Island Love Songs: Seven Nights in Paradise / The Wedding Dance / Orchids and Bliss. Kayla Perrin

truth of the matter was that he had come here, halfway around the world, to escape the memories of Melanie. And yet she was here. Making forgetting her impossible.

      And maybe, just maybe, there was a reason why.

      Fate?

      Shemar would tell him he was an idiot, but he couldn’t help how his heart felt. When he and Melanie were together, snuggling in bed, or talking about their hopes and dreams, he saw a passionate woman he wanted in his life forever. So if fate had any hand in trying to give them one more chance at love, he was willing to take it.

      But the ball was in Melanie’s court. She had to show and prove now that she wanted the same thing.

      And if she didn’t... Well, then he would be able to move forward with a sense of closure.

      * * *

      Melanie had a night of tossing and turning and sweating. But mostly, she spent the hours thinking of Lawrence when she was awake and dreaming of him when she was asleep.

      She couldn’t forget the kiss they had shared, nor could her body. And knowing that Richelle was spending the night making love to her new husband only had her feeling more alone in her beautiful resort bure.

      Melanie was still hot and bothered the next morning. And confused. Why would Lawrence kiss her like that, claiming it was for closure, and not want to take it to the next level?

      Of course, she knew she was speaking as a woman whose body hadn’t been touched in nine months.

      Though she was barely rested, the sun was shining and she was in paradise. She wasn’t going to sit in her room and mope. Besides, staying inside would ensure that she didn’t see Lawrence.

      Maybe once he saw her again, in the sexy gold bikini she’d packed, he would change his mind about sharing her bed.

      What’s gotten into me? she asked herself. She wanted to bed the man she had left at the altar. It wasn’t natural.

      She got up, got dressed, packed a beach bag and took a golf cart to the restaurant for breakfast. She knew she could contact Richelle’s family, see about spending time with them now that Richelle and Roy would be honeymooning. But she preferred to enjoy the morning breakfast alone and then head to the beach or the pool.

      She entered the restaurant and looked around with a fluttery stomach, wondering if she was going to see Lawrence. But he wasn’t there, at least not from where she could see. She didn’t even know when he was leaving. For all she knew, he had left the island already.

      She continued to look for him as she was escorted to a table, and not seeing him, she felt a wave of disappointment. Then she felt stupid. Maybe the kiss Lawrence had laid on her hadn’t been about closure, as he’d said, but about a sort of payback. One last hot kiss designed to make her remember just how good they’d been in bed—and drive home the point that she would never have him again.

      Priya, one of the waitresses she had come to know, greeted her with a warm smile. “Good morning, Melanie. Would you like some coffee?”

      “Please.”

      Priya filled her cup and asked if she was dining alone.

      “It’s just me,” Melanie said cheerfully.

      “I hear the wedding was beautiful,” Priya said. “Maria is very pleased with how everything turned out.”

      “She was a fabulous wedding planner,” Melanie commented. “Everyone was thrilled with how the day went.”

      “Maybe you will come back here one day for your own wedding?” Priya said, her voice rising on a hopeful note.

      The very mention of marriage made Melanie’s stomach tickle. Right now, she should be in bed lying in Lawrence’s arms, recovering from a night of wild lovemaking. But to Priya, she said, “Perhaps. But for now, I would love to try the strawberry crepes this morning.”

      “Excellent,” Priya said and headed off.

      Melanie’s gaze wandered to the view surrounding the restaurant. It truly was magnificent here. But what was she going to do for four days on her own?

      Reaching into her beach bag, she found her novel. She opened it to the page where she had left off, and then saw the shadow of a body approaching her from behind. She looked up, hopeful.

      And saw Edward.

      “Morning, Mel,” he said, smiling brightly at her. Then added, “You don’t mind if I call you Mel, do you?”

      “No, it’s fine.”

      “You’re not dining alone, are you?” he asked.

      “Richelle’s married now, so it’s just me.”

      “Dining alone...it isn’t right. Let me join you.”

      “Oh, I’m sure you have company already. Don’t worry about me. I was planning on enjoying a quiet breakfast, so I’m perfectly fine.”