Page 23 of Another Lucky Number (Lucky Number #2)

Chapter Twenty-One

W hile watching James go, I glance across at Amber and Cat, who are making questioning gestures at me and indicating that I should go after him.

I respond by throwing my hands up in my own gesture of ‘what can I do?’, then I let out the same frustrated cry from earlier – though at a much lower volume.

‘ James, why are you here? ’ I suddenly yell after him.

He stops and turns. ‘This was always where I was coming on holiday. I wanted to surprise you – though I realise now that was a pretty stupid idea.’

‘Why was it stupid?’

‘Are you really asking that? Is it not obvious?’

I take a few tentative steps towards him. ‘Because you saw me dancing with Sébastien last night? It was just a dance. Nothing more.’

‘That’s not how it looked from where I was standing. And I was fifteen feet away.’

He’s not wrong. In fact, he appears to be confirming what I’ve been thinking myself. That there is chemistry between me and Sébastien, but that’s all it is: a raw biological connection. It’s no match to what I’ve felt with James and he needs to know that.

‘Look, James, Sébastien’s a great-looking charismatic man. I’m not sure there’s a straight woman in the world who’d—’

‘You don’t need to offer a defence.’ His face is now betraying the hurt he’s clearly feeling. ‘I get it. He’s hot. You couldn’t resist. I was supposed to be hundreds of miles away, and I have no claim to you anyway.’

‘Nothing has happened, James. Nothing. ’ I take another couple of steps towards him.

‘Sébastien did ask me to dinner, and I went, but only because I wound myself up worrying that you’d hook up with some hot blonde on your own holiday.

When I thought he was making moves on me, I put a stop to it, because I didn’t want to ruin things with you.

Then it turned out he only wanted to talk about the job…

I actually made a bit of a tit of myself. ’

James studies me, and I remove my sunglasses so he can look me in the eye and (hopefully) trust that I’m telling the truth.

‘Not like you to do that.’ He keeps his expression neutral, but I know I’ve won him over. I can see a hint of the lovely man I enjoyed a date and a knee-trembling kiss with at the airport sneaking through.

‘Very funny.’ I playfully wrinkle my nose, before slipping my sunglasses back on and turning serious again. ‘Please tell me you believe me.’

‘Shall we take a walk?’ he says and I nod.

James calls to his friends to say he’ll catch them up in a bit, and I signal a similar message to Cat and Amber. They respond with four enthusiastic thumbs up. Amber then punctuates her message by jumping up and making thrusting gestures, which I sincerely hope James does not see.

We make our way down the beach, and I take off my flip-flops so I can enjoy the feel of the gentle sweeping tide chasing my feet while we wander along the shoreline.

‘So, this job thing?’ James prompts me.

‘Yeah, as I said, that was Amber doing her usual.’ I roll my eyes and he laughs. ‘Sébastien wasn’t going to consider me for it, because he was already well through the selection process. But then he had a change of heart and offered me a chance – as long as I do the interview while I’m here.’

‘ Wow . That’s quite something. And a bit weird having to do it here – on your holiday.’

‘Tell me about it. I’m sacrificing nearly half my time here to do it. But I think it’s worth it. Amber and Cat are helping me prepare, and I’m still able to make the most of the resort, so it’s not that bad.’

‘Fair enough. And this job, if you get it. Is it based out here in the Caribbean?’

‘No. That’s the great thing. It doesn’t matter where it’s based. The company is geographically dispersed and the Head Office staff tend to work remotely. I’d have to travel, but I can be based back home.’

‘Right.’ James removes his own flip-flops and joins me in the water. ‘That’s good news. And there’s really nothing going on with Sébastien?’

I put a hand to my chest. ‘Promise there’s not. Believe me, I’ve been as confused as you about his intentions towards me. But after my initial wobble over what you were going to get up to when you were away, I was resolute that there would be no holiday romance, no matter what.’

‘And now?’

‘I mean it, James. Honestly.’

‘And I mean… what about a holiday romance with me?’ He stops and locks eyes with me, the corners of his mouth twitching.

Despite my sunglasses providing something of a barrier between us, I feel myself redden from the intensity of his gaze. ‘Well… for you I could make an exception.’

‘I was hoping you’d say that.’ James’s face breaks into a satisfied grin and my breathing becomes shallow as he takes my hands in his, gently pulling me towards him.

Then he leans in and kisses me, his sexy days old stubble tickling my face, while fireworks go off inside me.

I melt into him, and within seconds, we’re devouring each other hungrily.

