Page 31 of Another Lucky Number (Lucky Number #2)
Chapter Twenty-Eight
B y eleven p.m., the steel drum band has long wrapped up and Amber’s impatience at us not yet having moved on is evident.
‘ Can we go already! ’ She dings her glass to get our attention and succeeds in silencing half the bar in the process.
‘Amber, where would you like to go?’ James asks.
‘So kind of you to ask, James. I want to go to the resort club.’
‘There’s a club here?’ Rob seems surprised by this.
‘Think it’s more a bar with a dance floor. Can’t confirm that though – thanks to these two boring bastards.’ Amber jerks a thumb at me and Cat.
James looks to me and I shrug. ‘She only asked once and we weren’t in the mood that night.’
‘And tonight?’
‘I guess we could go. Although I don’t want to have a late one for obvious reasons.’
‘How about we head to the wine bar for a couple of drinks, then those who want to can go for a dance after that?’ he suggests. ‘Tyler and Rob will probably be up for it, right lads? ’
‘Sure, why not,’ says Rob,
‘Few glasses of champers and I’ll be owning the dance floor.’ Tyler mimics some dance moves.
‘ Awesome! ’ Amber punches the air. ‘Glad I’m finally with people who know how to have fun. Let’s go.’
We vacate our table and amble through the gardens to The Cave. Amber walks ahead with Rob and Tyler, the three of them having a right carry on as they go, while James, Cat and I follow behind.
‘It’s nice that Amber’s found some playmates,’ I muse.
‘You sound like a proud mum,’ says James.
‘It can feel like parenting with her sometimes. Right, Cat?’
‘Sure can,’ she says. ‘Amber can be hard work, but her heart is in the right place – though sometimes it requires the skills of a code breaker to work that out.’
‘She’s certainly a character.’ James chuckles. ‘If she wasn’t married, I’d have been trying to pair her up with Tyler. He has a devilish sense of humour as well. Though maybe that would be too dangerous a combination.’
‘Probably.’ I nod.
We round the last bend to The Cave and discover that the others have already gone inside.
‘Good evening,’ the same hostess from our previous visits greets us. ‘It’s lovely to see you again. Your friends are being shown to your table and Ashwana will return for you shortly.’
Moments later, we’re collected by Ashwana who chaperones us to the outdoor terrace.
‘I love this place,’ I say James. ‘I mean look at the moon and the stars. They’re so bright and visible from here because of there being less artificial light around us. And the décor. It really makes you feel like you’re in the opening of an actual cave.’
‘It’s very cool.’ He looks around him, appearing impressed. ‘I’ve seen photos but they don’t do it justice. ’
We perch ourselves on the tall chairs and join the others in staring out across the seascape.
It may be dark but the sense of openness to the elements, the noise of the waves lapping on the shore and the idea of there being nothing but water beyond us is still mesmerising.
The only person who’s not hypnotised by the experience is, of course, Amber.
‘Will we start with two bottles of the stuff we had last time?’ she says.
‘Maybe the guys would like to look at the drinks menu?’ I suggest.
‘No, that’s fine,’ says James. ‘We’re easily pleased, right guys?’
Tyler and Rob nod casually.
Amber relays the order to the waiter when he reappears, and within minutes, we’re toasting to good health and amazing holidays.
I take a sip of my fizz, the fruity bubbles of which are like crystalline pearls on my tongue, leaving me giddy with happiness.
I then steal a glance at James, who looks even more gorgeous in the half-light, and he obviously senses this, because his free hand seeks out mine and our fingers intertwine.
It’s an almost perfect moment – other than the fact that we’re not able to enjoy a deeper level of intimacy together.
Well, that, and the sight of Amber making rude gestures as she banters with Tyler, likely telling him one of her many inappropriate stories.
He seems riveted, guffawing loudly, which backs up James’s observation that they would be a perfectly suited couple – or a very dangerous combination.
Cat, Rob, James and myself have settled into a more palatable conversation about excursions we could go on once my interview is over, when Sébastien materialises next to us.
His dark eyes sweep the table, taking in each of James, Rob and Tyler, then land on my hand in James’s.
Feeling uncomfortable, I instinctively release it, attempting to disguise the movement by adjusting my necklace.
‘ Mesdames, messieurs , bonsoir .’ Sébastien makes his way around Cat, Amber and myself with his signature greeting. ‘How is your evening?’ His gaze land on me and stays there.
‘It’s… good, thanks.’ I shift in my seat. ‘Managed to bag the last table out here.’
