Chapter 23
“I’ve always wondered how it would feel to go viral,” Libby said.
She looked amazing when she smiled like that, her eyes sparkling with excitement and what Dan recognized as accomplishment.
He hadn’t been able to take his eyes off her.
She really was sunshine and rainbows, powered with a generous soul that soothed him and a gorgeous body that he ached to touch.
He’d be forever grateful to her for what she’d made him address, for what she’d made him see about himself.
“My subscriber count has gone wild,” she continued, practically dancing on the spot.
They were on the beach now, watching the sunset as waiters prepared their table a few meters away.
Libby was glowing, and not just because of the setting sun.
“We’ve already gone some way to getting Dan’s public image back on track,” Libby added, “and I can apply for all sorts of partner programs now, which will hopefully mean increased sponsorship and revenue for my platforms.”
“That’s amazing, Libby,” Mum gushed back.
“We can’t thank you enough.” The worry that had clouded his mother’s eyes for months had gone, and Malek didn’t seem to be standing on guard, ready to jump in and protect her against her miserable son like he usually was.
“Femi and Gabi can’t wait to meet you,” Mum told Libby.
“Please say you’ll join us for our Christmas Day call. ”
“Oh, thank you, but that’s your personal time with—”
“Libby, please. Everyone would love to meet you and Karim,” Mum insisted.
Dan stifled a grimace. He had no problem with Libby joining the call at all—and he was excited to see Femi and Gabi and their families.
But his nosy sisters would grill him even more after they’d met Libby.
Ever since he’d texted them his new number, they’d been bombarding him with messages about her—especially after they’d checked out her website and past videos.
She’s very attractive…
Their sticky beaks in his face was the last thing he wanted, so he hadn’t engaged with their digging.
“Well, if you don’t mind, I’d love to meet them too,” Libby said. “You can use my laptop for the call rather than your phone. It’s a bigger screen, so you’ll see everyone better.”
“That’s very kind of you.” Mum glanced up at Dan with a glint of approval.
He swiftly moved the conversation back to his and Libby’s work.
“Our Part One video goes live in five days,” Dan added. As they were ten hours behind home here, he and Libby had agreed to post the first part late the night before Cook Islands time, so there was a high chance it would hit the early morning news in the UK.
“We’ve still got so much work to do,” Libby said. “We’ve almost finished editing Part Two, but there’s still work to do on Parts Three and Four, and as for Part Five…”
“Yeah, yeah, I know.” Dan had still to decide on what he’d say on Part Five.
Libby had given him a list of questions to focus him—Where do you see yourself in ten years’ time?
What do you want to achieve? What’s the next gold for Daniel Jones?
—but his future was a scary blank canvas, and he was wary about smudging it with promises he couldn’t keep.
“Karim and I have a flight to Sydney in a couple of weeks,” Libby continued, “but I’m thinking of extending my visa here so we can stay another month.
“Wait, what? You can do that?” Dan asked.
“Sure. I just have to apply at the immigration office in Avarua.”
Possibilities raced through his mind. Going back home in two weeks hadn’t appealed to him at all, and he’d also been wondering how they’d get all their work done before they had to leave. They hadn’t even edited half the content they’d shot on Atiu, and Part Five was nonexistent.
“You could also extend your visa, Danny.”
Mum’s voice cut through his thoughts.
“Well, I… I don’t want to leave the Cook Islands in two weeks,” he told Libby.
“Neither do I,” she said, raising her gaze to his. Her bottom lip caught between her teeth. “I…um…might need your help.”
Hell, yeah.
“I could help you out a lot if I stayed,” he said, trying to keep his voice neutral, despite the fire in his pants.
“I’d like that very much.” Her voice was prim and proper, and fuck did it turn him on even more.
“This is perfect!” Mum clapped her hands, an instant cold shower. “And look, the waiters are calling us over. Our drinks are ready. Let’s start celebrating with a toast to the sunset.”
“Great idea,” Dan said, though he’d rather take Libby back to the hut to begin on some of the ways he could help her out.
And the look Libby gave him over her shoulder said she felt the same way.
They all ordered the risotto with grilled fish and huge portions of rukauviti, the Cook Islands spinach, which Dan couldn’t get enough of.
He sat next to Karim’s highchair—the little kid was still amusingly obsessed with Spider Hand—and Libby sat on the other side, making sure half of Karim’s risotto didn’t end up on his lap.
Every now and then, she’d bend to pick up Karim’s napkin or spoon off the floor, and Dan would get an eyeful of her breasts.
Did she know he was staring every time? Was she teasing him?
The thought had him shifting in his seat, his blood pumping to places that had felt neglected for far too long. Was that how Libby was feeling too?
