Death by Temptation (Book #14 in the Caribbean Murder series)

CHAPTER 1

It was hard for Cindy to believe that she and Mattheus were sitting on a plane again, close to one another, streaming across the azure sky. Mattheus had taken control this time and arranged the trip completely. It was a vacation for them in St. Lucia—the honeymoon capital of the world.

“Please leave it all to me,” Mattheus had pleaded after the last case they were on had finally come to an end. “Trust me, Cindy.”

Cindy wondered if she could. She was hesitant about future plans.

“I’m going to make this trip perfect for us, I promise,” Mattheus had insisted. “I know what you like, I know what we need.”

“I’m glad you know, Mattheus,” Cindy had murmured, “because I’m not exactly sure.”

Mattheus interrupted then, not really listening to what she said. “I know that we’re finally being granted this time together,” he insisted.

Cindy thought it was an odd way of putting it. “Being granted the time?”

“Yes,” Mattheus had repeated. “We’ve tried to get away alone together before and a thousand things always get in the way. All of a sudden the field is clear now. You’re ready, I’m ready. Let’s not miss this time together.”

Of course there was no way Cindy was going to tell Mattheus that she was not at all sure she was truly ready. Not yet anyway. Things had been so difficult between them; if there was even the least little chance that they could find a way back to one another, this was it. Cindy didn’t want to squash the possibility before it ever had a chance.

“We need time, Cindy,” Mattheus had insisted. “We have it now. In fact, as luck would have it, I know exactly where we should go. Destiny could be calling!”

Cindy’d laughed. “Destiny?” Was this truly Mattheus speaking? Destiny wasn’t something he’d ever believed in. Not so far as Cindy could tell.

“I recently heard from Rod, a good friend back in the States,” Mattheus continued. “He and I used to be best buds, but we lost touch after I settled in the Caribbean. He didn’t want me to go. Anyway, all of a sudden Rod contacted me again to invite me to his daughter Kara’s wedding. He was making a big shindig in the States and wanted the old gang to be together again. God, I remember when Kara was just born.”

Cindy was surprised. “You never mentioned anything about the wedding to me,” she commented.

“There was no reason to,” Mattheus continued, “I had no intention of going. There was too much going on down here.”

Cindy had wondered why Mattheus was telling her about this now.

“Anyway,” Mattheus answered Cindy’s unasked question, “I sent a wedding gift to Kara and Rod just called to thank me. Then he said that she and her new husband were honeymooning down in St. Lucia’s. In fact, they’re probably there now.”

“Yes?” asked Cindy.

Mattheus laughed. “That’s what I said to myself when Rod mentioned it. Then Rod went on about how fabulous it is in St. Lucia. It’s one of the main destinations for honeymoons and also magnificent, magical, romantic weddings. And get this—you can actually get a marriage license there in one day. It’s called Same Day Wedding.”

Cindy froze. Was Mattheus actually thinking of going down to Lucia and getting married secretly, fast?

“It’s the perfect next step for us, Cindy.” Mattheus’s eyes shone.

“Getting married down there the day we get there?” Cindy was horrified. “Just the two of us? Eloping?”

Mattheus had laughed. “Not the same day we arrive,” he’d murmured. “But there’s all kinds of possibilities once we’re there.”

“Mattheus!” Cindy’d stood up tall. “I’m not ready to elope. I don’t want to elope!”

“I know, I know,” he quieted her. “Just let’s go down there and enjoy ourselves. It’s lush, it’s gorgeous, there are rain forests, mountains, a live volcano, and all kinds of beaches including some with black sand.”

“Really?” Cindy was impressed. Mattheus knew that Cindy had always wanted to visit beaches with black sand.

“There’s sulfur springs, great diving, wonderful night life,” he went on, “and delicious food. Who knows how we’ll feel once we’re there?”

“Stop, Mattheus, stop!” Cindy had put her hand over his mouth.

He’d caught her hand, grabbed it, and kissed it hard. “If we’re going to give ourselves time, let’s do it at a honeymoon paradise. Let’s do it where we have a chance to go further, take another step.”

Cindy closed her eyes. They certainly needed and deserved time alone together and the place sounded beautiful. And she also loved the idea of being in a rain forest.

“Just trust me on this one,” Mattheus insisted. “I’ll plan the details from top to bottom. You won’t have to do a thing.”

“Okay,” Cindy had finally murmured. “You plan it and I’ll go along for the ride.”

Mattheus had smiled gratefully. “It will be more than a ride, Cindy, I promise.” His voice dropped. “It will be everything the both of us having been wanting for a long time. It will practically be a honeymoon of our own.”

Cindy wanted to say something in return, but her voice caught in her throat. The memory of her honeymoon with Clint suddenly rose in her mind. She thought of him disappearing while surfing in Barbados. She remembered running out on the beach, calling for him, and receiving no reply. Cindy had refused to believe it was an accident and had searched relentlessly for Clint’s killer. And found him. It had been the start of a whole new life for her.

