Who Needs Mistletoe?

9

TREY KNEW IT WAS GOING to be bad as they taxied up to the Madigan Air hangar. He could see a group of photographers hurrying toward the plane, their cameras flashing. Cursing softly, he wondered if Sophie was prepared to handle this.

He’d been wading through the celebrity cesspool his entire adult life. The press had finally begun to back off now that he was keeping a lower profile, but a story like this was too juicy to resist. Plane crash, castaway on a tropical island and a beautiful woman. All elements the tabloids could exploit.

“Look at that,” Gabe said. “Les Nouvelles has sent out reporters. Sophie, you must be famous.”

“No,” Trey muttered. “I think they’re looking for me.”

Sophie glanced back at him, their gazes meeting for the first time since the flight began. Trey sent her a weak smile. “When you get out of the plane, go right to your father,” he said. “Lock yourself in the hangar until the press leaves. Do you understand?”

She nodded, then turned back to stare at the growing mob outside. Sophie had spent the past hour chatting with her handsome pilot while Trey had pretended to work, scribbling illegible notes on his legal pad as he tried to figure out the true nature of the relationship between Sophie and Gabe.

It had become so easy to think of Sophie as his own. But after just a few minutes off the island, Trey was forced to admit there were other people who cared about her, too. Her father. And obviously this Gabe character.

Trey had known men like him, Frenchmen, who were well schooled in the art of charm. Even with his faded T-shirt and battered cap, Trey could see through the act. This guy was smooth. And from what Trey could tell, he’d set his sights on Sophie.

“Look,” Gabe said, “there is your father.” He took Sophie’s hand and gave it a squeeze. Trey bristled at the gesture and he bit back a curse. For the first time in his life, he was jealous and he didn’t like the way that felt.

“See, this is the Lear I was talking about,” Gabe said, pointing to Trey’s father’s plane. “Nice, n’est-ce pas?”

“Very nice,” Sophie murmured.

The plane drew to a stop and Gabe shut off the engine, then crawled out the pilot’s side, leaving Trey and Sophie alone for the first time. “Don’t say anything to the reporters,” Trey warned. “Just do as I said and everything will be all right. I’ll come back later, after everything has cooled down.”

Sophie nodded, giving him a weak smile. Then the passenger-side door opened and Gabe reached in to help Sophie out. “What is lost is now found,” Gabe said as he grabbed her waist and lifted her from the plane.

Trey found his bag and prepared himself for the crush of photographers and reporters. If he was able to draw their attention away from Sophie by answering a few questions, then maybe she could get away. He waited until she’d reached her father, then, taking a deep breath, Trey stepped out of the plane to the flash of cameras.

“Trey, tell us about your time as a castaway!”

“Are you all right, Trey? Do you have any injuries?”

“They say your pilot was a woman. Was the crash her fault?”

“There was no crash,” Trey said with a warm smile. “We had to make an emergency landing, that’s all.” He kept his eye on Sophie, watching as she threw herself into her father’s embrace. “There was a minor mechanical problem with the plane and the pilot did an amazing job putting us down on the lagoon at Suaneva.”

“My son will answer all your questions later!” Trey stopped at the sound of his father’s voice, then turned to watch Peter Shelton the Second emerge from the Learjet. He slowly strolled down the steps as the cameras turned their attention toward him.

“Mr. Shelton, were you worried about your son?”

“Did you think he was dead?”

“Tell us how you felt when you got the call.”

“I said we’d answer questions later,” Trey’s father said. “I’ve arranged for a press conference at the Sofitel in a couple of hours. You can get all the photos you want and ask all your questions then. Right now, I’d like to talk to my son.”

His father crossed the tarmac to where Trey stood, then pulled him into a fierce hug. Trey couldn’t recall the last time his father had showed the least bit of affection toward him. “A press conference?” Trey muttered.

“Good to see you, Trey,” he said. “I was worried.”

“How did you get here so fast?” Trey asked.

“I got the call late last night while I was in Tokyo. It didn’t take me long. Your mother is on her way. She’s flying in from New York and should be here early this evening. I chartered a plane for her.”

