I'Ve Got You by Louise Forster Page A

red and yellow shining brightly in the early morning sun. Belle spotted a morning glory vine, a weed that had crept up a couple of trees, smothering their canopies. She wondered what her Pop might do about the infestation, if he even knew he had one. A loud splash caught her attention and she turned to see a flash of silver as a large fish broke the surface. Excited, Belle pointed at the disappearing fish and glanced over her shoulder at Kabe, pain instantaneously shooting through her neck.
    â€˜Ouch! Damn!’ she cried out grimacing; she clutched her neck, and with a sigh quickly faced the water again.
    Strong, rugged hands were at her neck, pulling her fingers out of the way. Belle hadn’t heard him move; the moment he touched her nape she flinched.
    â€˜What’re you doing?’ she whispered, body stiffening.
    â€˜Just relax,’ Kabe murmured close to her ear as he began to massage the knots out of her muscles. ‘Relax,’ he repeated, his tone firm, but kind.
    Belle tried to do as he asked, but just the feel of his skin against hers made her lightheaded. Slowly, she closed her eyes and let herself go. With every push to her neck, she swayed forward. His fingers moved down to her shoulders, thumbs digging in, releasing the tension. His hands on her felt fantastic. Then his arm came around the top of her chest, his hand at her opposite shoulder holding her to his side. With his free hand he massaged down between her shoulder blades then further to the small of her back, and up again. Her belly whirled, the sweet spot between her thighs ached to be touched. A bit more rubbing to her neck and he let her go.
    Belle staggered, almost losing her footing on the sloping deck.
    Kabe caught her around the waist. ‘Steady,’ he said, his voice husky, his half-closed ocean-blue eyes studying hers.
    As if she’d just woken out of a dream, Belle blinked several times at his gentle, smiling face. Her eyes followed the contours of his jaw, down his neck and across to his bare, broad shoulders. ‘Thank you,’ she said quietly. Stepping back out of his arms, he let her go, and she immediately regretted that he did.
    â€˜My pleasure. Finish your sandwich and we’ll go for a walk.’ Then with a couple of strides, Kabe was sitting, just as she’d found him, with his back against the mast.
    She took a bite of her cheese sandwich and tried to ignore the fact that she was feeling wired, turned on. She tried to hide it by babbling. ‘Pop’s island is magical. Hope it never changes.’
    â€˜You can help him make sure it doesn’t,’ Kabe told her quietly.
    â€˜Yes, but as long as Pop owns this island, nothing can happen … right?’
    â€˜Yes … and no,’ Kabe said, crossing his arms.
    â€˜Of course it won’t change, Pop owns it.’
    â€˜Nothing ever stays the same,’ Kabe told her. ‘Shit happens.’
    Belle swung around, mouth open on the verge of asking what shit, when she met his that’s-just-how-it-is expression. She couldn’t deny he had a point.
    â€˜Ready for a walk?’ Kabe asked.
    â€˜Sure, can we trek across the spit to Pop’s place?’
    â€˜Don’t see why not.’
    She could do this: a cosy walk on a hot steamy island with Kabe, the object of her teenage crush. ‘A walk would be better than staying here on your tilted boat … sorry, yacht.’
    Kabe chuckled, took his cap off and rubbed his head with his fingertips, then put the cap back on, using the visor to adjust it until satisfied that it was comfortable. Belle had seen this male action countless times, but had never taken any real notice of it, until now. When Kabe did it—it looked hot. She couldn’t stop the giggle that popped out.
    â€˜Going to let me in on the joke?’
    â€˜You wouldn’t understand … It’s a girl thing.’
    â€˜Yeah?’
    His cap may have shaded his eyes, that