Mattheus seemed to feel the swift change in Cindy’s mood. “This won’t be anything like your honeymoon with Clint,” he insisted. “That was a nightmare, not a honeymoon.”

Cindy couldn’t help but agree.

“Our time on St. Lucia will be a real honeymoon,” Mattheus continued fervently, “the first one you’ve ever had.”

Cindy smiled. Last time, with Clint, she’d had the wedding without the honeymoon. Now, with Mattheus, she would have the honeymoon without being married.

“Let’s take this slow, Mattheus,” Cindy urged. “It’s a vacation, that’s all.”

“Just give me a day and I’ll make all the arrangements.” Mattheus was obviously thrilled that Cindy even agreed to go.

They were about half an hour from landing now and the flight was on time.

“Clear skies up ahead on the enchanted island of St. Lucia,” the voice of the pilot came over the loudspeaker. “As we fly over the rain forest, we’ve got warm weather for you and sunshine. A perfect day to arrive in St. Lucia.”

Mattheus leaned closer to Cindy and put his arm around her. “Almost there,” he whispered. “I’ve booked a gorgeous hotel, right on the water. The number one spot for honeymooners.”

Cindy felt at ease. This was the first time Mattheus had taken complete charge and it felt good letting him do so. She was more tired than she realized and deeply needed to unwind. She had taken on too many cases in a row and there had been too much volatility in her relationship with Mattheus as well. It had taken a toll. Also, these days the loss of her sister, Ann, was hitting Cindy hard as well. She missed checking in with Ann regularly, as she used to do. She longed to hear her sister’s reassuring voice and practical guidance on the other end of the phone. But Cindy knew it took time to become adjusted to a loss of this magnitude.

“Once we’re settled on the island we’ll make a list of all the wonderful things to do,” Mattheus went on. “It’ll be completely up to you. I want you to be really happy.”

Cindy felt grateful. It seemed as though Mattheus was dead set on making their relationship right this time, doing everything he could to please her. Cindy didn’t want him to walk on eggshells, though. She felt like telling him that he didn’t need to work so hard at it. They just had to be themselves with each other, natural, relaxed, and most of all, honest. Cindy wanted to say that what she loved most about him was just who he was when he wasn’t running away.

“I love you so much, Cindy,” Mattheus murmured then, his tone half garbled.

“I love you, too, Mattheus,” Cindy whispered back, even though she’d promised herself she’d play it cool, give it lots of time, be careful before she said that.

“I know it, I know it,” Mattheus replied. “We can’t really stay away from each other. We belong together. It’s our destiny.”

When Cindy and Mattheus finally got out of the airport and into a taxi, she felt as if the pilot was right. She’d been transported to a magical world. As they drove along, Cindy saw both sides of the highway glowing with the incredible colors of the natural foliage there. As the taxi turned up into the lush mountains, the exotic beauty of the landscape took Cindy’s breath away.

“There’s wildlife roaming in these mountains,” Mattheus mentioned, as they drove along.

Cindy shivered. It was thrilling to be close to wildlife living freely in their natural habitats.

“The island is only twenty-seven miles long,” Mattheus continued, “and it has nineteen thousand acres of rain forest along with a steaming, sulfur volcano. Can you believe it?”

“It’s awesome,” Cindy murmured, grateful to be part of it.

“People come from all over to bathe in the sulfur springs and relax on the fantastic beaches. We’re lucky to be here,” Mattheus went on.

“It’s wonderful,” Cindy agreed. She had never seen Mattheus so taken by his surroundings. Yet, this was the first time she and Mattheus had gone to an island without a case to work on. Mattheus finally had the opportunity to truly relish where he was now. And Cindy felt she would finally have the opportunity to learn more about him now as well.

“We can go diving, horseback riding, dancing, hiking, anything you like,” Mattheus continued.

“Thank you,” Cindy whispered. What she actually wanted though, was just to be with him without all the demands and interruptions they’d always had to contend with. “It will be great having no plans at all,” she went on. “Let’s just be together and see what the moment brings.”

“Whatever you want,” Mattheus repeated, a little strain creeping into his tone.

“Whatever both of us want,” Cindy corrected him. She didn’t want Mattheus feeling that this trip was a way for him to make up for the breakup they’d just been through.

“Absolutely,” he agreed.

Cindy put her hand on his gently. “Whatever trouble has happened between us is over now. We’re here together, that’s what counts.”

Mattheus held her hand in his. “I’m grateful for that, Cindy, I really am.”

“We can just start again from where we are now,” she continued.

“Is that possible?” Mattheus seemed taken aback.

“Why wouldn’t it be?” Cindy felt surprised. “Why would we even be here if it weren’t?”

“Can we just forget everything’s that’s happened?” Mattheus asked. “Don’t we have to learn something from what we’ve been through?”

“We’ve learned we still want to be together,” Cindy answered softly.

“That’s for sure, anyway,” Mattheus replied, pulling her closer to him. “And we’ve learned we can’t be magnets for trouble our entire life long.”

Cindy wondered if he was referring to her jumping into one case after another. Or, was it possible he might be sensing something lurking up ahead?