The one thing she knew she mustn’t do was turn away and have him think she was disappointed in him. ‘Can I help?’ she called out when he didn’t move.
He didn’t look up as he waved her away, but she saw the grimace of pain on his face. She couldn’t imagine what it must be like to have been at the top of his game only to stare failure in the face now, day after relentless day.
The first thing he did when the pain had passed was to check his horse, and then with a kind word he slapped its rump to urge him back into the field. When he limped towards her she said nothing. There was no need for words. Their eyes met briefly and that was it. In some ways it was the closest they’d come.
The hot red sun was sinking slowly behind the mountains as Diego rode the bike home. They had been out for hours and she’d hardly noticed time passing. The black peaks were framed in a shimmering gold, and even the sea had calmed into a smooth lilac disc. It was an incredible sight, but the day had gone flat. Diego took the bike at a modest speed, as if he didn’t want to invite any more disasters. When they reached the house and she dismounted, he rode away without another word.
This feeling, like a lump of lead in her stomach, was due to her getting too involved, Maxie concluded as she walked across the silent hallway. Did she really think she could ease Diego’s pain? What if she tried and it didn’t work?
What if, what if, what if…?
She was a doer, not a dreamer—wasn’t she? How could she make things right for Diego?
* * *
Back in his bedroom, Diego raked his hair impatiently and swore as if that could blank out what had happened. What had possessed him to ride a horse in front of Maxie? Why had he let her watch? Why had he questioned her about her father and simply let it go? Was he afraid to hear the truth? Was he afraid to face the truth about his leg—his future—his place in the Band of Brothers polo team? Was he afraid to face the truth about Maxie?
The chances of one Parrish being connected to another in a world of individuals with the surname Parrish was practically non-existent. And if he asked her and there was a connection he doubted she would answer him honestly anyway. She would just strengthen her defences, making the elusive Peter Parrish even harder to find. It would save a lot of grief if he just hired a private investigator and waited until he had some answers.
He gazed out of the window at the pool house. There was still a very good chance he could make a full recovery. He had to believe that one day full feeling would return to his leg. One thing was sure—the enemy of his progress was inactivity. He’d take a shower and have a swim. If he could do nothing more than religiously practise the exercises he’d been given in the hospital then that was what he’d do.
* * *
Back in her room, Maxie picked up the phone to call Holly with the good news about the caves. ‘Yes, I’m fine,’ she confirmed when Holly spoke without breath or break about her concerns for Maxie. ‘This isn’t about me,’ Maxie reminded Holly good-humouredly when she could finally get a word in. ‘It’s your wedding—though the next time you might warn me what to expect on the unreconstructed man front!’
‘There won’t be a next time,’ Holly said, laughing down the phone. ‘And I doubt anyone could warn you about the Acosta brothers. They’re unique!’
‘They certainly are,’ Maxie agreed, laughing too. She went on to explain what she had seen and how she thought they could use the caves as part of the entertainment for the guests. They chatted some more and Holly thanked her for the photographs.
Maxie had crossed to the window by this time, only to see Diego crossing the garden. On his way to bed down the horses, she presumed. She pulled back just in time as he looked up, making her heart thunder and her body yearn.
This was madness, Maxie told herself firmly, finding she had to wait until even his shadow had disappeared before she could concentrate enough to finish what she’d been saying to Holly.
‘Are you still there?’ Holly demanded.
‘I’m still here,’ Maxie confirmed. ‘I was just distracted for a moment.’
‘By Diego?’
‘How did you know?’ she said, smiling.
‘Maxie, please. Relationships are my business, remember? Agony aunt?’ Holly prompted. ‘My whole job revolves around sniffing out sparks.’
‘There are no sparks.’
‘Right,’ Holly agreed without conviction. ‘So, what do you really think of him?’
‘I don’t know what you mean. I’m here to arrange your wedding. I hadn’t even noticed Diego, to be honest…’
‘Oh, he has made an impression on you,’ Holly interrupted with amusement. ‘Remember, I have seen him—so nothing you can say will ever persuade me that you haven’t noticed Diego. Did you even say that, by the way?’
‘Could we concentrate on business and your wedding plans, please?’
‘For now,’ Holly agreed. ‘So what do you think of the island so far?’
‘Fabulous. Perfect for your wedding,’ Maxie said honestly. She gave Holly some more back-up information to flesh out what she’d already told her. ‘So if you’re sure you’re happy to leave everything to me—’
‘That’s why I hired you.’
‘I’ll send some more notes through later today.’
‘Put some juicy bits in this time,’ Holly insisted with a laugh.
‘Not a chance,’ Maxie exclaimed, pressing her back against the cool of the wall in the hope that it might soothe her overheated body. ‘Sorry to disappoint, but this is strictly business, Holly.’
‘Now you’ve upset me,’ Holly protested, forcing a sob into her voice. ‘I was planning on us being sisters-in-law one day, so I’ll always have someone around to organise my life.’
‘Well, as that’s never going to happen—’
‘All right—so concentrate on my wedding for now. Just think of it as a rehearsal for your own.’
‘Holly,’ Maxie warned in a mock-stern tone. ‘Seriously. Stop this.’ And that was as far as she got before Holly laughed again and cut the line.
Did Holly even know Diego? Did she think for one moment he would look at someone like Maxie? Diego had been right about Holly—she did look at the world through rose-tinted spectacles. Getting to know Diego any better than Maxie already had would be the most insanely dangerous thing she could do.
And what if she wanted to?
She just had to get a hold of herself, Maxie told her inner voice impatiently, wishing she didn’t feel quite so mixed up. After all the excitement on the bike what she needed was to cool down, Maxie concluded, searching for her swimming costume. She couldn’t do any more work on Holly’s wedding plans today so she might as well take some time to chill out—if that was possible while she and Diego lived under the same roof.
Grabbing her things, she was just about to leave the room when she decided to make a quick call first. ‘Dad?’
‘Maxie? Is that you?’
The fact that her father seemed to be totally switched on now, despite his earlier confusion, was incredible. ‘How do you feel?’ she asked eagerly, thrilling at the sound of his voice.
‘Wonderful,’ he assured her.
‘That’s the best