In the Name of Love (8 page)

‘Actually we only met two days ago,’ Charlie put in, feeling slightly embarrassed by the way the conversation was going.

But Captain Jack was an unstoppable force. ‘Pah! What is time when true love is at stake? I knew from the first moment I set eyes on my wife that she was the one for me. We got married within two months and we’ve been together for thirty-five years.’

Luis, realising that this might be awkward for Charlie and Felipe, took over. ‘That is wonderful. I hope I can be as fortunate with my own wife Mariana.’ And he insisted on Captain Jack showing him photographs of his wife and children.

‘And you think I’m a matchmaker,’ Zoe whispered when Captain Jack was in full flow about his youngest son going to university. ‘Captain Jack ought to get his own website!’

But even as Charlie smiled at her friend’s comment, she wondered if Captain Jack was on to something. It seemed crazy, but the fact was she had never felt like this about anyone before.

They arrived back at the resort beach just as the sun was setting with another brilliant display of colour, turning the sky to flame and the sea to golden silk. The perfect ending to a perfect day. As Captain Jack helped Charlie out of the boat, he said, ‘You know, you should definitely come back here for your honeymoon. Send me a message when you do, I’m on Facebook, and you can come over for dinner and meet my wife. She runs a beach-front café along the coast and makes the tastiest fish curry on the island.’

Clearly he wasn’t a man to give up on an idea.

Chapter 5

FIVE DAYS AND
nights of total loved-up bliss followed. It couldn’t have been a better start to a relationship. There were hours of lazing on the beach, swimming, talking and sunbathing, then they would escape to Felipe’s penthouse suite to make love in the afternoon. They were passionate, sensual lovers, who felt they had found the key to their own secret paradise. Usually it took Charlie some time to feel relaxed with a lover … but with Felipe she felt a great sense of release, free from any inhibitions. They were a perfect match in every way.

They were in that ‘can’t keep their hands off each other’ phase, when every moment in each other’s company was precious and charged with significance, when every second apart made them long for each other. Fortunately their two friends understood, and while the lovers were locked away in their suite, Zoe and Luis would be off playing golf, for which they had discovered a mutual passion, having spa treatments or
playing
cards. Every evening the four of them would meet up for dinner. The more Charlie got to know Luis, the more she adored him. He was so charming and easygoing. He made a good foil to Felipe who was far more fiery. She still teased him about being arrogant. They went on another boat trip with Captain Jack, where he repeated his prediction that Charlie and Felipe were destined for each other.

Charlie had never experienced such an intense connection with someone before. She felt happier than she had ever been since the accident, almost back to the confident, optimistic girl she had once been. But in spite of this there were still some things she held back. She didn’t tell Felipe about her brother being in prison and nor did she reveal that she had lied about working in Zoe’s boutique, figuring that all this could wait until after the holiday. The subject of riding was not mentioned again by either of them. High on desire, she wanted to keep things light and happy and didn’t want anything to spoil their time together.

On the penultimate day Charlie woke up and instantly felt a pang of sadness at the prospect of saying goodbye to Felipe. She had been naïve to think that she could simply have a holiday romance and then forget all about him. She was pretty sure she was already falling in love with him … not that she was going to let on to him. It must be the idyllic place and Captain Jack’s over-the-top comments getting to her.

‘You look sad,’ Felipe said quietly, gently stroking her hair.

She had thought he was asleep.

‘No, no, I’m fine,’ Charlie replied, aware that she sounded falsely bright, speaking in the kind of voice you put on when you don’t want people to know your true feelings.

‘Well, you should be sad!
I’m
sad! Sad that we only have one more day together. Aren’t you going to miss me at all?’ He nimbly rolled on top of her and began kissing her neck.

‘Some parts more than others,’ Charlie teased, enjoying the feeling of his body against hers and wiggling her hips provocatively.

‘You mean you don’t want me for my mind? Just my body?’ He ripped off the sheet and revealed her naked body. His lips grazed against her already-erect nipples as he kissed her breasts and then continued further down. By the time he had arrived between her legs, Charlie was incapable of thinking about anything …

After a leisurely breakfast Felipe suggested that they go to the beach. There they swam and sunbathed. They both felt blissed out after making love, dreamily content. Captain Jack was preparing to take another group out on a trip and, catching sight of Felipe and Charlie, gave them a big wave. He then tapped meaningfully at his ring finger.