“That wasn’t necessary. I’m fine.”

“Well, good.” He clapped Trey on the shoulder and to his surprise, Trey saw tears glistening in his father’s eyes.

“I’m glad you came,” Trey said. “And it will be nice to see Mom. We haven’t spent a Christmas together in years.”

His father smiled. “We’ll have a big celebration.”

Trey thought back to the simple celebration he and Sophie had enjoyed the night before. His father’s parties were always overblown affairs. “Maybe we could just have a drink and talk?”

A taxi screeched to a halt near the hangar and Trey turned to watch as an oddly familiar woman crawled out of the back. She pulled off her sunglasses and surveyed the crowd, immediately catching the interest of the photographers. “It’s Tania!” one of the reporters shouted.

“Oh my God! Oh, Trey, thank God you’re alive.”

Trey cringed. Tania Richardson. What the hell was she doing here? Though he’d broken off the relationship six months ago, since that time, Tania had managed to perpetuate the rumor that she and Trey were about to announce their engagement. Obviously this was some silly publicity stunt.

Tania came from a famous acting family in Britain and was rather used to over-the-top dramatics. But this was too much. She rushed over to him, making sure to stop a few times for photographs. Tania was wearing clothes more suitable for a nightclub-a skimpy little dress that left nothing to the imagination.

When she reached him, Tania threw herself into his arms and the flashes began popping continuously. Trey tried to extract himself from her embrace, but she wouldn’t let go. “Stop,” he gasped, unwrapping her arms from around his neck.

“I’m so glad you’re alive, darling.”

Trey glanced over to see Sophie watching them both, her eyes wide, her expression marked with confusion. “How did you get here, Tania?”

She stepped back and gave him a plastic smile. “Well, darling, when I heard you were going to be here for the holidays, I thought it would be nice if we’d spend some time together. With your schedule and mine, we’ve been apart for too long. Imagine my horror when I heard you were missing. So of course, I called the press. News like this is important.”

“No doubt you were anxious to try out a new role-that of the grieving fiancée,” Trey said. “It would have been a good part, Tania, but unfortunately, I survived. And I suppose now would be a good time to tell the press we’re not really engaged.”

In fact, now would be the perfect time, Trey thought. He glanced around at the small crowd gathered around him. He’d lost track of Sophie and he stepped away from Tania, searching for her. A moment later, he saw her, standing at the door of the hangar.

“Sophie!”

The reporters and photographers immediately turned their attention to her. He tried to walk toward her but no matter which way he moved, they stepped into his path. Trey gave one of the reporters a shove and the guy stumbled back, falling against a photographer. “Sorry,” Trey muttered. “Just let me get by.”

“Son, come on.” Peter Shelton grabbed Trey’s arm and pulled him back. “I have a car waiting to take us to the hotel.”

Trey glanced back and forth between his father and Sophie. His gaze met hers and held and for a moment; he felt as though they were back on the island, all alone. He could read the confusion in her eyes and he wanted to explain. But not here and not with everyone watching.

Sophie gave him a little wave goodbye, then turned and walked inside the hangar. The moment she was gone, Trey felt an incredible loneliness set in. He knew things might be bad when they got back. But he’d never imagined this.

“Come on, darling,” Tania said. “Let’s get out of here. You need to change out of those awful clothes and have something decent to eat.” She turned to Trey’s father and gave him a blinding smile. “You don’t mind if I ride with you, do you?” She looped her arm through Trey’s and pulled him toward the waiting town car.

“By the way, who was the girl?” Tania murmured through clenched teeth as they wove back through the photographers.

“She was the pilot,” Trey said. “Her name is Sophie.” Tania had a jealous streak a mile long. It had been one of the things that had quickly put an end to their short relationship.

“I think you should sue,” she added in a clipped tone. “The girl is obviously incompetent. You could have been killed.”

Trey crawled in the backseat of the car, Tania getting in after him. His father brought up the rear, scowling as if he wasn’t pleased they had an extra passenger, either. But Trey couldn’t think about the politics of what was going on. All he could think about was getting back to Sophie.

