âIS HE good-looking?â
Meg felt her teeth literally grind together as her travel companion, Jasmine, repeated the question for the hundredth time. Here they were docking in Niroli, which was undoubtedly the most beautiful island Meg had seen on her travels to date, and all Jasmine wanted to talk about was potential men.
Coming from Australia, where everything was comparatively new, Meg was in awe of the past that drenched each place she had visited on her travels through Europe, reeling at the ancient architecture and glorious tales of times gone by and, for Meg, Niroli had it all! To the South of Sicily, the island of Niroli, according to the travel guide Meg had devoured on the boat trip, was steeped in history, its colourful past filled with rivalries and wars dating back centuries and still playing out today. Theyâd just passed the tiny island of Mont Avellana, which, as recently as two decades ago, had been ruled by Niroli, and now they were coming into Niroliâs main port. Meg stared in wonder as they approachedâsandy beaches rapidly giving way to a lush hillside, which was like a fabulous tapestry, with thick forests, and edged by vineyards that laced neatly around the sprawling town. But a grand castle set on a rocky promontory was for Meg the main focal point, standing tall and proud, looking out towards the ocean, as if somehow guarding it all.
âThatâs the palace,â Meg pointed out to Jasmine excitedly, checking with the map to get her bearings, âand over to the right thereâs a Roman amphitheatreâ¦.â
âThereâs a casino,â Jasmine said, peering over Megâs shoulder, âoh, and a luxury spa!â
âWe canât afford luxury.â Meg smiled. âWeâre backpacking!â
âThen weâll just have to find someone who can!â Jasmine countered, her mind flicking back to the inevitable. âSo what sort of doctor is he?â
âWho?â Meg asked, then let out a pained sigh as Jasmineâs momentary interest in her surrounds rapidly waned. âAlex is a surgeon,â Meg admitted, then wished she hadnât, noting Jasmineâs eyes literally light up at the prospect of dating a rich surgeonâwell, she could dream on. Alex was the least money-minded of persons and would see through Jasmine in a flash.
If only she had, Meg inwardly sighed. At first when Jasmine had befriended her, Meg had been only too glad of the company, only lately the very qualities that Meg had admired had started to repel. Jasmineâs impetuous nature, her carefree attitude and her obsession with men were starting to irritate, and Meg was actually looking forward to cooling off the friendship a touchâready now to complete her journey alone.
Backpacking through Europe had seemed the most unlikely of adventures for Meg to embark on. Routine was the key in Megâs lifeâroutine was what saw her through. Routine was the only way she could control her life and the emotions that had overwhelmed her as sheâd struggled to come to terms with her difficult childhood.
But now here she was, twenty-five years of age and ready to start living; ready to let go of a difficult past and truly embrace a world that had at times been so very cruel. Backpacking through Europe was the final self-imposed step in her recovery. Casual work, casual clothes and casual meals had at first been a huge enigma for Meg, but gradually she was starting to relaxâthat knot of tension that had been present for as long as she could remember was slowly unravelling and, as she stepped off the boat and took a deep cleansing breath, closed her blue eyes and turned her face up to the warm sun Meg knew there and then that she had been so right to embark on this journeyâcould hardly wait to tell her brother just how far sheâd come.
âWhere is he?â Jasmineâs hopeful face scanned the crowd for a first glimpse of a suitable good-looking surgeon. âDoes he look like you?â
âNot in the least.â Meg laughed but didnât elaborate. Alex Hunter was as dark as Meg Donovan was blond, his eyes black where Megâs were blue. They looked nothing alike and with good reasonâboth were adopted, Alex when he was a toddler, Meg when she was twelve years old. But despite their differences, despite not sharing one shred of DNA, they were as close as any blood brother and sister.
âDoes he know what boat youâre coming on?â
âI told him ages ago.â Meg frowned. âWell, I emailed him with the details.â
âAnd he got it?â Jasmine checked.
âYes, Iâm sure he got it,â Meg answered, but a trickle of unease slid down her spine. âHe should be here.â