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‘Romeo.’ Victoria’s voice softened. ‘You of all people should know that love doesn’t have a set timeline. Some people swear they fell in love at first sight. For others it takes months. Some people are head over heels in days or weeks. How many of our guests have told you before they’ve left that they’ve fallen for their match? One? Two?’

‘No. The majority develop strong feelings within the first week and usually by the end of the trip…’

As reality hit me, I swallowed the lump in my throat.

Of course people fell in love quickly here.

That was the whole point of the hotel and why it had been so successful.

Shit.

I loved her.

I had fallen in love with Sammie.

I blinked, then blinked again as I tried to process the realisation.

‘Here’s what I’m going to do about what I just saw.’ Victoria narrowed her eyes then leant forward.

My chest tightened. I was so close to getting the opportunity to go to the US, but now I had blown it.

I did not even know why I was thinking about a transfer when Victoria was going to fire or at best suspend me. She was clear from the start that I should not cross the line. She had given me dozens of warnings and I had not listened.

‘I understand.’ I got up from my seat.

‘Where are you going?’ She frowned.

‘I am leaving.’

‘Sit down!’ she commanded. ‘You didn’t even wait to hear what I intend to do.’

‘Tell me,’ I said, bracing myself for the punishment.

‘I’m going to do absolutely nothing.’ Her mouth twitched. ‘When some guests were asking for you and you weren’t answering your phone, something told me to check Samantha’s villa. When I walked up the path and saw the front door was cracked open, I thought it was weird. Then I heard her scream and I was worried, so I knocked and when Samantha still didn’t answer, I pushed it open. I wasn’t expecting to see your head between her thighs. And at first, I was furious.’

‘I apologise again that you saw us.’

‘But now that I’m thinking more calmly and I can see you’re clearly smitten, maybe I can show some leniency.’ She rested her finger on her chin, like she was considering her next move.

‘I would really appreciate that.’ My pulse quickened. Maybe there was a chance that I was not going to get fired after all.

‘Samantha’s going back to London tomorrow. And frankly, thanks to that dickhead Edward, the start of her experience here was a shitshow. So the way I see it, if you helped her toenjoy herself, which judging by the screams that I now know were because of pleasure rather than pain, you did, then what’s the harm? Plus, Samantha’s friends with Jasmine, right?’

‘Correct.’

‘Good. So Samantha will be aware of the importance of not blabbing to the world about how well she wasservicedby her Love Alchemist because she got matched with a guy who left after a few days to go back to his pregnant ex.Yes.’ A wide smile spread across her face. ‘As long as you both show the utmost discretion about Samantha’s stay here, I’m confident that this doesn’t have to be a problem. But if it does, we’ll have to have another more serious conversation. Understood?’

‘Sì.’

My shoulders relaxed and I exhaled. I was not going to lose my job.

That was great news.

Keeping my career was one thing.

Now I had to work out how not to lose Sammie forever.

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