They pulled away from the hangar and the reporters and photographers quickly gave chase, some in cars, some on motorcycles. Trey sank back into the soft leather seats, not listening to the incessant chatter coming from Tania. Sophie was always so careful with her words. She never wasted any and everything she said was endlessly interesting. Tania talked because she loved the sound of her own voice.

He’d get back to the hotel, get changed and then find a way to leave without the reporters following. He knew Sophie and her father lived on an outlying island, but maybe, without their plane, they’d be forced to stay in Tahiti for the day.

Or perhaps Gabe would take them home. If that was the case, then Trey would simply hire Gabe to fly him to Sophie. That part of his plan would be easy to accomplish. After Tania’s little stunt, convincing Sophie that they belonged together might be a bit more difficult.

Trey pushed up from his seat and crawled over Tania, squeezing in next to his father. “I have something I want to talk to you about,” he said. “An idea I have for a resort.”

“We can talk about business later,” his father said.

“No, I need to talk about this now,” Trey insisted. “My future depends on it. I don’t have time to waste.”

SOPHIE SAT DOWN AT the battered desk inside the hangar of Madigan Air. She’d been back for two hours and it hadn’t taken long for her life to return to exactly what it had been a few days ago.

Her father, Franc and Gabe had insisted she accompany them into town for a celebratory breakfast at their favorite patisserie. Sophie had begged off, wanting nothing more than to get home and back to her normal routine. But the three men had been up all night and wanted something to eat, so she’d stayed behind to make arrangements for a mechanic to fly to Suaneva the following morning.

The thought of going back to Suaneva without Trey was difficult to imagine. But the reception they got on arrival was enough to convince her they’d never be going back there together. Her thoughts wound back to the scene she’d witnessed.

One of the reporters had come over to ask her a few questions about the “incident,” as he had called it. She carefully explained what had happened and he seemed satisfied with her answers. But then, Sophie had risked a question of her own, asking about the woman who had greeted Trey so enthusiastically.

The reporter had looked at her as if she’d just asked him what that big bright ball of fire was in the sky. He’d quickly informed Sophie that Tania Richardson was both a famous British starlet and Trey Shelton’s fiancée.

Sophie had never heard of her, but then, she’d been stuck on an island in the middle of the South Pacific her whole life. And Tahiti wasn’t exactly a hotbed of celebrity activity, either.

As Sophie searched the desk for the phone book, anger bubbled up inside her. She cursed loudly first in French, and then in English for good measure. How could she have been so stupid as to trust him? The whole time they’d been on the island, he’d been playing her for a fool. When he’d said he was unattached, he’d lied. And everything after that was a lie, too.

Merde, she should have known. A man as handsome and charming as Trey Shelton was never single for long. Besides that, he was rich. But after observing his fiancée for no more than just a few minutes, Sophie had to wonder if she ever knew anything about Trey at all.

She and Tania Richardson had absolutely nothing in common. Tania was glamorous and aloof and probably rich, too. She wore expensive jewelry and designer clothes, she had a snooty accent and seemed a bit…ob-noxious.

If Trey was in love with Tania, what could he find remotely fascinating about Sophie Madigan? “I was convenient,” she finally said, throwing up her hands at the revelation. “He was horny and I was convenient. And easy. And more than willing to seduce him.”

Well, she’d gotten the lover she’d wanted. Sophie bit her bottom lip to stem a flood of emotion. Falling apart was not going to do her any good. She needed to accept that what they’d enjoyed had only been temporary. Before landing on the island, that would have been exactly what she needed. So what had really changed?

“Everything,” Sophie murmured. After only twenty-four hours, she’d imagined a whole future with Trey, an exciting life where she looked forward to every day-and every night. Unfortunately, his future was with someone else.

Sophie finally found the phone book and rifled through it, searching for the number of Trey’s hotel. Before he left the island, she intended to tell him exactly how she felt about his deception, if only to prove to herself she was strong enough to do it. Once that was accomplished, she could move on with her life.

