The storm was the only sound that Bella could hear, the rain splashing on the ground, thunder roaring off the coast and off in the distance lightning lit up the sky, echoing the feeling that was ripping through her body at Isaac’s kiss.

The chemistry between them was something almost tangible. This man could kiss, there was no doubt about that. But underneath this sexual attraction was something much deeper, something neither of them could deny. She couldn’t stay away from him and it seemed the feeling was completely mutual. She had no idea why she had held hands with him as they had walked, only that it had felt the most natural thing in the world, as if they were supposed to be connected in some way.

His hands wandered up underneath his jacket she was wearing, caressing her back and holding her close. This kiss was slower, gentler, more considered, and it was hot as hell.

They both knew where these kisses were going to lead. He could deny it all he wanted but it was only a matter of time before they ended up in bed together. And this delicious anticipation, this build-up was just going to make the main event even better.

Long after the rain had stopped, long after the dogs had curled up at their feet and gone to sleep, the kiss continued. It was only when the sun came out, dazzling them as it reflected off the sea, that they pulled apart.

He smiled down at her. There were no regrets in his eyes this time.

‘I think our first time would have been amazing,’ Isaac said, not releasing his hold on her.

‘I’m looking forward to it,’ Bella said, grinning mischievously.

‘Bella—’

She ran her hand down his cheek. ‘As long as we don’t do it at work then it doesn’t count. I have to go, Mr Scott, I’m having dinner with Eden and Rome tonight in Rosa’s. It’s my turn to pay so I’m sure if I’m late they’ll be hunting me down. I’ll see you tomorrow.’

‘Goodnight Bella.’

She leaned up again and kissed him briefly on the lips, gratified that he held her tighter and kissed her back before she stepped away. She whistled for Alfie and walked off down the hill and as she looked back she smiled when she saw that Isaac was watching her go.

* * *

Eden and Freya were already sitting in the restaurant when Bella arrived. Freya always came to their siblings dinner. Over the years they’d all had many boyfriends and girlfriends but by some unspoken rule none of them came to dinner with them at Rosa’s. But Freya was different. Somehow she had wheedled her way into all of their hearts. Bella looked at her like a sister but frustratingly so did Rome. The man himself clearly hadn’t arrived yet which meant she’d be able to talk freely about Isaac without the overprotective glare from her big brother.

‘Hey,’ Eden grinned as she saw Bella approach. She got up from the table and embraced Bella in a big hug.

Freya stood up and hugged Bella too.

They all sat back down, and Bella helped herself to a piece of garlic bread oozing with melted cheese.

‘Sorry I’m late, I got caught in the rain and I had to go home and get changed.’

‘Urgh, I hate the rain,’ Freya said.

Bella looked out on the rain-soaked street as it gleamed in the sun and she couldn’t help but smile. ‘I love it.’

Eden’s phone flashed up with a text on the table and she quickly read it and smiled. Bella knew instinctively who had made her react like that.

‘Dougie texted me while I was on my way over here,’ Bella said. ‘He said he’s looking forward to catching up with us.’ She watched Eden smile as she shoved her phone away.

‘I know, he’s been texting me lots too.’

Bella smiled. She’d had only one text from him so it was quite clear to see where his priorities lay.

‘He arrives Thursday, how are you feeling about seeing him again?’

Eden sighed though she was still smiling. ‘Same as always, excited, elated, terrified, annoyed that he makes me feel this way, angry, happy. I told him I might not have time to see him but I know I will. He knows it too. He even suggested that he stay with me but I was firm about that. He can stay in a hotel. I don’t need to be tortured any more.’

‘Why don’t you want him to stay with you?’ Freya asked.

‘Because then he’ll be walking around naked like last time, driving me insane. I’m sure he does it deliberately to wind me up.’

‘You’ve seen him naked?’ Freya said with wide eyes. ‘Is he hot? Who am I kidding, of course he is.’

‘Yes he’s hot but I’m not sure why he does it. He’s not remotely interested in me.’

