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I inched forward again and cupped her face.

Just as I was about to close the gap between us, the shrill ring of Sammie’s phone sounded.

‘Bloody hell!’ Sammie jumped back, clutching her chest. ‘That scared the shit out of me!’

‘You should get that.’ I stood up. ‘And I should go.’

‘I don’t want you to.’

‘I need to let Victoria know that you will be staying and check that your villa is ready. I will call you when I have some news.’

‘Okay,’ she said.

I rushed towards the door, then stepped outside.

That was close.

Maybe being interrupted was a warning to stop me from making a big mistake.

But if that was true, why was I not glad about it?

31

SAMMIE

‘This place isincredible!’ I said as I stood at the front door of my villa and took in the view of the swimming pool that I’d just spotted out on the patio. ‘Oh my God!’ I screamed down the phone before racing through the open-plan living room to take a closer look.

‘Ouch,’ Stella replied. ‘My eardrums!’

‘Sorry, but I’ve got my own poolandhot tub!’ I said as I ran along the patio towards it. ‘And the living room is huge! To think I was considering going home!’

‘So, you’re staying?’

‘Too right! They’re gonna give me all my money back and a driver to take me anywhere I want. I mean, I’d have to be an idiot to turn that down.’

‘And will you be going to these placesalone?’ Stella asked suggestively.

I stepped into the huge bedroom and slid the patio doors shut. Even though it was a detached villa, I didn’t want to risk anyone overhearing my conversation.

‘Well, Romeo said that maybe we could go to some placestogether.’

‘I didn’t know Love Alchemists could take a guest on an excursion by themselves.’

‘We almost kissed.Twice.’

‘What?’ Stella shouted.

‘Ouch! My eardrums!’ I joked, repeating her earlier comment.

‘When didthishappen?’

‘The first time was after I’d found out about Edward and was upset. Then earlier today when he came to tell me about Victoria speaking to Edward and what the hotel wanted to offer me, we had another moment and I asked him to kiss me.’

‘Youaskedhim?’

‘Yeah,’ I shrugged, even though she couldn’t see me. ‘It just felt like the attraction was mutual and I knew he wouldn’t make the first move because he’d be worried about taking advantage of me, so I wanted to let him know that it was okay. That I wanted him too.’

‘So, why’d you stop?’