But as she punched in the digits, Sophie realized her true motives for calling Trey. She wanted him to tell her it wasn’t true, that he didn’t love Tania Richardson and that he hadn’t lied to her. She wanted him to say he loved her.

Sophie dropped the phone back into the cradle and sighed. Maybe it was best to just get on with her life. If she got back to work, she’d forget all about Trey and what happened on the island. But why should she forget? He’d betrayed her and she deserved an apology.

His father had said they’d be holding a press conference at the Sofitel. Maybe she could get some answers to her questions there. She pushed away from the desk and crossed to the mirror hanging on the back of the office door. She was still dressed in the clothes she wore on the island.

Even after just a day of saltwater and sand, they looked a bit ragged. But she didn’t have time to buy something new. Maybe it was best to remind him of their time together. He’d worn her pareu and removed her T-shirt. If he saw her dressed in these clothes, he’d remember.

Sophie raked her hands through her hair. She’d lost the scarf she’d worn that day in the plane, but it didn’t matter. Staring at herself in the mirror, she gathered herself, calmed her emotions and thought about what she’d say to him.

“Sophie?”

She recognized the voice as soon as he said her name. Sophie closed her eyes and cursed softly because it wasn’t the voice she wanted to hear. Gabe stood outside the office door, his cap in one hand and a small bouquet of flowers in the other.

“Hi,” Sophie murmured. Gabe held out the flowers and she took them. “What are these for?”

He shifted on his feet, twisting his cap back and forth in his hands. “When I found out your plane had gone down, I was very worried, Sophie. And sad. Very sad because it made me realize how much you mean to me. And how I never really told you this.”

Sophie held up her hand. “You don’t have to-”

“I know we said we would not see each other anymore, but I want you to know my feelings haven’t changed. I am still very fond of you, Sophie. And I thought, perhaps, we might go out some night and…talk. Or eat. Or both.”

Sophie opened her mouth, prepared to make some feeble excuse. Though Gabe was incredibly attractive, very available and one of the nicest people she’d ever met, there had never been a spark between them. Not like there had been with Trey.

But then, Trey wasn’t available. Was this how it was to be? Sophie wondered. Would she compare every man she met to Trey Shelton? Maybe it was time to open herself up to new possibilities. Though Trey had allowed her to trust again, she wasn’t about to let his behavior set her back. She was stronger than that.

Sophie held the flowers up to her nose and drew a deep breath. It was time to get out there and try again. Even if it was with a man who seemed more like a brother than a lover. “All right. But I’m going to be very busy this week trying to get the plane back from Suaneva. How about next week?”

Gabe nodded, a warm smile breaking across his face. “Sure,” he said. “And I can help you with the plane. I’ll fly you out there and take a look at it. We’ll get it back up in the air in no time.”

“Yes,” Sophie said, warmed by his thoughtful offer.

Gabe glanced around nervously. “Well, I promised your father I’d fly you both home. I’ll go pick him up from the patisserie and we’ll be on our way.”

“Thank you,” Sophie said, reaching out to touch his hand. “For coming to get me. And for the flowers.”

He nodded, then turned and walked to the door. When it slammed behind him, Sophie let out a tightly held breath. She returned to the office and plopped down in the chair, then put her head down on the desk.

Suddenly, she felt exhausted. It was no wonder. A life-and-death landing in the lagoon, followed by nonstop sex was enough to make anyone want to curl up in bed and sleep for three or four days. In truth, she wanted to sleep so she wouldn’t have to think about Trey.

Tears pressed at the corners of her eyes, but she stubbornly pushed them back. She wouldn’t get emotional about this. Instead, Sophie would look at their relationship for what it was-short, sweet and incredibly satisfying. She closed her eyes and let her thoughts drift, back to the island, back to the man who’d made her body ache with desire.

“Sophie?”

At first she thought she was dreaming. But then Sophie opened her eyes and saw him standing in the doorway of the office.

“Are you all right?” Trey asked.