The couple laughed, but Captain Jack’s comments had given them both pause for thought. Felipe had never imagined he would get married, despite his ex-girlfriend’s best efforts to try and get him to propose.
He
had never seen the point of marriage and had always doubted he would ever meet someone he would want to marry. He was convinced that he would feel suffocated by the very idea. But maybe that was because he hadn’t met the right person until now … Meeting Charlie had caused him to question those beliefs. He could see that there was something wonderful about loving someone so much you were prepared to make a life-long commitment. Not that he was going to say that to Charlie just yet, it would most likely make her run a mile!

Charlie, meanwhile, was wondering what Felipe thought of Captain Jack’s prediction. Did he think it was something the captain came out with to any couple he met, all part of his larger-than-life skipper act? Or did he think there was more to it than that, as she did? She looked over at Felipe. His hands were folded behind his head, showing off his fine profile. She wanted to drink it all in, so she could remember this moment when she was apart from him. He caught her looking and said, ‘I’m tied up with work for a couple of weeks when I get back, but I promise to come over to the UK as soon as I possibly can.’

‘Sure, that would be great.’ She sounded casual, when already she was thinking it would be torture not to see him every single day. It seemed crazy to admit this, after merely a week, but Felipe was wrapped round her heart. She couldn’t imagine not being with him.

He reached out for her hand. ‘Hey, I promise I’ll come over. I really want to see you again, Charlie. I’m not like TFB.’

‘I know,’ she said quietly. ‘It’s just, I think I’m going to miss you.’

‘You think!’ Felipe exclaimed, sitting up. ‘How can you lie there so cool, so offhand, so calm? I
know
I’m going to miss you.’ And he ducked down and kissed her hard, leaving Charlie in no doubt of his sincerity.

‘Let’s go back to the room,’ he murmured, ‘I must have you again.’

Laughing, Charlie gathered up her things. But the smile was erased from her face as they ran off the beach and slap into an ex-footballer and close friend of TFB. There was, unfortunately, no way that Charlie could ignore him as Greg had seen her and, as usual, had a good old leer at her body.

‘Charlie Porter, what a surprise! You’re looking good, babe.’ He kissed her and she received a blast of his aftershave; its full-on citrus scent was exactly like his in-your-face character. She had never liked him. He was a cocky jack-the-lad who was routinely unfaithful to his wife.

She managed to say hello and to introduce Felipe. But Greg was far more interested in talking to her. ‘How’s the TV gig going? I’m always watching you … I reckon you’re really going places. You should have your own show, especially as you’re a proper journalist. I’ve always thought you can hold your own against anyone. And your looks don’t hurt either, do they?’

Charlie could hardly bring herself to look at Felipe. She had imagined breaking the news of her actual career to him gently, maybe when they were in bed
together
or over a bottle of wine. She hadn’t factored in a wanker like Greg blowing her cover.

Felipe dropped her hand as if she was toxic. She looked at him. The happy-go-lucky grin had gone from his face. He looked brooding, silently furious, dark brows drawn together.

‘Come and have a drink, they do wicked cocktails here, don’t they?’ Greg babbled on, oblivious to the tension between the couple.

‘No, thanks, Greg. We’ve got plans.’

‘Well, maybe see you later,’ he replied. Charlie sincerely hoped not.

Felipe nodded curtly and marched off towards the hotel. Charlie had to practically jog to keep up with him. ‘Please, Felipe, I can explain,’ she told him.

But he refused to answer. It was only when they were in his suite that he slammed the door shut and glared at her, eyes blazing with fury. ‘I take it you don’t work in a boutique. So what the fuck do you do?’

‘I’m a TV presenter, I work for a sports channel. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you but I wanted to get away from the whole TV thing. In the past it’s been an issue for the men I get involved with.’ Charlie sighed. ‘I just wanted some time out from all of that. But of course I was going to tell you.’