A cheer and a wolf-whistle comes from the distance, which I suspect is Amber.

Eventually, we break apart and continue to wander along the beach hand in hand, stealing delighted – and slightly bashful – glances at each other.

‘Hey, you’ve got some explaining to do too,’ I say. ‘You told me you were going to the east coast of the US.’

He shrugs. ‘This the east coast of the US – sort of. Just off it anyway.’

‘ Come on. ’

‘OK, a few hundred miles off it and a completely different country, but it’s not that much of a stretch.’

I shake my head to signal that he’s not getting away with such a poor excuse.

‘Suppose I’d better ‘fess up then.’ His expression turns sheepish.

‘I might have influenced you and your friends a little when it came to choosing your holiday destination. But in my defence, I fancied the pants off you, and I figured if you wouldn’t give me the time of day back home, this tropical paradise might lower your barriers a bit. ’

‘ What are you like ? Could you not be sacked for that?’

‘Only if it didn’t work out and you reported me – which for about twelve hours there, I thought could be a distinct possibility.’

‘Aww, no. I’d never do that. I think it was sweet.’ I squeeze his hand, my heart melting at this admission .

‘Do me a favour and don’t be using descriptions like that in front of my friends – or yours for that matter. You’ll ruin my rep.’

‘ Ha , OK. Your rep is safe. So, was any of it true? About it being a thirtieth birthday celebration for you and your friends – who I’m assuming currently think I’m a horrible person.’

‘Don’t worry, I’ll fix that.’ James nudges me guiltily.

‘Which means they do.’

‘They’re my bros, they always have my back. But they’ll see how great you are. And yes, the part about the birthday celebration is true. I get a discount through my job, so we decided we’d go all out for this one. Vegas isn’t really our style, and we fancied a beach holiday, so here we are.’

‘ Nice . And you know Sébastien because…?’

‘I don’t know him as such. I know of him. We sell holidays to all his resorts, so it’s my job to know who he is.’

‘That’s what I figured. I can introduce you to him properly when we next see him.’

‘Are you sure you want to risk that?’ James raises his eyebrows questioningly.

‘Why? I already told you there was nothing going on.’

‘I mean in case I fall for his charms. Who’s to say he won’t turn me ?’

‘Oh, stop it.’ I give him an affectionate push, and he takes the opportunity to sweep me into another delicious kiss. ‘Wait…’ I pull away from him suddenly. ‘Did Lottie know you were coming here?’

He looks cagey. ‘I might have told her… and swore her to secrecy.’

‘Eh, since when does Lottie’s loyalty to you take precedence over hers to me?’

‘Since she realised that I’m the right man for you?’

‘Or…? ’

‘Since I got down on my knees and begged?’

‘That sounds more plausible.’ I laugh.

Looking along the beach towards Cat and Amber, I can see that they’re getting their stuff together. Amber spots me and signals towards a non-existent watch on her wrist, and I give her a wave of acknowledgement in return.

‘That’s my cue to go,’ I say to James. ‘I’ve got interview practice over lunch.’

‘Sounds fun. Where are you eating?’

‘I’m not telling you that. Last thing I need is you and your buddies turning up to watch me get grilled harder than my lunch.’

‘That obvious, was it?’ He gives a sly smile.

‘I may not know you well yet, but I’ve already got a sense of how that mind ticks. Anyway, I’d better get going.’ I squeeze his hand again, before detaching myself from it. ‘See you later on? We’ll be at the pool in the afternoon – apparently with me doing some “personal development”.’

‘What does that involve?’

‘No idea. I’ve been told to leave it to the experts.’

‘Sure. We have no plans this afternoon, so we’ll swing by and you can meet the lads.’

He plants a delicious goodbye kiss on my lips, and I head off in the direction of my friends, my stomach swishing and swirling with all sorts of giddy gooey feelings, which is a nice change to the nausea that’s taken over recently.

He’s here. He’s really here. And I haven’t cocked things up.

Interview aside, this is an amazing holiday.

By the time I reach Cat and Amber, I’m already lost in a daydream about James and I dancing to one of Lola’s songs, with Lola happily serenading us because I’m lost in James’s eyes, and not Sébastien’s.

‘That seemed to work out well.’ Cat interrupts my little fantasy, her face brimming with excitement .

‘Yes, it did.’ I waggle my eyebrows in response. ‘I’ll fill you in over lunch.’

‘ After your interview practice,’ says Amber.

‘ OK, Mum .’ I duck out the way as she flicks her towel at me.