Page 48 of Another Lucky Number (Lucky Number #2)

Chapter Forty-One

Departure day

‘ Y ou got everything?’ James asks, when I’ve completed a final sweep of my suite.

‘Think so. But the good thing is… if I’ve forgotten anything, you can bring it home for me.’ I pull a cheeky face.

‘True. Provided it fits in my luggage.’

‘I still can’t believe I’m going home and you’re staying here. I know me and the girls have had our holiday, and I’m being totally unreasonable, but it doesn’t feel fair.’

‘Life isn’t fair, Emma.’ James offers me a wise (and highly unwelcome) smile.

‘That’s not what I want to hear right now. You should be agreeing and ruminating over what a tragedy it is that we can’t spend more time here together.’

‘I’d say your use of the word “tragedy” is a little overkill.’

‘Only a little?’ I chuckle, well aware that I’m being a drama queen.

James sits on the bed and pats the covers next to him, inviting me to join him briefly. I plonk myself down .

‘Would it make you feel better if I told you that, while you were snoring like a banshee last night, I was looking up how much it would cost to change your flights and have you stay on here with me?’

‘ Really ?’

‘Yes. So, there you go. I was in the same mindset as you.’

He ruffles my hair and I launch myself on him, covering his face with kisses.

Laughing, he slips his arms around me and tosses me playfully across the bed, before straddling me and kissing me deeply and sensually.

Had we had more time, this would no doubt have led somewhere hot and steamy, but as my airport transfer is arriving imminently, we have no choice but to exercise some self-control.

‘No luck with that search then?’ I say, once I’m back on my feet, readjusting my outfit.

‘Unfortunately, not. There was nothing available on my return flight, or any other flights around the same window of departure.’

‘Ah well, that was really sweet of you to check.’

‘I’ll be home before you know it. Then maybe we can move things up a level and go exclusive? Unless it’s too soon for you?’ He searches my face, probably to check I’m not freaked out by this suggestion.

‘Hold on, mister… are you suggesting that for your return so you can “enjoy” your remaining days here?’ I put a hand on my hip, feigning suspicion.

‘Not for a moment. Why would I want to hook up with anyone else when I already have the most incredible woman waiting for me back home?’

‘Nice save. And also… aww .’ I pounce on him once more.

‘So now I’m confused,’ says James, as we half-cuddle, half-wrestle on the bed. ‘I feel like you’re sending me mixed signals. I’ve been trying to keep the pace slow out of respect for you and your recent circumstances. Does that mean you already want to go exclusive?’

‘I’d say so, wouldn’t you?’

‘What the lady wants, the lady gets.’ James kisses my nose and I beam back at him, delighted at this upgrade in our relationship status. ‘Right, let’s get your stuff along to reception.’

‘Do we have to?’

‘Do you want to shell out two grand for a flight home three days after I’ve left?’

‘No.’

‘Then we have to.’

I trail along behind James to the atrium, where Cat and Amber are already waiting for us.

‘ Aww, honey .’ Cat puts her arm around me when she spots my pouty lip and subdued demeanour. ‘It feels too soon to leave, doesn’t it? Especially with everything that’s gone on.’

‘It really does.’ I lean my head against her shoulder.

‘You could always treat us to another holiday to make up for ruining this one?’ suggests Amber.

‘ Amber! ’ Cat scolds her. ‘That’s so inappropriate.’

‘I was joking. Obviously. ’

‘With you, it’s hard to know.’ I try to pull her into a group hug but she ducks away from me.

‘ Mesdames, ca va? ’ Sébastien appears out of nowhere, greeting us with double kisses as he always does.

This includes James, who looks mighty uncomfortable, as he has done each time it’s happened since I introduced him and Sébastien properly the other day.

‘It is time for you to return home. That is sad.’

‘It’s very sad,’ I say. ‘I could go another week at least.’

‘Such is life, huh? Félicité and I wanted to come and wish you well for your journey home.’ He beckons to his wife, who’s chatting to one of staff at the reception desk.

Despite having already met and had drinks with Sébastien’s wife (my plan to avoid them didn’t work out so well), I’m still cowed by her presence every time I see her.

She’s like a vision from an oil painting: a mane of golden-blonde tresses, skin as perfect as porcelain, curves in all the right places.

Possibly the hottest woman I’ve ever clapped eyes on, which makes me feel very stupid indeed for ever thinking Sébastien was interested in me.

A god and a goddess – us mere mortals would never get a look in.

‘ ?a va , ladies and gentleman James?’ She smiles at us, her huge sapphire blue doe eyes glittering, while Sébastien looks on adoringly. ‘I wanted to wish you all a safe journey.’

We respond to her with a variety of appreciative acknowledgements and I swear we all sigh a little in wonder.

‘Well, I guess we’d better go,’ I say.

‘Before you do, may I speak with you for one moment in confidence, Emma?’ Sébastien asks.

‘Sure.’

We move out of earshot of the group, leaving the others to make small talk.

‘I will make this very quick,’ he says. ‘Over the last two days, I have had discussions with Eloise and some other colleagues, and we have come to an agreement. We would like to offer you a role within Paradis Resorts – at a more junior level than the job you interviewed for, but in the same department.’

This comes as such a shock that my brain falters like a buffering video. ‘Oh… I… um…’

‘There is no pressure to make a decision immediately,’ he quickly adds.