Pressing her hand to her heart, Sophie felt her pulse begin to race. He’d showered and changed and he looked so different from the man she’d grown to love on the island. He wore a loose cotton shirt with a flower tucked into the pocket and shorts that revealed his long, muscular legs.

His face was a bit sunburned and his hair looked a little lighter than she remembered. But his eyes were the same beautiful shade of hazel and his smile still made her blood warm.

“I-I didn’t think I’d find you here,” he said.

“I’m here.” Sophie slowly stood, twisting her fingers together in front of her, holding tight to calm her nerves.

Trey reached out to touch her, then let his hand drop to his side. “I’m sorry.”

“Yes,” Sophie murmured, staring down at her feet. “You probably are. She’s very pretty. I can understand why you’re with her. And it’s fine. We don’t have any claim on each other and-”

“I’m not with Tania.”

“Then she’s back at the hotel?”

“Yes.” He frowned. “I mean, no. She’s not here. She’s not with me. She’s not with me.” He reached out and took her shoulders in his hands, giving her a gentle squeeze. “Sophie, Tania and I haven’t seen each other for six months. There’s nothing between us.”

“But one of the reporters told me-”

“He’s wrong. Trust me on this. Do you honestly think I’d choose her before you?”

“She’s beautiful,” Sophie said.

“You’re beautiful,” he countered. “You are everything I’ve been looking for all my life. The funny thing is, I didn’t know I was looking until I found you. And now that I have, I’m not going to let you go.”

Sophie swallowed hard. Was she hearing this right? She’d been so stunned to learn Trey wasn’t engaged that she’d forgotten to listen to the rest. “You want me?”

“Yes.” He bent close and kissed her gently. “Yes, yes, yes.”

A long silence grew between them as Sophie regarded him suspiciously. She wanted to believe him. The truth was there in his eyes. “I want you, too,” she said softly.

It was a risk she had to take, but for the first time in her life, Sophie knew it was the right risk. A giggle slipped from her lips. “I was going to go to your press conference and demand you tell me the truth.”

He grinned. “That would have been nice. We could always drive back to the hotel and you could do that. Tell them what a great guy I am and how I built fire on the island and made a hammock.”

“You’re missing your press conference?”

“I don’t need a press conference,” he said. “I’m going to be out of the public eye for a while. For the next fifty or sixty years. I’m hoping they’ll soon forget about me.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Well, first, I’m going to take you out to lunch and then we’re going to go back to my hotel and we’re going to take a long bubble bath. And then, I need you to take the nail polish off my toes.”

“No, I meant what are you going to do. About your work, your job,” Sophie said.

“I’m going to build my resort. I told my father about my idea and he thought it was a good one. He’s going to back me on it financially. I’m going to move here while it’s being built. And after that, we’ll see what happens.”

“You’re staying here?”

He nodded and Sophie felt a smile break across her face. She couldn’t help it. She wanted to pretend she didn’t care, but she did. And if Trey was here on the island, they’d have plenty of time to explore all these new and wonderful feelings.

“So, now that I’m staying, I was wondering if you’d be my girl.”

“What would that mean?”

“It would mean that when Gabe puts his arm around your shoulder, you’ll tell him you’ve got a boyfriend. And when I have to go back to the States for business, you’ll come with me. And we’ll maybe spend the night with each other occasionally. Or always. Your choice.”

Sophie wrapped her arms around Trey’s neck and pressed her body against his. She gave him a sweet, tantalizing kiss. “I think that sounds like a good idea. Especially the always part.”

Trey nodded. “Then there’s only one thing to do.” He stepped out of her embrace and reached for the flower he’d tucked in his pocket. He brushed it across her lower lip, before tucking it behind Sophie’s left ear. “There. That makes it official. You’re taken.”

“Yes, I am,” Sophie said. With a laugh, she threw herself into his arms and kissed him fiercely. She would have a man for the New Year, and not just a lover, but a friend. And if all went well, they’d have many New Years to come. Suddenly, life seemed full of possibilities. And the islands didn’t seem so small after all.