk of the palm tree.
I stood there and watched in awe. He was like a living monkey. I could tell he was very adept at this and he moved quickly, so quickly that I was amazed by his agility.