In the lobby, I found Adam standing beside a small Egyptian man with half a dozen gold chains around his neck. His eyes gleamed when he saw me. The Egyptian man's, not Adam's. Adam was too busy looking out the door at the...

"Quad bikes? We're riding on quad bikes?"

"Sure seems that way."

"Where are we going?"

"Up to the mountains to watch the moon rise. We'll see if it really does have the power to heal a broken soul."

"Oh my gosh, you remembered! We talked about that ages ago."

He tapped his head. "An elephant never forgets."

Or, it would seem, a hot diving student.

The greasy Egyptian addressed my chest. Which, granted, was about at his eye level, but he could at least have made the effort to look up.

"Visiting Jebel Hilal can change your life."

"Let's hope so."

Adam filled in the paperwork before we set out, and I peered over as he wrote.

Name: Adam Lowestein

Age: 25

Address: Oakside House, Vale Road, Ashbury Heights, San Francisco.

Wow—in ten seconds, I'd doubled the amount I knew about him. He was only three years older than me, which was roughly in line with my guess. And San Francisco! What an amazing place to live.

The man gave us each a scarf to wrap over our face. What was he planning to have us do? Rob a bank?

"It will keep out the dust," he explained. Then he handed us helmets and got us to sit on the bikes while he went through the controls.

I leaned over to Adam and whispered, "Would this be a bad time to mention I've failed my driving test four times?"

"You passed eventually, right?"

"No, but I know the bus timetable by heart."

"Uh, okay." Now he looked as nervous as I felt. "I'll make sure we keep it slow."

The Egyptian guy set off in front, and I gingerly twisted the throttle. The bike lurched forward and stalled. Good start. On my second attempt, I managed to keep the engine going, and we moved off cautiously along the road.

True to his word, Adam crawled along at a speed I was happy with, and despite the pace, we made it up the mountain in time to see the moon peeking through the gap between two peaks.

I stood motionless, glued to the spot. Mesmerised.

"Isn't it awesome?" Adam murmured.

It was, but what took my breath away was his arms wrapping around my waist. His fingers twined through mine, and his beard tickled my cheek.

I stiffened on instinct, but after a minute or so, I gave in to the moment and relaxed against him. His heart thudded against my back, although it was still beating far more slowly than mine.

We stood there for the time it took for the moon to clear the mountains and start its journey overhead. I didn't dare to move a muscle. The only sound was our synchronised breathing.

At least, it was until our guide broke the spell by clearing his throat.

"We go back now."

Adam stirred, running his fingernail lightly up the length of my arm. I shivered as a ripple of pleasure ran through me. Who knew that could feel so good?

His lips brushed my ear, as he asked, "Are you okay?"

Was I? I had no idea. Two weeks ago, I'd been preparing for my wedding in England, and now I was on top of a freaking mountain with a whole other guy. Feelings I didn't understand tumbled around inside me. Where was this going? Adam lived on a different continent, for crying out loud.

But now wasn't the time to start analysing every move, and Adam was waiting for an answer.

"Super, never better. Thanks for asking."

That was met with a hoot of laughter. "Fuck, you're so adorable."

Adorable? Was that good or bad? Other women were sleek, sophisticated, and elegant. I was adorable.

Slowly, I made my way back to my quad bike, tripping over a rock in the darkness. Adam played the hero once again and kept me from falling, then helped me onto the bike and showed me how to turn the headlight on.

Two minutes later, we were off, with me going even more slowly because I had terrible night vision. If we were lucky, we might make it back before breakfast.

Or perhaps dinner, because my bike suddenly sputtered and ground to a halt.

"Uh, guys? I think mine's broken."

The guide backed up the track to where I'd stopped and swore under his breath.

"No matter, someone can fetch it tomorrow. You can ride back with me."

He turned and patted the seat behind him.

Uh, help?

Thankfully, Adam came to the rescue. Again. He really needed to start wearing his underpants on the outside. Or possibly not at all. That would work too.

"You're coming with me," he said, leaving no room for argument.

Thank goodness! I hopped up behind him, and with nothing else to hold on to, I was forced to wrap my arms around his waist. I say forced—it wasn't exactly a hardship.

We set off down the mountain again at a much faster pace than before. I began to hope we might actually make dinner tonight rather than tomorrow. The only problem was, I might not have any teeth left to eat it with because they'd most likely have been rattled loose.

