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She glanced left to Lucy, who was grinning and clapping towards Sloane. To her right, Welshy was doing the same. Nobody else had noticed.

However, when she dared to look back at Sloane, her gaze hadn’t shifted. She stared at Ella with an intensity that made Ella’s muscles clench. When she could wrench herself away, Ella dropped the connection, and so did Sloane. Only then did the volume turn back up and the lights return to their former level. Ella stayed still, not daring to move or look anywhere else but at her nearly empty plate. She took a sip of her fizzy water, and hoped they’d leave soon.

She wasn’t sure what had just happened, but the sooner they were back at the hotel, the sooner she could go to sleep and pretend it hadn’t. It was just a blip. She didn’t like Sloane inthatway. And even if she did, nothing could happen. They worked together, and Sloane still had a Lioness fiancée.

Whatever had made her chest explode needed to pipe down.

* * *

Her mouthstill hummed from the taste of red chillies, garlic, and ginger as she entered the hotel lobby, struck again by the lush floral arrangements. A hand on her shoulder made her glance right.

Sloane.

Her stomach dropped. Sloane’s skin was exquisite. Silky, almost otherworldly. She really had to get a grip.

“Your hair looks nice today.” Sloane narrowed her eyes. “Different, somehow.”

“I had it cut. It reduces the volume by half. It’ll be back to normal in a couple of weeks.”

“Right.” Sloane looked at her feet, then back to Ella. “I also noticed you got out of singing a song at dinner, which wasn’t strictly fair. I was looking forward to hearing you sing.” She tilted her head to one side as she spoke, then swirled a finger around Ella’s face.

Ella followed Sloane’s fingertip precisely.

“I can’t quite work out if you’d go Taylor or Florence. Or maybe something old school, like Kate Bush or Abba.”

“I can’t hold a note, so I decided to let the group off my awful singing. If you’ve ever heard me, you’ll realise it’s a good thing.”

A large group with dozens of cases entered the lobby. Sloane and Ella shifted left to let them past.

“Nice try, but you owe us a song. Maybe on the plane home.” Her face lit up with a lopsided smile.

Had Sloane’s smile always been so magnetic?

“I hope you’re going to share your story when it’s your turn, and not duck out of that, too.”

“Everyone’s got to share, so I’ll take my turn happily.” Ella paused. “Talking of which, that was really powerful stuff from you yesterday. It was a really vulnerable story to share. I liked seeing that side to you. I hope I see it more in our sessions, too.”

Sloane licked her lips and shrugged like it was no big deal.

Ella knew it was.

“I can be vulnerable. I’m American, remember? Plus, with my background, I’ve been in therapy for years. It’s what we do best. Navel-gazing.”

“Don’t make light of it.” It was a defence mechanism Ella was well acquainted with. She’d used it for years after her mum died.

“I wasn’t.” Sloane stopped, then sucked on her top lip before she continued. “You want to grab coffee in the bar before we go to bed? I might share more for you to ponder.”

Sloane talking to her about going to bed wasn’t helping. Ella had to get out of here. Back to the solitude of her room. Away from Sloane.

She shook her head. “I’m knackered after today, so I’ll skip it.” She tilted her head towards the lift. “See you tomorrow.”

Sloane gave her a slow nod, went to say something else, then shook her head. “See you then.”

When Ella got to the lift, she turned. “Sloane?”

When Sloane’s gaze met Ella’s, her expression was expectant. “Yes?”

“It’s Taylor. Every time. Who else?”