Death by Temptation Read Free Page B

time, it’s important,” Rowley joined the conversation. “Kara and I were
engaged for almost two years before we firmed things up. We finally decided to
have the wedding back in Connecticut and our honeymoon here. That made it so
much easier for our guests and worked out beautifully for us as well.”
    Rowley
seemed to have a maturity and solidity about him that one might miss at first
glance. Cindy liked him very much. So did Mattheus.
    They
all talked a little longer, then breakfast was over and Kara and Rowley had to
go. Cindy and Mattheus thanked them for the time they’d spent together. Kara
and Rowley said they’d enjoyed it as well. When they left, Cindy felt sad.
    “What
a beautiful young couple,” Mattheus said, watching them walk out of the dining
room. “They’ve got it right so early. My friend Rod must be very proud.”
    Cindy
felt a pang of regret. She wished she could have gotten it right the way they
had. If only she’d met her partner early on they could have built a life
together that naturally progressed from stage to stage. Then Cindy wouldn’t be
left at this time of life thinking about wedding destinations. A strange sense
of emptiness filled her as Kara and Rowley disappeared from view.
    “Your
friend Rod’s a lucky man to have a family like that,” Cindy mused.
    Mattheus
stretched out his hands and reached for Cindy.
    “Yes, he is very
lucky. But we’re lucky, too. We have each other, don’t we? Better late
    than
never.”
    Much
better, thought Cindy, as she held Mattheus’s hands tight, wondering how late
it really was, and if it there was enough time left for them.

CHAPTER 3
     
    The
breakfast with Kara and Rowley definitely lifted the mood between Cindy and
Mattheus, allowing them to thoroughly enjoy the rest of the day. For starters
they decided to rent a car and take a scenic tour of the majestic Pitons on the
way to the Diamond Waterfall. Cindy craved time in nature and the Diamond
Waterfall was located in a beautiful botanical garden surrounded by nature’s
finest plants and flowers. As she walked beside Mattheus through the gardens,
it seemed as if all her concerns gently floated away. They held hands, laughed,
and made the kind of easy small talk they used to do so freely. A day like this
brought back to Cindy all that she loved about him and their time together, how
warm and natural it could be.
    After
lunch at the gardens, they decided to drive through Soufriererto, an incredibly
quaint town with a view of the world’s only drive-in volcano. As they passed,
its sulfuric waters bubbled wildly, thrilling Cindy. She’d always wanted to
bathe in sulfur springs and was excited to actually visit the volcano. The sour
smell in the air was difficult to take, but the power of the churning volcano
captivated her. Cindy was amazed and inspired by the incredible forces of
nature and the endless treasures and healing powers that came right up from the
earth.
    “I
love it here,” Cindy murmured to Mattheus, who seemed to be thoroughly content
to be at her side.
    “We’ll
come here often, all the time,” Mattheus whispered, delighted that she was
having such a wonderful time. “Do you have the energy to go over to Rodney Bay
and join the Friday night Jump Up, too?” Every Friday night a lively party,
called the Jump Up, spilled out onto the streets, and people came from all over
to join in the fun.
    “Absolutely,”
said Cindy. She felt invigorated by having nothing else to worry about except
how to enjoy all the wonders this amazing island was offering them.
    After
leaving the volcano, Cindy and Mattheus arrived at Rodney Bay just as the party
was beginning to roll.  As expected, the place was packed with honeymooners
laughing, dancing, drinking, and celebrating to their hearts’ content. Without
a moment’s hesitation, Cindy and Mattheus joined in the fun, drinking rum and
dancing along with everyone to the intense reggae music that rang out