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‘There is a selection of pastries, fresh fruit and cold meats in the buffet over there.’ She pointed. ‘If you tell me what you like I could bring some to you?’

‘I can go myself,grazie.’

‘Prego,’ she said before leaving.

‘You’re getting an omeletteandpastries?’ Edward asked. ‘That’s alotof food.’

Jesus. This guy was obsessed. ‘I’ll leave you to it.’ Edward pushed his chair back then stood up.

‘You’releaving?’ My eyebrows shot up.

‘There’s not much time before the briefing, so I should get ready.’

There was over an hour until it started. Seeing as we’d been matched and were in the restaurant at the same time I thought he’d at least sit with me and talk.

‘I guess I’ll see you there then,’ I replied.

‘Yes,’ he said, not meeting my gaze. ‘See you later.’

7

SAMMIE

Considering Edward had made such a big song and dance about leaving so he could get to the briefing early, it was strange that he wasn’t here yet.

I was currently lounging in one of the fancy outdoor chairs by the pool admiring the surroundings whilst I waited, which wasn’t a hardship because, like everywhere in this hotel, it screamed luxury.

The enormous, pristine swimming pool was surrounded by luxury sun loungers, large comfy-looking white daybeds, complete with extra cushions, all shaded by a mixture of palm and olive trees. And holy macaroni. The sea was so close. In just a few strides, I could be sinking my feet into the powdery white sand and swimming in the gorgeous clear turquoise sea.

There were nine other couples here and they seemed to be chatting happily amongst themselves, whilst I was trying not to look at the tempting view in front of me.

And when I say theview, I was referring to a certain Italian Love Alchemist.

Directly in my line of sight was Romeo, who’d just finished setting up a table with a whiteboard beside it. He’d been trying to do it for the past ten minutes, but kept getting stopped by guests who wanted to talk to him.

Most of them were female and as exaggerated as it might sound, I was pretty sure thatallof them fancied him.

I was no Enola Holmes, but the way they’d twirled their hair around their fingers, cocked their heads flirtatiously and giggled at whatever he was saying was a dead giveaway.

Oh, and the fact that, as I established yesterday, he was bloody gorgeous might also have something to do with my assumptions.

And from the way he was smirking, it was clear he loved the attention.

Yep. Romeo might be Italian, but he seemed just as arrogant as all of the other good-looking guys back home.

‘Good. It hasn’t started yet.’ Edward finally appeared beside me, snapping me out of my thoughts.

‘Not yet. There’s been some… interruptions. Everything okay?’ I said, which was my polite way of asking where he’d been. I didn’t get why he’d rushed off, leaving me to eat breakfast on my own, only to turn up here late.

‘Yes,’ he said quickly. ‘I wonder what the first activity will be.’

‘My best friend went to the resort in Spain and she said they did a pool activity.’

‘If it’s swimming related, I’ll enjoy that. How did your friend get on? Was she happy with her match?’

‘No. At first she was furious because they matched her with her ex!’

‘Oh…’ Edward’s voice trailed off and his face fell.