‘No. You’ve got me.’
The sincerity in his gaze almost broke her. She knew, of course, that she’d sort of adopted him after Grace died—he’d needed someone, anyone, and she was the only other person who felt the loss of Grace so keenly.
But she’d never quite realised until now how much support and love Ash had given her in return. She’d imagined herself as more of an obligation to him—someone Grace would want him to check in on from time to time, to make sure she was okay—once the initial period of chaos and grief was over.
Looking into his eyes now, though, she knew it was more than that. She was more than that. More than just an old university friend he’d known for too many years and through too many wild nights out.
They were all each other had any more. Grace might have brought them together, but it was the loss of her that would keep them linked for ever.
She should have seen it sooner. Like when her heating had broken and she’d texted both David and Ash to moan, but David was in a meeting so just sent a sad face emoji text, and it was Ash who showed up with chocolate, blankets and the number of a recommended plumber.
Or her birthday, David had been out of town on business so sent flowers. Ash had been on the other side of the world, at some fancy resort in Australia, but he’d sent a basket with popcorn, wine and a Victoria sponge cake, complete with candles and a party hat, then video called her at six in the morning his time, just as she was getting home from work, so they could watch Netflix together and he could sing ‘Happy Birthday’ before she blew out her candles. He’d even worn a matching party hat to make her laugh.
Ash was the best friend she had in the world. And now, looking into his bright blue eyes, Zoey wondered how she’d never realised quite how good a friend he was. Maybe because she’d always been comparing him to Grace, or thinking of him as an extension of her old friend.
But he wasn’t. He was Ash. She smiled, and he returned it with a bright grin of his own that made her throat go tight and her blood feel too warm. And suddenly Zoey realised that there was no one else in the world she’d rather be stranded with tonight.
CHAPTER FOUR
ASH LET GO of Zoey’s hand and sat back in his rickety folding chair. That whisky must be stronger than he was used to, or at least faster acting, because he’d only had a couple of sips—not enough to affect him. Or maybe it was the after-effects of stress and excitement from the escape and the boat ride. Yeah, that was probably it. A delayed response to a near-death, or at least near-maiming, experience.
Nothing else would explain the strange feeling that just ran through his body as Zoey smiled at him. The one that seemed to fizz in his blood and brush across his skin with a feather touch.
A feeling he hadn’t experienced in two long years.
The problem now wasn’t imagining Zoey in a bathrobe. It was the sudden flash of an image of her out of one that he couldn’t shake.
Zoey. Best friend. Not someone to be imagining naked. Certainly not thinking about stripping that wet dress away from her skin...
He looked away, staring down at the whisky in his mug instead of at his best friend’s face.
Zoey was a very lovely woman—he’d never denied that. But he’d never let himself think about her this way before—and he really couldn’t afford to start now. She needed him as a friend tonight. That was all.
Maybe more alcohol would help.
Fortunately, it seemed Zoey was on the same wavelength, as she leant over to grab the bottle and top up both their mugs with considerably more liquor than he’d given them the first time.
What had they been talking about before? Something important. Something they should get back to...
Right. Zoey running out on her wedding. That definitely had precedence over any strange feelings he was experiencing.
‘So, anyway. Talking. Do you want to? Talk about it, I mean?’ Not his most elegant phrasing ever, but it seemed to get the intention across at least.
Zoey shrugged. ‘What is there to say?’
What had Grace always done to draw Zoey out? Or did she just naturally talk to her in a way she didn’t feel comfortable doing with Ash?
‘Well, how are you feeling about everything? I mean, now we’re on a completely different island from your fiancé, with no hope of getting back until after you’re due to get married unless this weather breaks.’ Even then, it might be a push. He wasn’t sure how seaworthy that yacht would be after the storm had finished punishing it. The jetty he’d moored it at was rather more exposed than he’d like.