Finding You (Finding You Series Book 1) Read Free

English. “How yoo today?”
    “Very well. Thank you.” I suppressed a giggle and got into the cab. It was as rundown on the inside as it looked on the outside.
    As we drove off a tad faster than I was comfortable with, I looked out the window and drank in the surroundings. The roads were unlined and roughly sealed. The black bitumen bore potholes the size of basketballs. The cab driver gave up trying to dodge them so it was an extremely bumpy and nervous ride through town. He sat with his arm out the open window, whistling merrily. His upbeat mood was infectious and I soon found myself sprawled back into the shabby seat, letting myself go. It had been way too long since I’d really, totally relaxed.
    “Where you from, lady?”
    “Australia.”
    “Oh, I’ve heard of Australia. You a long way from home!”
    That’s what was so great about being here. It was, literally, the other side of the earth. I’d escaped my very bizarre world for a while and it was liberating. I was going to make the most of the next four weeks.
    The relaxed atmosphere of the island felt like the polar opposite to where I had come from. A handful of passersby meandered down uncluttered roads as if they had nowhere to go and all day to get there. Gleeful dogs off leashes were left to scent and sniff out trails while small children with butterfly nets jump and swoop, laughing merrily as their colorful prey continues to elude them. Leaving behind the hustle and bustle of the smoggy, dense metropolis, it felt like stepping into utopia.
    “I think I’m really going to enjoy it here.”
    There was no fear of running into my ex-husband John or having any reminders of my past. For the first time in years there was nothing to do but bask in the glory that was Sapphire Island.
    The resort materialized. Of course, it was very tropical and fitted in to the surroundings of the island, with the palm trees amply adorning the circumference of the building. The main entrance was a huge circular structure built from timber and the dome straw roof cut an imposing feature. A large annex protruded out from the front with large wooden pillars to support it.
    The driver pulled up outside the foyer and unloaded my bags, offering to carry them inside. I was extremely grateful and so paid him a little extra for his trouble as he left. It wasn’t that my meager, embarrassing collection of clothing swimming in the suitcase would weigh me down; it’s just that it was nice to be waited on for a change.
    A tall, willowy woman with skin the color of coffee presented herself in the foyer. She was wearing an exquisite sarong with white sandals on her feet. Her features were dark and attractive. She wore no makeup, yet didn’t appear to require any since her flawless skin naturally glowed. Her strands of hair were effortlessly pulled back from her face and done up in a high bun with a bright blue hair tie. Height-wise she kissed six foot, leaving me in her shadow.
    “Miss Livingston, we’ve been expecting you. Welcome to Sapphire Island. My name is Ramah and I’ll be your hostess. If there is anything you need, come and see me first.”
    The warmth she exuded made Ramah the perfect person for such a hands on, demanding job. Her dark, magical eyes sparkled as she spoke. I held her gaze, feeling an instant rapport with the woman as we shook hands. Her skin was soft, her grip firm, a sign of good character my father had taught me.
    “Look people in the eye and give a firm handshake, pumpkin. It shows strength.” Some things stick with you for a lifetime. That was one of them. My dad was a well-respected man of the community, so whatever he said to me was gospel. God, I loved that man.
    “Thank you and please, call me Dakota.”
    “What an unusual name! Does it have a special meaning?” quizzed the woman curiously, obviously having never heard it before.
    I’ve had that most of my life, actually and it could really grow to be tiresome. Sometimes I wished my parents had