Deserted Island, Dreamy Ex. Nicola Marsh

      Stranded on an island with a stranger for a week was the last thing he felt like doing, but if it convinced Sydney’s disadvantaged kids the Activate recreation centre was the place for them, he’d do it.

      He’d spent the bulk of his life in the spotlight, his career and private life under scrutiny, providing fodder for the paparazzi. He’d hated it. Time to put all that intrusion to good use, starting with a week’s worth of free publicity money couldn’t buy.

      Elliott’s award-winning documentaries were watched by millions, his cutting-edge work discussed by everyone; around water coolers, at the school gates, on the streets, everyone talked about Elliott’s topical stuff.

      With a prime-time viewing slot, free advertisements would cost mega bucks so when Elliot had proposed his deal, he’d jumped at it. He’d much rather spend a billion on the centre and equipment than publicity.

      Millions would see the centre on national TV, hear about what it offered, and hopefully spread the word. That was what he was counting on.

      It was a win-win for them both. Elliott scored an ex-tennis pro for his documentary; Jared scored priceless advertising to tout the kids’ rec centre he was funding to the entire country.

      ‘So who’s the lucky lady?’

      Elliott glanced towards the door, his eyebrows shooting skywards.

      ‘Here she comes now. And wow. You always were a lucky dog.’

      Jared turned, curious to see who he’d be stuck with on the island. Not that he cared. He’d socialised on the tennis circuit for years, could fake it with the best of them. Easy.

      But as his gaze collided with a pair of unusual blue eyes the colour of the cerulean-blue ocean of Bondi on a clear day, their accusatory gaze cutting straight through him, he knew spending a week on a deserted island with Kristi Wilde would be far from easy.

      ‘I’ll deal with you later,’ Jared muttered at a confused Elliott as Kristi strutted towards the table on impossibly high heels.

      She’d always had a thing for shoes, almost as much as he’d had a thing for her.

      ‘Good to see you—’

      ‘Did you know about this?’

      Though she’d cut his intro short, she had no hope of avoiding his kiss and as he ducked down to kiss her cheek the familiarity of her sweet, spicy scent slammed into him with the power of a Nadal serve, quickly followed by a host of memories.

      The exhilaration of climbing the Harbour Bridge eclipsed by a laughing, exuberant Kristi falling into his arms, and his bed later that night.

      Long, sultry summer nights lingering over seafood platters at Doyles on Watson’s Bay, snuggling close in a water taxi afterwards, heading back to his place, desperately trying to rein in their limited self-control.

      Best of all, the easy-going, laid-back, fun-filled relationship they’d shared.

      Until she’d started clinging, demanding, and he’d bolted.

      With good reason. His tennis rankings had been shooting for the stars at the time, he’d had no choice but to repay the people who’d invested their time in him. He’d never wanted to be a user, someone who took their birthright for granted; like his parents.

      Ironic, that what had started out as a babysitting exercise, a place the snooty Malones could offload their only child for a few hours a day, had turned into a lucrative career filled with fame, fortune and more women than any guy knew what to do with.

      Strangely, only one woman had ever got close enough to see the real him, the guy behind the laid-back smile.

      And he was looking straight at her.

      While his career hadn’t been the only reason he’d left, seeing her here, now, just as vibrant, just as beautiful, reinforced exactly how much he’d given up by walking away from her.

      His lips wanted to linger, but she didn’t give him time, stepping away with a haughty tilt of her head that might’ve worked if he hadn’t seen the softening around her mouth, the flash of recognition in her eyes.

      ‘Well? Did you know about this?’

      Placing a hand in the small of her back to guide her to a chair, unsurprised when she stiffened, he shook his head.

      ‘I just learned my partner in crime’s identity in this fiasco a second before you walked through the door.’

      ‘Fiasco is right.’

      He smiled at her vehement agreement as Elliott held out his hand.

      ‘Pleased to meet you. Elliott J. Barnaby, the producer of Stranded. Glad to have you on board.’

      ‘That’s what we need to discuss.’

      Gesturing to a waiter, she placed an order for sparkling mineral water with lime, before squaring her shoulders, a fighting stance as familiar as the tilt of her head.

      ‘Before we begin this discussion, let me make a few things clear. One, I’m here under sufferance. Two, I’m doing this for the money.’

      She held up a finger, jabbed it in his direction. ‘Three, this island better be big enough for the both of us because I’d rather swim back to the mainland than be cooped up with you for a week.’

      Elliott’s head swivelled between them, curiosity making his eyes gleam.

      ‘You two know each other?’

      She jerked her head in his direction. ‘Didn’t his lordship tell you?’

      Elliott grinned. ‘Tell me what?’

      ‘We know each other,’ Jared interjected calmly, well aware Elliott would want to know exactly how well they knew each other later. ‘Old friends.’

      Kristi muffled a snort as he shot her a wink. ‘Getting reacquainted is going to be loads of fun.’

      ‘Yeah, like getting a root canal,’ she muttered, her glare mutinous.

      After another dreary rehab session with Madame Lash, the physio from hell, Jared had trudged in here, ready to talk business with Elliott, not particularly caring who he’d be stuck with for a week.

      Now, the thought of battling wits with a sassy, smart-mouthed Kristi for seven days brightened his morning considerably.

      Struggling to keep a grin off his face, he folded his arms, faced Elliott.

      ‘Us knowing each other shouldn’t be a problem?’

      Elliott shook his head. ‘On the contrary, should make for some interesting interaction. The documentary is about exposing the reality behind reality TV. How you talk, react, bounce off each other, when confined for a week without other social interactions should make for good viewing.’

      Elliott paused, frowned. ‘Old friends? That didn’t mean you lived together for any time?’

      ‘Hell, no!’

      The flicker of hurt in Kristi’s memorable blue eyes had him cursing his outburst, but in the next instant she’d tilted her chin, stared him down, making him doubt he’d glimpsed it at all.

      ‘Cohabiting with a child isn’t my idea of fun,’ she said, her hauteur tempered with the challenging dare in her narrowed eyes.

      She wanted him to respond, to fight back, to fire a few taunts. Well, let her wait. They had plenty of time for that. An entire seven days. Alone. With no entertainment other than each other. Interesting.

      Oblivious to the tension simmering between them, Elliott rubbed his hands together.

      ‘Good. Because that would’ve changed the status quo. This way, your reactions will be more genuine.’

      He plucked a folder filled with documents from his pile and slid it across the table towards Kristi.