‘How do you know?’ Bella said. From what she could see, Dougie only really came over to Hope Island so often to see Eden.

‘Because I’m like a sister to him,’ Eden said.

Bella pulled a face. ‘He said that?’

Eden nodded, the smile fading from her face.

‘Urgh, I hate it when a guy says that,’ Freya said. ‘When they look at you as a sister, you’ve got no hope. No one fancies their own sister. It’s so unsexy. It’s even worse than being relegated to the friendzone.’

‘Being friends isn’t bad,’ Bella protested. ‘At least when you’re friends there’s a chance that the friendship could develop into something more.’

Freya sighed. ‘Sometimes you can be the best of friends and still there’s no chance of anything happening.’

Bella smiled, sadly. ‘Rome adores you.’

‘He’s never gotten over Paige’s death,’ Freya said, quietly.

‘Well it’s about time he did,’ Eden said. ‘He’d only known her a month when he proposed, and then she was working in London for the next eighteen months and they’d only get to see each other at weekends when they’d spend most of their time in the bedroom. They never had time to have a proper relationship before she died in that awful rollercoaster accident. It was horrific and it messed him up spectacularly but it’s been six years. She’s been dead longer than he knew her. I really liked Paige but I have no idea if they would have lasted if they had been in a proper relationship and not one built on great weekend sex. He’s closer to you than he ever was to her. But he’s afraid of getting hurt again. Just be patient with him.’

‘He said the other day that he thinks he’s ready for love again. That he wants the companionship and intimacy of a proper relationship. If he’s not thinking about that with you then the boy’s an idiot,’ Bella said.

Freya sighed. ‘Between me and Eden we’re both lost causes. Oh, let’s change the subject. How was your first day at work?’

Bella’s smile grew. ‘Today was pretty special.’

Freya stared at her for a moment. ‘You’ve kissed him again, haven’t you?’

‘Well he kissed me, but yes.’

‘You kissed the boss?’ Eden squealed and Bella and Freya shushed her.

‘Yes, I really like him. And I think he really likes me. At the moment he keeps insisting nothing can happen because he’s my boss and work politics but I met him while I was walking Alfie tonight and we got caught in the rain and we kissed again.’

‘Awwww. A kiss in the rain. How sweet,’ Eden said, smiling happily. ‘I’ve got a good feeling about Isaac. I think he might be the one.’

Bella laughed. ‘You say that about every one of my boyfriends. There is no “one”. Isaac is sweet and funny and attentive. We have off-the-chart chemistry. He is, by a mile, the best kiss I’ve ever had. And I’m sure when we eventually end up in bed together, it will be phenomenal but he doesn’t love me. I don’t think this is anything serious for him.’

‘Maybe it isn’t serious now, but it could be something serious later. It’ll probably never be love straight away with anyone; that takes time to build. Just don’t dismiss it just because he hasn’t whipped out an engagement ring just yet. Enjoy it, see what happens. Don’t push him away when he gets close.’

Freya nodded. ‘It might not be love yet but he seems pretty keen. Did you happen to mention that you were coming here tonight?’

‘Yes, I did.’ Bella turned round to see what Freya was looking at and felt her smile spread across her face when she saw Isaac at the counter buying something.

Obviously feeling her eyes on him, he turned and waved when he saw her. While Rosa got his order ready he wandered over.

‘I’d say him turning up here is a bit more than a coincidence,’ Freya said, under her breath.

‘Hi,’ Isaac said.

‘Hi.’

There was an uncomfortable silence for a moment or two while they grinned sheepishly at each other.

‘What are you doing here?’

‘I’m just getting a lasagne for dinner. Rosa’s are the best I’ve ever had. I promise I’m not stalking you or anything. I was, erm… out a little longer than I thought I would be while I was walking Rocket and when I got back the dinner I had left in the oven had gone a bit black so this sounded like a good alternative.’

