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“At how my life is filled with surprises. In a good way.” He stroked her hair.
Who’d have ever imagined him planning to settle back in Rahiri? In truth, Vanu had been the reason he’d left. The future king, Vanu had been cherished and encouraged and adored. Intelligent and charming when he wanted to be, he’d wrapped his parents around his long and surprisingly strong fingers.
AJ could remember the cruel grip of those fingers all too well, though often as not Vanu used words with more brutal force. He employed his considerable genius in coming up with ways to make AJ look guilty of something, meaning that AJ was nearly always in trouble, even when he did manage to keep a lid on his admittedly rambunctious nature.
But now Vanu was gone. And with the happy result that he’d left a lovely wife in dire need of a new husband. Vanu must have turned on the charm with Lani. She had probably never gotten a glimpse of his dark side. Why spoil her memories? He decided to keep his to himself.
“Only seven months until our baby arrives.” He spoke softly, stroking Lani’s cheek.
She started slightly. “It seems so soon.”
“Tell me about it.” He was still trying to wrap his mind around the idea of being a father. He’d decided that the baby would be his in every way. Well, every way that mattered, and that’s how he intended to approach the situation. “Do you have a nickname for him or her already? One of my producers used to call hers Jellybean while she was pregnant.”
Lani laughed. “I don’t. I guess I should come up with something.” She gazed skyward for a minute, her golden eyes thoughtful. “Puaiti.”
“Little flower. But what if it’s a boy?”
“Why can’t a boy be a flower, too?” She raised a slim brow.
“Good point. Why should girls get all the nice-smelling pretty stuff? How’s little Puaiti feeling? “
Lani closed her eyes for a minute and rested her fingers on her stomach, as if listening. “I’m not hearing any complaints.”
“Do you feel any kicking yet?”
“No. I don’t think that happens for a few more weeks. I don’t really feel different at all. Well, except when I feel ill.” She paused and looked right at him. “You know something? Ever since I told you about the baby, I haven’t felt ill at all.”
“Maybe Puaiti realized she’d have to make you sick or you wouldn’t realize she was there.”
“Quite possible. And she’d have been right.” She frowned. “But why are you calling Puaiti a she? She could be a he.”
He shrugged. “We’ll just have to use both.”
“Would you like to find out the gender before the birth?”
AJ stroked Lani’s cheek. “I don’t know that I would. I’m getting used to being surprised, and I find I like it. Do you have a preference for a girl or boy?”
Lani shook her head. A sweet smile played about her lips. “Either will be wonderful. I’ve wanted a child for so long, and your mom is going to love having a grandchild to spoil.”
A crashing sound in the undergrowth nearby made them sit up. “What was that?” AJ peered through the leaves. He’d been gone a long time, but he didn’t remember any forest animals big enough to make that much sound.
“I don’t know.” Lani grabbed her dress. “We’d better get dressed.”
AJ tugged his shirt and pants on, then helped rewind Lani’s rather wrinkled sash around her still-slim waist. He continued to hear a rustling sound in the distance.
“Was that a voice?” whispered Lani, eyes wide with alarm.
AJ strained his ears. It was hard to distinguish sounds above the low hum of the jungle, all the insects and birds and the rustling leaves. Then again, he did hear a voice. “It’s a man. Speaking English.” Why would someone be way out here? “Maybe the journalists have started wandering about looking for scandal.”
“If they find us they might well have it.” Lani smoothed her dress with anxious fingers. “We’re not married yet.”
“We’d better head back to the passageway.” He took Lani’s hand and led her back up toward the waterfall. He didn’t want her being harassed by some bozo out for a picture and quick buck.
They set off up a steep hill. At the top, he heard the voice again, and turned to peer through the trees. It was impossible to see anyone through the dense leaf canopy, but then he heard quite clearly: “They say he went out late at night on a boat.”
AJ froze. The were talking about Vanu. Could they be looking for the body?
Lani didn’t seem to have heard. She was distracted, adjusting her sandal.
“But what if he didn’t get on a boat? What if he came out here and got lost? “
An icy finger of dread slid down AJ’s back. He didn’t want Lani to get wind of their idle speculation. “Are you okay?”
“Great.” She smiled brightly. He led her farther up the hill until the roar of water cloaked out all other sounds. Still, an odd sense of unease nagged at him. Suddenly all these curious strangers were trudging through their jungles and making footprints on the beaches. What if they did find something?
And what if it was something none of them expected at all?
“Thank heavens you’re back!” Priia stood up from the plush armchair surrounded by her embroidery tools. Servants had whisked AJ and Lani to her study as soon as they’d been spotted back in the palace hallways. The servants slipped out, closing the door behind them.
AJ’s heart thumped. Something was wrong but no one would tell him what. “What’s going on?”
“We just got a phone call that a reporter found Vanu’s boat.”
Lani froze. “Where is it?”
Priia dabbed at her eyes with an already moist handkerchief. “On the tiny atoll to the northwest. The one they call Egg Island.”
AJ shoved a hand through his hair. “Did they find Vanu?”
His mom shook her head. “So far there’s been no sign of him.”
AJ shot a glance at Lani. Her hands were trembling and one of them flew to her mouth.
“So he could be alive.” AJ managed to force out the words.
“Yes. It’s possible.” Priia sniffed. “The atoll is small but very densely wooded. There’s plenty of food there for someone to survive.”
Dread crawled over AJ like a poisonous spider. Could Vanu be hidden somewhere in the forest?
Lani had begun to weep. Probably with joy that her once-dead husband might still be alive. AJ sucked in a ragged breath as a bitter taste filled his mouth. “We need to send out a search party.”
“They’re getting ready to leave. The fire department and the lifeboat service are all involved. And of course the journalists.” She pressed her handkerchief to her face. “It seems too much to hope for, but maybe he’s about to come back to us.”
Lani approached Priia and put her arms around her. AJ’s heart swelled at her generous gesture. Caring and thoughtful as well as lovely, Lani was far too good to be wasted on Vanu. Anger roiled in his chest along with savage jealously. Could Vanu return from the grave and snatch Lani from his arms?
Yes. That was exactly the kind of party trick Vanu would take great pleasure in.