“This has been the best evening,” Libby said. “Please let me pay something for the meal.”
“No,” he, Mum, and Malek all said at the same time.
“We can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done, Libby,” Mum said. “You’re a lifesaver.”
“You’re too kind, Carina,” she said, “but thank you. I’m just sorry I can’t stay out late tonight. It’s been a long day, and I need to put Karim to bed.”
Dan glanced at the time. It took all his willpower and patience not to jump up and bundle Libby and Karim out of the restaurant so that she could crack on with Karim’s bedtime routine.
“I’ll come back with you now, too,” he said evenly.
“I can start replying to comments while you get Karim to sleep.”
“If you’re sure?”
“I’m sure.”
Libby lifted Karim out of his highchair. As soon as she placed him on his feet, he pulled her toward the beach.
“Okay, sweet cheeks. Just two minutes on the sand, and then we’ll go.”
“He’s adorable,” Mum said after they’d walked away. “She is too.” Her words lingered as they watched Karim roll around in the sand.
Dan kept quiet. Mum was fishing just like his sisters would, and he didn’t want to take the bait, so he continued to watch Libby, who was now tickling Karim with her foot.
Karim’s giggles were contagious, and Dan couldn’t help but smile.
Then the cheeky kid crawled off at high speed toward the beach bar—straight into the middle of a small group of men, who up until that point had been enjoying a quiet drink.
“Whoops,” Mum said with a chuckle.
Libby plucked Karim up into her arms, no doubt apologizing.
The men were very quickly laughing along with her, cooing over Karim.
One older Māori guy went to stand next to Libby and struck up a conversation.
The fairy lights around the bar picked out the gray streaks in his short hair and neatly groomed beard.
Libby smiled and laughed with the guy. Did she know him?
As Mum talked Christmas Day plans with Malek, Dan kept his eyes on Libby. Karim was in her arms now, and she was rocking him against her shoulder, in no rush to move.
Eventually, Libby said goodbye, giving the older man one of her loveliest, sexiest smiles. She placed a hand on the guy’s arm and said something else that made him laugh before stepping away with a little wave of her fingers.
Hmmm.
When she comes back, try not to say something that makes you sound like a dick…
“Who’s your new friend?” Dan managed, keeping his voice even.
“Oh, he’s not new,” Libby said casually. “I met him on my first day here. His name’s Rangi. Nice man.” She shifted Karim slightly on her hip and reached for the stroller. Dan helped her, moving the straps out of the way so she could set Karim inside.
“Goodnight, Carina. Goodnight, Malek. Thanks again for dinner.” Libby hugged them and then glanced at the beach bar again. The bearded guy raised his drink, and Libby waved back.
“He’s the pharmacist,” she said as they headed out. “He helped me with some supplies for Karim, in case he got sick again. You had the dehydration powder I bought that day.”
That day. When he’d been a mess. God, it felt like years ago.
As they walked back along the main island road, Dan asked more questions about the bearded pharmacist. Apparently, he was divorced, had lived in Australia for twenty-five years, and now that his kids were grown up, he’d only recently moved back to the island.
“You know a lot about him in such a short time.”
“I know only what he told me,” she said, and gave him a sideways glance. “You’re unusually curious. Why?”
“No reason.”
“Right.”
“Okay,” he said lightly, “he just seemed very…friendly towards you.”
“I’m the friendly kind.”
“Well, there are friends…and then there are friends.”
“Yes.” She bit her plump bottom lip like she were trying not to laugh. “We’ve been through this before…” Her eyes raised to meet his and shot a lightning bolt straight to his dick.
Alright, that’s it. He pulled her toward him, and when her mouth was a breath away from his, he whispered, “You’re teasing me.
” And finally—after aching to do it all day—he kissed her.
Her hot lips parted, and her tongue was a dazzling thrill against his.
“And this flower behind your ear,” he added when they came up for air, “it’s been bugging me all night. ”
“It’s pretty.”
“I know. But it belongs here.” He plucked it from her right ear and tucked it behind her left. “For tonight at least, Libby Jones, you’re spoken for.” Then he placed one hand on the luscious globe of her butt, pressed her against the hardness in his shorts, and dove in for another deep kiss.
Which lasted all of two seconds.
Karim had let out that impatient grumbling sound and rocked the stroller as if he was kicking his legs. Facing forward, he was unaware of the ball of fire his mother had caused behind him.
“You’re right, honey,” Libby said, not taking her eyes off Dan. “Let’s keep moving. It’s late, and look how many stars we can see now that the sun has gone to bed.” She pushed the stroller again and mouthed, Sorry.
Dan smiled her apology away.
“I’m a patient man,” he told her.
And Libby Jones would be worth the wait.