‘Bella was just telling us about her first day at work,’ Freya said, a big cheeky smile on her face. Eden nudged her but she was undeterred.

Bella blushed. ‘Yes, I was telling them about the plans for the spring fair, we’re all excited about having it here on the island again.’

‘You’re bringing the fair back to Hope Island?’ Eden said, her eyes wide and excited. ‘That’s so wonderful.’

Bella stared at her pointedly and Eden blushed. ‘Sorry, I, erm… must have been in the toilet when you discussed the fair.’

Isaac laughed. ‘I’m excited to see the fair again too. I’m very much looking forward to working with Bella on all future projects.’ His eyes found hers and she swallowed. She didn’t think they were talking about work any more.

Rosa called across to him and he looked over to see that his lasagne was ready for collection.

Isaac looked back at Bella, touching her arm briefly. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow.’

‘You can count on it.’

He grinned and walked off just as Rome came towards the table. He glared at Isaac as he walked out the shop before he sat down next to Bella.

‘Stop glaring at him, he hasn’t done anything wrong,’ Bella said.

‘Apart from lie, seduce you under false pretences and—’

‘OK, OK, apart from that,’ Bella said, feeling deflated all of a sudden.

‘I take it something is going on between you two,’ Rome said.

‘What makes you think that?’

‘The way you two were looking at each other with all soppy eyes when I walked in. Have you slept with him?’

‘Rome! You have no right to ask her that!’ Eden said.

Rome shrugged as he helped himself to a piece of garlic bread. ‘Just looking out for my little sister.’

‘I really like him,’ Bella said. ‘And maybe something will happen and maybe it won’t but he makes me happy and it’s been a long time since anyone made me feel like that, so don’t ruin it by going all overprotective big brother on me. If we start seeing each other I want you to trust in my judgement and be nice to him.’

‘I do trust you, and I’m always nice.’

Eden and Freya made various noises of objection.

‘What? I am nice.’

‘If grumpy is a kind of nice, sure,’ Eden said.

‘I’m not grumpy,’ Rome protested.

Freya reached across to pat his arm consolingly. ‘You’re not exactly sunshine and roses.’

Rome considered this for a moment and shrugged. He turned his attention back to Bella. ‘If he makes you happy then I’m happy. I’ll be nice to him and I might even give him a smile occasionally. Just be careful, OK? I don’t want you to get hurt.’

Bella nodded.

‘You should have invited him to have dinner with us,’ Eden said. ‘Then we could have vetted him for you.’

Rome shook his head. ‘Dinner at Rosa’s is family only.’

‘Oh, maybe I should go then,’ Freya said.

‘Don’t be daft. You are family. You’re like a sister to me,’ Rome said, completely missing how gutted Freya suddenly looked at that comment.

‘Not a sister,’ Bella said, kindly, catching Freya’s eye. ‘A really good friend who is like family because of how important she is to us. Dougie is like family too. But neither Eden nor I look at him like a brother.’

Rome frowned in confusion. ‘OK, not a sister, my best friend, which makes you like family. Whatever the distinction is, Freya belongs here with us. Isaac would be an interloper.’

‘That interloper might be your brother-in-law one day,’ Eden said.

Bella rolled her eyes. ‘I don’t think that will ever happen.’

Eden reached for Bella’s hand. ‘Look, Rome is always going to play the overprotective big brother and tell you to be careful and I will always tell you to take a chance at love and not throw it away or dismiss it because you’re scared. Be brave and be open to love. Because if it does come your way and it is reciprocated it will be the best thing that ever happens to you.’

Bella nodded. She had never been in love and never really wanted to be. Loving someone meant you could get hurt, rejected and let down and she’d already had her fill of that. But she had promised Eden and Rome that she would take a chance on love if it came her way and, although she didn’t think this thing with Isaac would turn into love, if it did she was willing to see what all the fuss was about.

