[Invitation to Eden 04.0] Hydrotherapy by Suzanne Rock Page A

to face her, she could see the frustration in his features. “I'd never lie to you, Jenna.”
    “This whole thing is a lie.” She waved her hands in the air, indicating the island around them.
    “Okay, I won’t lie to you anymore .”
    “Oh yeah? Then tell me, why am I here?”
    He considered her for a moment before responding. “You ask too many questions, you know that? For once, just enjoy the moment for what it is.” He turned his back and started once again down the path. “You coming?” he called over his shoulder.
    Jenna let out a long breath as she followed him. None of this made any sense. The more questions she asked, the more confused she got.
    “Here we are.” Caine stepped out from the brush onto a large rock face overlooking the water.
    “Wow,” Jenna said as she came up beside him. “It's beautiful.”
    Beautiful didn’t even begin to cover it. Breathtaking was closer. It was as if they had stepped off the busy section of the island and into a whole different world. All of Jenna’s confusion and anger melted away as she looked around at the vegetation and colorful birds in the small cove.
    “Kind of reminds you of St. Lucia, eh?” Caine asked. “That's the boat down there.”
    Jenna put her hand up to shield her eyes form the sun and squinted down at the dock. A mid-sized boat was tied there, painted white with the blooming flower on the side.
    “Is that—does that say ‘Jenna’ on the side?” she asked as she stared at the letters on the back of the boat.
    “Yeah, it is.” He took her hand. “Come on, let's go.” He led her to the stone staircase, cut into the side of the rock face. He named the boat after me. It was surreal. People didn't normally name boats after their ex-girlfriends, especially if they broke up with them by running away with their life savings. Perhaps there was some truth to his earlier claims. But if he was telling the truth, then who took her family’s money?
    “Ahoy there!” A tall, skeletal figure rose from the back and waved. Her long pale hair had been gathered in a ponytail at the top of her head, and her neon pink bikini shone bright in the sunlight.
    “Simone,” Jenna said. “What’s she doing here?”
    “Knowing Simone, she’s probably causing trouble.” Caine pressed his lips together as they approached the boat. Jenna could feel the anger radiate off him in waves, but for the life of her, she couldn't understand why.
    “Ah, there you are,” Caine's cousin Rex said as he emerged onto the deck. “What took you so long?” He glanced over at Jenna. “Ah, I see.” He took off his Kangol hat and nodded. “Ms. Jenna. So nice to see you again.”
    Jenna wished she could say the same. “Rex.” There was always something off about that guy. Jenna couldn't quite put her finger on it. It probably had to do with the fact that he showed a little too much interest in her mother when they were together, but then put her down whenever she wasn’t in the room.
    “What are you doing, Rex?” Caine fisted his hands as tension filled the air. “We’re supposed to be working.”
    “What you mean?” Rex hobbled to the end of the boat with his cane and held his hands out to the sides. “You said that you wouldn’t dive unless we allowed Jenna on the boat. Well, if we’re going to have a party, then let’s make it a party.”
    “Oh,” Simone clapped her hands with glee. “I like parties.”
    “This isn’t some God-damned party,” Caine muttered under his breath.
    Rex grinned as he replaced his hat and rapped his cane on the dock. “Aw, come on now, cuz’. Cheer up. Simone is certified to dive. It’s all good.” He flashed the tall, white-haired woman a seductive grin. “It’s very good.”
    Simone strutted up next to Rex and slid her arm around his waist. “I’ve never seen treasure before.” She cocked her head to the side and batted her eyelashes. “Please?”
    “Come on, Caine,” Rex said. “Be a pal.”
    “I promise to