‘I understand that you may wish to try for senior positions elsewhere, however, I want you to know that I see the role as a stepping stone to the one you applied for over time. Succession planning is a key aspect of how I operate the business.’

‘Gosh, Sébastien, sorry …’ I finally find my voice. ‘I just wa sn’t expecting this. Of course I’m interested. I don’t even have to think about that.’

‘ Bien .’ His face breaks into a crinkly-eyed smile. ‘I am very pleased to hear this. I will email the details to you, and we can talk more once you are home and rested.’

‘Fantastic. I can’t wait to hear more. Thank you so much for this opportunity.’

‘The pleasure is all mine, Emma. You have earned your place with us and we will be lucky to have you join our team…’

As he’s talking, I suddenly remember my agreement with James to go travelling together.

Sh-i-i-t . I don’t want to miss out on that, and I certainly don’t want James heading off to god knows where alone and potentially finding himself an exotic goddess like Félicité to replace me.

But then I don’t want to miss out on the job either.

‘Emma? ?a va? ’

Double shit. I’ve completely zoned out because of this dilemma. Honesty is the only way forward here.

‘Sorry, Sébastien. Yes, I’m fine, however… when I found out I didn’t get the job, I made other arrangements. I was hoping to travel for a few months with James in the summer.’ My gaze falls to the floor as it dawns on me how lame this must sound.

‘That is not a problem, Emma,’ says Sébastien to my surprise, and I look up. ‘This job is new so we have flexibility. We can agree a start date in the autumn. How does that sound?’

I break into a relieved grin. ‘It sounds perfect. Thanks so much again, Sébastien.’

‘As I say, Emma, the pleasure is all mine.’

We return to the others and say goodbye to Sébastien and Félicité who head in the direction of the pool. Cat, Amber, James and I then make our way outside to the waiting people carrier, where the concierge is loading our luggage into the boot.

‘What was that about, Emma?’ Amber asks .

‘Nothing really…’ I adopt a sly expression. ‘Except that Sébastien just offered me a job.’

‘ He what? ’

I laugh at the three stunned faces blinking back at me and quickly fill them in. What follows is much cheering and whooping as we celebrate my surprise job offer – and the fact I can still go on my trip with James.

‘We’ll leave you to say goodbye properly,’ says Cat when the excitement of the moment has passed.

‘Yeah, we’ll skip the face sucking,’ says Amber. ‘Bye, James. See you on the other side.’ She gives him a little salute, then Cat hugs him and they get into the waiting taxi.

‘I’ve been dreading this bit.’ I say to James, wrinkling my nose.

‘Hey, don’t be so glum. I’ll see you in about four days’ time.’ He lifts my chin with his forefinger so I’m gazing right into his eyes.

‘I know that. It’s more that it’s the end of our time here together. It’s been so wonderful and romantic – bar one or two hiccups – and I wish we could have longer.’

‘Well, remember… all being well, we’ll be going on our own trip soon – just the two of us.’

‘I know.’ I beam at him, my mood instantly lifting. ‘I already can’t wait.’

‘Me neither.’ He takes my face in his hands and kisses me tenderly. ‘Safe journey home. Never thought I’d say this but I’ll be looking forward to getting back to cold, rainy Scotland.’

‘That is a rare statement.’

Keeping hold of his hand until the very last second, I reluctantly get into the people carrier, giving James one final wave as we drive off.

‘You OK?’ Cat takes my hand while the taxi crawls down the long driveway past the lush vegetation and towering trees .

‘Yeah, I’m fine. But sad that our trip is already over.’

‘You’ve got nothing to be sad about.’ Amber eyes me from the other side of Cat. ‘New boyfriend and a new job. I’d call that a bloody successful holiday.’

‘I guess when you put it like that…’ I give a sheepish laugh that’s met with an approving wink from Amber and a hand squeeze from Cat. ‘Actually, my new job will be the perfect sweetener for when I tell my parents about me going travelling for the summer.’

‘That’s true, it will be helpful,’ says Cat. ‘Hey, something dawned on me when you were saying goodbye to James. You’ve got another lucky number, honey.’

‘Um… OK. Do you want to elaborate on that?’

‘James’s phone number was your first one, right? Because it won you the money.’

‘Uh-huh…’

‘And Sébastien said it was your karaoke performance that made him notice you. So… the song you sang is another lucky number. You know… like how a song can be referred to as a “number”. As in “That’s a great number”.’

‘ Yeah, grandma, ’ hoots Amber. ‘Nobody born post nineteen-sixty refers to music in that way.’

‘Leave her alone, Amber.’ I give her a stern look as Cat turns beetroot.

‘ What? ’ Amber’s face is defiant. ‘It’s true. My Pops talked that way and he was practically from the Victorian era.’

‘That’s a bit of an exaggeration,’ I say. ‘But how cute that you had a “Pops”. I can just picture you, all tiny, sitting on his knee. You’d probably still be able to do that.’

‘ Shut it, Emma .’ She folds her arms and stares out of the window while Cat and I share a delighted look for having successfully one-upped her.

With one last look through the rear window at the resort, I settle back in my seat contentedly, finally turning my thoughts to home – and all the exciting new beginnings that now lie ahead of me there.