He gave a disbelieving laugh. ‘How perfect for your career that you should meet me. I wonder when your story is going to come out about screwing me – in every sense of the word.’

Charlie had absolutely no idea what he was talking
about.
She had expected him to be surprised when she told him what she actually did, but not this level of rage.

‘What story?’ she asked in bewilderment.

‘The story that you are bound to be writing for the press, hoping to boost your own pathetic profile through me. Let me tell you, Charlie, that you are not the first one.’ He ran his hands through his hair and muttered bitterly, ‘I genuinely thought you were different, someone special. I never fucking learn, do I?’

Charlie was confused, but they could sort this out, couldn’t they? ‘Felipe, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m very sorry I lied to you, but it didn’t seem like a big deal. And I was going to tell you.’ She took a step towards him, but Felipe gave no sign that he took her apology seriously.

‘I hate lies and I hate journalists,’ he shot back. ‘Now go, I don’t ever want to see you again. You’re not the person I thought you were.’ His voice took on a cruel edge that she had never heard in it before. ‘You were a good fuck, one of the best, but maybe you’re just a talented actress. And maybe that’s a polite way of calling you a whore. For a while you had me believing that you actually felt something for me, but I suppose you do this kind of thing all the time. Either way, I want you to go.’

For a second Charlie stood rooted to the spot in complete shock. Felipe couldn’t possibly mean the terrible things he’d just said, could he? He couldn’t be throwing away what they’d had as if she meant nothing to him, or worse than nothing – he’d actually
called
her a whore. She stared at him, willing him to realise that this was all a mistake, but there was no warmth or tenderness in his face. He looked hard and unyielding. And to underline his words, he walked over to the door and flung it open. This was really happening. Making a huge effort to hold herself together, Charlie walked out with her head held high. Felipe slammed the door shut behind her.

Fuck! He couldn’t believe he’d walked right into her trap. She would have enough material for at least ten articles! He marched on to the terrace and lit a cigarette, inhaling deeply even though he was supposed to have given up. Then he stormed out of his suite and hammered on Luis’s door.

His friend was stunned to hear about Charlie and wouldn’t believe that she was capable of selling a story about their whirlwind romance.

‘But she seems so genuine, such a warm and loving person,’ he insisted, after Felipe had come out with his tirade against her. ‘And I believe she genuinely has feelings for you.’

Felipe gave a bitter laugh. ‘What I can’t believe is how successfully she deceived me, pretending not to know who I was, playing hard to get, leading me on … when all the time she was going to rip me apart in the press.’

He paused, fighting to hide just how upset he was underneath all the bravado.

‘Can you arrange flights for us this afternoon? I want to get as far away from this place and Charlie Porter as possible.’

‘But, Felipe, you didn’t tell her who you were and what you did!’ Luis protested.

‘I think she knows very well who I am and what I do,’ he snapped back, unwilling to concede anything.

‘Come on! I’ve never seen you so caught up in a relationship before. If you walk away now, you’ll regret it, I’m sure.’

But Felipe was reeling from his sense of betrayal. Nothing his friend said would make any difference. ‘Please book those flights, Luis. This paradise suddenly seems like hell.’

Charlie was too shocked to cry when she relayed what had happened to Zoe. Her friend was, for once, unable to put a positive spin on events and could only keep repeating that Felipe had got hold of the wrong end of the stick, that it had to be a mistake and Charlie must call him or see him to explain. That it could surely all be resolved.

‘You wouldn’t say that if you’d heard him,’ Charlie replied, feeling as if all the happiness had drained out of her. ‘He sounded as if he hated me.’ She winced as she remembered Felipe calling her a whore; she couldn’t bear to tell Zoe that. The stunning view of the bold blue sky and glittering ocean visible from the balcony seemed entirely the wrong setting to be experiencing such depths of despair.

‘Of course he doesn’t hate you! The guy was totally besotted with you. I’m going to call him right now and sort out this bollocks.’ Zoe reached for the phone but Charlie stopped her.

‘Please don’t, Zoe, I don’t think it will do any good, and I already feel humiliated enough.’ Charlie wanted to leave this luxurious resort, go back to the UK, back to her own life where she felt in control. She wished she had never met Felipe bloody Castillo.