Chapter 24

A swarm of staff came out to meet the vehicle. Doors were opened for them, and the still heat of the night became filled with warm smiles and even warmer congratulations that included hugs and happiness on their behalf until Dami gave the order for it to stop.

The house itself looked as if it had been transported here right off the set of a period movie. Charley could almost see the ladies in crinolines gliding out onto the front porch.

She could hear and smell the ocean though she couldn’t see it, and the heavy scent of tropical jasmine hung like a drug in the air.

‘Come,’ Dami said, making another one of those small hesitations, then rested an arm about her shoulders—for the comfort of the staff, Charley realized, and didn’t push him away.

But those hesitations were beginning to speak volumes. He didn’t want to touch her. Her silly confession about her lack of sexual experience had given him the biggest turn-off of his life. Now a wall was up and the detached cool was back, and it s