* * *

Isaac walked into the Umbrella Foundation the next day with a smile on his face. He had no idea what was going to happen with Bella but it was going to be a lot of fun finding out. He had tried to keep away from her, he had tried to be firm with her about nothing happening between them, but their resolve around each other was non-existent. He was finding it hard to find reasons not to be with her any more.

He walked into the lift and when the doors pinged open on the first floor, he couldn’t help but smile when Bella and a few other people walked in. She was wearing a beautiful bronze dress that came down to the knee and had a high collar that was embellished with gold jewels, making her look like some kind of Egyptian queen.

‘Good morning, Mr Scott,’ Bella said, smiling sweetly at him before moving to stand to the side of him. As the other people got on behind her, she shifted to make room for them and ended up, either deliberately or innocently, standing in front of him with her back towards him.

His heart leapt because the bronze dress slashed down in a narrow V-shape from the shoulders, leaving a small sliver of her bare back completely exposed. He couldn’t take his eyes off it.

At the very bottom of the V, which finished halfway down her back, was a tiny glimpse of her turquoise bra strap.

Little conversations continued in the lift but Bella wasn’t talking to anyone and no one was paying either of them any attention. He reached out and ever so gently stroked his thumb across the indent of her spine.

She let out a soft gasp and one of the men at the front of the lift looked over at her. Isaac busied himself with his phone. When the man looked away, Bella deliberately shuffled back a few inches.

The lift pinged open on her floor and a few people got out. She made a move to leave too but as he grazed her back for a second time she stayed where she was.

There was now only one other person in the lift with them so they still couldn’t talk and Isaac didn’t dare do anything else because it would be much more noticeable. What was he doing? If he was caught touching Bella like this, everyone in the building would know by the end of the day and he would be tarred as some kind of pervert.

The lift pinged open on the next floor and the man got out. The doors closed behind him.

‘It seems you missed your floor, Miss Roussel,’ Isaac said.

‘I was distracted.’

He moved to her side and looked down at her to see her cheeks were flushed, her eyes sparkling. ‘Well, I’ll see you in the meeting in half an hour. Try to keep your mind on the job.’

She rolled her eyes and shook her head at him, smiling fondly as he left her alone in the lift.

He had no idea what he was doing but he was enjoying every second.

* * *

Bella’s nerves were shot to pieces, her heart was racing, her breathing was accelerated as if she’d just run a mile and all he had done was touch her back.

She pressed the button in the lift to take her back down to her floor. As much as she was loving this build-up, what if he had no intention of taking this any further? What if he was just teasing her and that was it? She had never wanted anyone as badly as she wanted him right now and if it didn’t culminate in something more than kisses and comments soon she was going to spontaneously combust. The tension was unbearable and he was just making it worse.

The doors pinged open on her floor and she stayed in the lift for a second, her heart suddenly thundering like rain as she made a decision. She jabbed the button that would take her back to his floor.

A few seconds later she had arrived. Claudia wasn’t at her desk so she strolled past and knocked on his door.

‘Come in.’

She opened the door and saw Isaac was alone sitting at his desk. He grinned when he saw her. She shut the door behind her.

‘I think we should sleep together.’

The smile fell from his face.

‘You’ve already said you don’t want a relationship because it could get in the way of work but this thing between us is not just going to go away and you’re not exactly being restrained about not letting anything happen. I want you, you want me, so let’s just get this out of the way and then we can get on with just being friends or colleagues again.’

There was a silence for a few seconds before a woman’s voice filled the room.

‘Oh my god Isaac, is that her, is that the girl you’ve been telling me about? I like her. Let me talk to her.’

Isaac leaned over to his phone. ‘Mum, I’ll call you back.’

‘No, wait. If you don’t marry this girl—’

Isaac slammed his hand down on a button and the voice was disconnected.

Bella flushed. ‘That was your mum?’

Isaac nodded, a smile playing on his lips.

‘And I just told you I want to sleep with you and she heard every word.’

‘Yes, she’ll dine out on this for weeks.’ He got out of his chair and walked towards her.

