Exclusive: Excerpt of ‘Pervade Montego Bay’ by Vanessa Fewings

We are so excited to share with you an exclusive excerpt from Vanessa Fewings’s upcoming novel Pervade Montego Bay, out August 18th!

Chapter One

 Emily

I removed my sunglasses and was almost blinded by the blue sky’s brilliance, anticipation swirling inside me as the tall brass gates swung open for my chauffeur driven car.

The estate’s long driveway was lined with palm trees and lush foliage. I lowered my window and let the warm breeze kiss my face, breathing in the exotic scents of Jamaica. The island’s extraordinary beauty had exceeded my expectations.    

Royal Court Manor was impressive with its colonial-style design and tropical flower beds – a contrast to James’ castle in England. When I’d visited there, I’d never imagined I’d be seeking him out on foreign soil.

My stomach flipped when I realized how close I was to seeing them. It had been just over a week since I’d received the invite to fly here all the way from London. Yet it felt like a lifetime ago. My last note of responsibility before throwing caution to the winds had been my final exam. During my last days at the Royal Academy of Music, all I could think about was being back in their arms.

Six months ago, I’d met the beautiful and brilliant Xavier Rothschild in a chance meeting on the Underground at Piccadilly. That event had sent me spinning in a new direction. As time went on, our idyllic life had unraveled and I’d discovered he was not the man I thought he was.

Yet I loved him no less. 

I’d fallen for two men for entirely different reasons. I loved Xavier Rothschild for his rare beauty and remarkable intellect that even now was startling to comprehend – his ability to interpret the language of artificial intelligence a rare gift. 

I’d also fallen hard for his friend. James Ballad was a man of dangerous grace, his authority reaching all the way to the highest echelons of society. I’d personally witnessed that power and even now it sent chills down my spine to think of the influence he had on the world. I’d seen beyond James’ coldness and glimpsed a light he rarely shared. Getting to know him had been exhilarating. It was all I could think about.

Out the back window, I watched the chauffeur remove my luggage and violin case from the boot. I felt butterflies in my stomach and my heart began to beat faster with anticipation, my skin flushing in response. I couldn’t wait to fall into their arms.

James and Xavier both had a complicated past. It was as complex as their futures…our futures. What had once seemed unimaginable had morphed into reality – a ménage à trois that saw three opposites melding together exquisitely in a passionate love affair. 

These were the thoughts scratching at my mind as I tried to reassure myself that the decision to come here had been the right one. Not that I could have resisted being reunited with my Xavier. We were connected in ways I couldn’t define.

The car door opened and I climbed out, thanking the driver for fetching me from Sangster International Airport. Then I watched him drive away toward the gate.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves, and admired the well-tended shrubs and trees and the vibrant beauty of the colorful flowers. The exotic birdsong filling the air reminded me how far I’d come. 

I lugged my suitcase up the stone steps and knocked on the ornate wooden door. 

No one answered.

The door was unlocked. I stepped inside the foyer and was enveloped by the scent of tropical fruit mixed with ocean air. Excitement twisted my stomach into knots of uncertainty as I looked around the elegant interior with its tall palms resting in ceramic pots. A Louis Vuitton trunk was pressed up against a wall to lend a sophisticated touch. The décor revealed the owner’s desire to make this place into a home.

Dread worked its way into my chest. Why hadn’t Xavier come to greet me?

See, that’s the doubt you let in.

He wouldn’t allow me to get on a plane and fly all the way to Montego Bay if it meant I’d be in danger.

Would he?

The journey had left me grungy and I couldn’t wait to take a shower and freshen up. I welcomed the breeze from the ceiling fan whooshing above that helped cool the interior during the heat of midday.

Respectfully, I slipped off my shoes and left them beside my luggage and violin case.

“Hello!” Making my way barefoot through the house, I peeked into the vast dining room and then the cozy sitting room filled with lush palms, a long couch and a walled TV. 

Following the sound of lapping waves, I continued on through the manor to the back of the house and found a door that led outside.

Oh, God, the beauty of it all…

There, beyond the garden and its sparkling pool, was a pristine beach lined with coconut palms. Beyond all those white crystals lay the ocean. To the right was a long dock where a sailing boat was tethered. I allowed myself a few moments to take it all in…

The sound of a sanding tool drew me away from the spectacular scene. I made my way along the rear of the house and peered into an open workspace.

A jolt of happiness hit me when I saw James…