It was a wild ride down the wadi, and I clung on tight, feeling Adam's abs working beneath my arms as the rocky vista flashed by in the gloom.

Woohoo!

All too soon, we were back at the hotel. I unpeeled my arms, but my legs refused to cooperate.

"Give me a few seconds, would you?"

Instead of waiting, Adam bent to lift me from the seat.

"Hey, stop! I'm far too heavy."

"I managed just fine the other day when I carried you back to your room. You weren't too heavy then."

He'd carried me? So that was how I'd got back. I hadn't really thought about the logistics before, but it wouldn't have surprised me if he'd borrowed the luggage trolley from the porter.

I still wasn't sure what I'd done to deserve the attention of such a gentleman, but I sure wished I was able to find out so I could keep doing it.

A quick taxi ride later, and I found myself at an Italian restaurant, seated in a comfortable chair at a table on the beach. I slipped off my sandals and scrunched the sand beneath my toes. Adam sat opposite, watching me in the light of a flickering candle. It struck me that this was my first ever candlelit dinner. Bryce had always preferred to see exactly what he was eating so he could pick out the bits he didn't like and leave them on the side of his plate.

The food was excellent, and so was the company. Adam was knowledgeable about every topic under the sun, or so it seemed, and we spoke about everything from the war in Iraq to our favourite animals. He loved dogs, the same as me, but he didn't have one of his own.

"I'd love to get a dog one day," he confided. "From a shelter. There are so many needing homes."

I'd always wanted a dog too. Bryce had claimed to be allergic to pet hair, but in reality, he was just terrified of it sticking to his clothes. But now that he was gone, I could get one if I wanted to. I felt a sudden rush of freedom.

When I got back home, that's what I'd do. I'd get a companion who would love me even if I did occasionally forget to vacuum.

I ordered a dessert not because I was hungry, but simply because I didn't want the evening to end. Adam sipped his espresso as I picked at my tiramisu.

"Thank you for a lovely time," I said.

"It's me who should be thanking you. It's been a long while since I've spent such a relaxed evening with a woman."

That was the first time he'd mentioned his dating history, and I got a sudden bout of nerves. Adorable. Was that good enough?

"Are you seeing anybody back home?"

"Do you think I'd be here with you if I was?"

"Sorry, I shouldn't have asked."

"It's fine. I mean, I know all about Bryce. Did he really take you to watch him in a play as a date?"

"When did I tell you that?"

He mimed drinking out of a wine bottle.

"Oh. Right." Me and my big drunk mouth. "Yes, he did. I sat on my own all night. Even afterwards, he stayed backstage for drinks before he took me home."

Adam shook his head in disbelief before gifting me another of those smiles.

"So... How does your soul feel now? Better?"

Yes, and it wasn't just my soul. From the rubble of my broken heart, a foundation was being built, and Adam was the one stacking up the bricks and mortar.

I nodded. "It was magical. I forgot to take any photos, though."

"Then we'll have to go back there again one day, won't we?"

"I'd like that."

After dinner, which Adam insisted on paying for—now there was a novelty—he took my hand. Rather than catching a taxi, we walked back to the hotel along the coastal path.

Just the two of us and the moonlight, all the way back to my villa.

On the doorstep, Adam paused, and my stomach clenched in delicious anticipation. Would he try to kiss me?

The answer was yes, but barely. With an arm around my waist, he dipped his head and pressed his lips chastely to mine. They lingered for a second, and then he pulled back a fraction and murmured, "I'll see you tomorrow. Enjoy your breakfast."

Once I'd staggered inside, I sat down on the edge of the bed, my eyes vacant, my mind empty of everything except the feel of Adam's soft lips on mine. The faint trace of coffee on his breath. The press of his hand on the small of my back.

Oh boy, was I in trouble.

For once, I got to the dive centre early the next morning. I wanted to see Adam. And thank him for breakfast. After his comment last night, I'd done the math and realised that he was my mystery benefactor.

Yet another thing to be grateful to him for.

Except today he was late. Even Gabe got there before him.

"Last day of the open water course, Callie—you've almost made it."

Gosh, how time had flown. "Don't tempt fate. I still have two more dives to go, right?"

Things had been going far too well. In Callie-land, that meant I was due for a fall soon.

"You need to have more confidence in yourself, kiddo. That ex of yours really did a number on your head, didn't he?"