‘I see this. You have also “bagged” yourself some new friends, it seems.’
‘Oh, sorry. I’ll introduce you. Sébastien, this is James, Tyler and Rob.’
‘ Enchanté .’ Sébastien nods politely at each of them in turn. They offer similar responses though I note that James’s smile doesn’t shine quite as brightly as usual.
‘James works at Archer & Crombie, a luxury travel agency,’ I say.
‘Ah, yes.’ Sébastien’s face lights up with recognition. ‘I am pleased to see you here, James. Your company sells a lot of holidays to our resorts. I hope you will enjoy your stay and continue to recommend the resort after.’
‘So far, so good.’ James gives a polite nod.
‘I am glad to hear this.’ Sébastien’s eyes shift from James back to me. ‘You are looking well this evening, Emma. Your eyes have the shine of the stars in them once again.’
I feel myself colour from this comment, despite knowing that Sébastien doesn’t mean anything by this.
It’s a reference to my ‘funny turn’ the previous evening.
It also seems to be his way, to be open and say whatever is in his head, however, this isn’t common knowledge, and I’m hyper aware of the look that’s exchanged between James and his friends.
‘Oh… thank you… yes…’ I stammer. ‘As I said this morning, I’m in much better form today. It’s been a productive day of interview preparation.’
‘ Bien . I am looking forward to Monday, as I am sure you are too. Not only for the interview, but for being able to finally relax and enjoy your holiday.’
‘Absolutely. Some rest and relaxation will be well overdue by then. Although I’m still getting some – in small doses.’
Sébastien’s eyes crinkle in what appears to be acknowledgement of my comment, before his gaze sweeps around the group once more.
‘I will bid you goodnight, then,’ he says.
‘You don’t want to join us for a drink?’ says Amber. ‘The more the merrier.’
‘ Ah, non . Thank you for the kind offer, Amber, but I will be rising early tomorrow. I will take what I think you call a “rain check”.’
‘No probs.’ She smiles at him. ‘We’ll expect to you to join us at another point then.’
‘I will look forward to this.’
Sébastien gives us one final polite nod, his gaze lingering slightly longer on me, then makes his way inside.
I glance at James and it might be that my radar is too sensitised, or I’m feeling weird about the attention Sébastien was showing me, but I get the sense that something’s going on with him.
He wasn’t quite as friendly as I’ve known him to be just then with Sébastien.
But then I don’t know James that well. Maybe it’s a guy thing.
Maybe they cool things a little around other guys to come across as laid back and smooth.
‘So, that was Sébastien,’ I say unnecessarily.
‘We saw,’ says James. ‘ He’s all man, isn’t he?’
I’m unsure how to answer this. Or what James meant by it.
‘He’s… a nice guy. Been very kind to me.’
‘Seems like it.’ His tone is light, but the affection he was displaying so plainly before is now distinctly absent.
As the others resume chatting, I consider whether to slip my hand back into James’s, to pick up where we left off, but I’m not getting the right vibes to feel comfortable doing that. Instead, I try to engage him in conversation.
‘Such a great place this, isn’t it?’ I say. ‘What do you think of the resort so far? Now you’ve had a chance to experience some of it.’
‘It’s a cracking place all right.’ He shrugs. ‘Won’t be a struggle to enjoy a good break.’
I continue to make what can only be described as ‘small talk’ with him, until I can no longer take the stark contrast between how he was with me before Sébastien appeared, and this odd sense of formality that’s settled over us like a cloud.
It’s too reminiscent of how he was earlier in the day.
Instead, I involve myself in the group chat, which I note that James is still heartily engaging with, so whatever is going on with him, it has to be about me and Sébastien – again.
By the time the fizz is getting low, Amber’s lobbying heavily for moving on to the resort club.
I have no intention of taking the night any further from a drinking and dancing perspective, so I stay out of the conversation.
Cat does the same. Having caught her stifling several yawns, I know she’s ready to call it a night.
Tyler and Rob have already signed up to joining Amber, which only leaves James.
A big part of me is hoping he’ll come with me, so that we can enjoy some time just the two of us.
But as things have cooled between us since Sébastien swung by, I’m not sure that experience would live up to my expectations.
He holds back from signalling his intentions at the table, and no one questions him on it. It’s only after leaving the bar and reaching a fork in the path, which will send us in opposite directions that the decision can no longer be put off.
‘Hey, Emma,’ says James. ‘I’m thinking I’ll join the others in the club. You’ll need a good sleep ahead of your prep tomorrow, so best I give you peace.’