The Castaway Billionaire - Serenity Woods Page 0,2

were together, I was teetotal, so I understand why he’s surprised. “I don’t drink much. Just when I feel the need.”

“And why do you feel the need now? Not because of seeing me, I hope?”

Yes, that’s completely the reason why. I need to slow my heart down before I have a coronary.

“Not at all,” I say in what I hope is a nonchalant, you-mean-nothing-to-me-manner. “A G&T dulls the stream of my companion’s constant chatter.” He laughs, but I feel a twinge of guilt at the comment. “Sorry, that was bitchy of me. She’s just started as my business manager. She’s excellent at her job and she’s very friendly, but she’s only been with me for three weeks, so we’re not quite fitting together yet.”

“What happened to your previous business manager? I’ll have a Glenfiddich on the rocks, please,” he adds to the bartender as he slides my G&T over to me.

“She’s dropping some of the organizational work,” I explain. “She deserves to take it a bit easier. She’s worked very hard since we started the company.”

He obviously realizes to whom I’m referring. “Beth?”

I nod.

He doesn’t say anything, and his expression stays blank. I’m not surprised. He and Beth never really got on, and after what happened, I can’t imagine his feelings for her improved.

He waits for his drink, then gestures to two seats facing each other across a small table, and we go over and sit.

Outside, rain has started to pepper the glass. Inside, though, it’s warm and cozy. Theo leans back and sips his whisky, then places the glass on the table and turns it in his fingers. I wait for him to talk about what happened back then, but instead he says, “I have to say congratulations. You’ve done incredibly well for yourself.”

For a fleeting second, I think he’s referring to me meeting Jack, or maybe to me breaking up with him, I’m not sure which. “What do you mean?”

“Wanderlust Yoga,” he says, amused. “Nine million subscribers on YouTube, two million on Insta, half a million followers on Facebook. You’re on the front cover of every woman’s magazine in Australasia, the star of the show on the Rise and Shine TV program. Five books published, your own range of yoga clothing and beauty products. Appearances all over New Zealand, Australia, and the Pacific Islands. Do you ever have time to sleep?”

I’m shocked, and immensely flattered that he’s been aware of my journey, although I try not to look it. “Luckily, I only need four or five hours.”

“Yeah,” he says, “I remember.”

Our eyes meet, and for a moment I can’t breathe. I’m transported right back to those lazy Sunday mornings in his apartment, where we’d stay in bed until lunchtime, eating croissants and making love for hours as the sun rose slowly in the sky.

“I’ll always remember you standing outside on the balcony,” he says, “doing the sun salutation naked at sunrise.” His smile is an arrow straight to my heart, lacking none of the speed or strength to affect me as it did when I first met him.

I look down at my drink. I don’t want to think about how glorious it was back then. It’s like remembering how bright and hot the sun was while you were on vacation, when you’re at home and it’s raining every day and so cold you have to wear sweaters indoors.

It was an age ago, and I’ve long since stopped crying over Theo Prince.

“Sorry,” he says. “I didn’t mean to make you sad.”

“I’m not sad. As you said, I’m doing great.”

“Maybe it’s just me, then.”

I look back up at him. It’s true, he does look sad. For the first time, I notice the dark shadows under his eyes. He looks tired and somewhat dispirited.

“What were you doing in Fiji?” I ask. “I’m guessing you’re working for the family business?” I don’t really have to ask; I’ve looked him up from time to time over the years too, so I know he’s the Marketing Director for Prince’s Toy Store. Started by one of his relatives back in England in the nineteenth century, the business has grown over the past one hundred and fifty years to become an international phenomenon, with stores all over Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, and recently a couple in the States, too. As Marketing Director, Theo would probably be in charge of the business’s presence online, which would be why he’s so comfortable with Instagram and Facebook and the like.

“I was the keynote speaker at a business conference,”