That was something Kat had said too, but I didn't want to think about it. Bryce was just, well, Bryce. And I'd been happy with him for six years. At least, I thought I had. I wasn't sure if I trusted my own judgement anymore.

Luckily, Gabe didn't seem to be expecting an answer to his question.

"Shall we start getting the equipment ready? I'm sure Sleeping Beauty will turn up eventually."

Sure enough, fifteen minutes later, he did.

"Apologies—I couldn't sleep for hours, and then I overslept. It won't happen again."

"Delhi belly?" Gabe asked.

Adam shook his head. "Just got a few things on my mind."

Was I one of them? I couldn't help but hope.

"Are we going somewhere in the truck today? Or diving out front?" Adam asked.

"House reef today. We'll swim a bit deeper, and we have to learn how to navigate with a compass."

Oh, great. I couldn't even find my way with SatNav and a map.

But Gabe wasn't to be deterred. First, we practised on dry land, walking through the hotel gardens. Around the swimming pool, across the beach... Every time we went past the restaurant, I noticed two girls staring at Adam.

After much whispering, one of the pair finally approached us.

"Excuse me, but I'm sure I know you from somewhere. Have we met before?"

He laughed and surprised me by switching to an incredibly sexy French accent. "I get that all the time. I must have one of those faces. Besides, I'm sure I would remember une fille as pretty as you."

She went pink and giggled. "Sorry to have disturbed you."

Adam was so sweet. If it had been Bryce she'd asked, he'd have given her a chronological list of his TV and stage appearances, then insisted on signing autographs. And it would probably turn out the girl had confused him with her milkman.

Had I turned into a bitter old shrew?

Possibly.

I kept finding myself comparing the two, and Bryce always came up lacking. Had our entire relationship been terrible? Or was I just twisting things in my mind based on how he last treated me? Confused didn't even begin to cover it.

What was Bryce doing now? Did he think about me the way I was thinking of him? Or had I slipped from his mind, an inconsequential memory that would fade away in time to nothing?

"You just went south when you should have gone east," Adam said from beside me.

Aaaand back to the real world. "Sorry, my mind wandered."

Navigating was even harder in the water. First we swam on the surface, and I'll admit I cheated a little and simply swam parallel to the shore. Underwater, I copied Adam. We were supposed to be buddies, right? Buddies stuck together.

The two dives were over before I knew it, and we both passed. Thank heavens. My first attempt at adventure, and I'd not only survived but enjoyed myself doing it. Score one to Callie.

"Now what? I don't want to stop."

Gabe chuckled. "I seem to remember you volunteering yourself for the advanced course the other day."

"What? Did I?"

"You did," Adam put in. "I heard you say it too."

Really? "Are you doing it?"

"Sure am."

"In that case, sign me up." Anything to spend more time with Adam. "Erm, what's in it?"

Gabe reached into a cupboard behind him and fished out a couple of manuals. Great, more studying. I might have groaned.

"Don't be like that. It's not as bad as the open water course. There are a bunch of modules to pick from, and you need to do five of them. The deep dive and underwater navigation are compulsory."

More navigation? Was it too late to change my mind?

"Read through the book tonight," he continued, "and let me know tomorrow which ones you'd like to do."

As we headed back to our villas, the new, brave version of me plucked up the courage to ask Adam a question.

"Do you want to go out tonight? To celebrate passing the course? My treat this time."

"I can't tonight."

My heart plummeted like a dead elevator. Was he giving me the brush-off? Had I totally misread things last night?

"Okay, no problem then."

"I'd love to, but I have to do something."

A vague excuse was almost as bad as an outright no.

"I have to call my brother. I speak to him at this time every week." He frowned as if he was struggling to come to a decision. "He's in rehab," he confided. "I can only phone him once a week at the moment. And after that, I have to give my mother an update on how he is."

The way he spoke, quietly and hesitantly, told me how difficult it had been for Adam to share his secret. And it was the first moment I sensed that whatever was building between us might go deeper than a holiday fling.

I put my hand on his. "Don't worry, I totally understand. Of course your brother has to come first."

"We could go out tomorrow instead? If you don't have other plans, that is."

"Tomorrow's perfect."

We reached my door. This time, in the late afternoon shadow of a bougainvillaea tree, Adam kissed me properly. A little tongue, a lot of heat, and a long groan when he finally pulled away.

"Tomorrow," he whispered before he left me gripping the door jamb in a stupor.