Her heart was hammering; she knew her cheeks were burning red. She wanted to turn and run and hide under her desk at least for the rest of the week. He was her boss. She had just made things a hundred times worse. What was she thinking? She had never done something like that before, walking up to someone and demanding they sleep with her was way out of her comfort zone. She’d never even asked a guy out before. What was it about Isaac that made her do things she had never done before?

‘Well you got the mum seal of approval,’ Isaac said as he approached her.

She swallowed. ‘You talked about me with her?’

‘Yes, I told her there was this thorn in my side that wouldn’t go away,’ Isaac said, before he captured her mouth with his own.

All other words dried in her throat and she found her hands in his hair as he pinned her back against the door. There was something truly wonderful about being pinned to any surface by Isaac Scott. He was so big that he surrounded her and that was such a turn-on. His hard, muscular body against hers, his hot lips against her own. She could kiss this man forever and never get tired of it.

No not forever. Love never lasted forever so there was no point in even thinking about going down that road. She would live for now, enjoy the moment, and at this very moment there was a gorgeous, sweet, sexy hunk of a man kissing her like his life depended on it.

His hands swept up from her waist, cupping her head. It was so gentle and so sweet and so completely opposite to the way he was kissing her with a fierce need. She hooked her leg round him, pulling him closer, and he ran his hand up her thigh, sliding her dress up to her hip. For one wonderful and terrifying moment she thought he was going to make her wish come true right here against the door but then he pulled away slightly.

‘So you want me to make love to you?’

Her cheeks flamed red again. How could she have asked him that? Normally she would date a man, dinner, the cinema, maybe a few drinks in a bar. They’d go for walks on the beach and it would be several weeks or sometimes even months before she would go to bed with them. But Isaac had made it very clear they couldn’t do that so where did that leave them other than lots of frustrating kisses that were never going to lead anywhere?

‘I think we should. Then maybe once it’s out of the way we can get on with our day at work without the need to maul each other.’

‘I don’t know, this mauling is fast becoming my favourite part of my day. Meetings, emails, reports, and then there’s you.’ He sighed, leaning his forehead against hers for a moment. ‘Come to my house for dinner tonight. I’ll cook for you, something that won’t go black and hard because I’m too busy kissing you.’

She nodded. ‘And then after dinner?

He kissed her briefly. ‘I’ll take you home. No sex. If we’re going to do this, we’ll do this properly.’

Her heart leapt and soared. ‘That’s beginning to sound a bit like a date, Mr Scott.’

‘Oh it’s definitely a date. But it’s a first date, so we’ll eat and we’ll talk and we’ll probably kiss a lot. And I’ll have you home and tucked up in your bed by ten o’clock.’

She laughed. ‘Will you be joining me in that bed?’

‘Don’t tempt me. Now go. I need to ring my mum back and reassure her that I haven’t just slept with one of my staff across my desk and I have to prepare for a meeting where I’ll be sitting next to this beautiful, wonderful woman and trying very hard not to grab her and maul her, as you so eloquently put it, in front of all my staff.’

‘Shit, the meeting. I was going to prepare some notes for you. And I have a PowerPoint half-finished on my computer downstairs.’

‘I’m sure whatever you bring to the table will be amazing, even if it’s just you.’ His eyes glanced down to where his hand was resting on the waistband of her knickers. ‘Dinner at my place at seven, wear this beautiful dress, and I’m going to spend the rest of the day trying not to think about the possibility of seeing your matching turquoise underwear later this evening.’

Bella laughed.

He stepped back and straightened her dress for her, then his hands moved to her hair and gently stroked that back into place too.

She leaned up and kissed him on the cheek and left the office. Claudia was back at her desk and she looked over at Bella in confusion as she walked to the lift. Did Claudia have any idea that Bella had just been kissing her boss on the other side of that door? In a small office like this, it wouldn’t take long for people to know or at least to guess. But with the prospect of a hot date with this incredible man tonight, Bella was finding it hard to care.