Page 18 of Harper's Holiday Romance

Green signified the make up room option.

Red signified privacy.

“Another surprise? You didn’t have to do all this,” Billie marvelled.

“Yes, of course. It’s my pleasure.”

Billie adjusted the peak of the cap. “How does it look?”

“Good. You look really pretty.” Rosalina beamed.

Billie wiggled her eyebrows in my direction.

“Red suits you. It is the colour of the devil and all that.” I smirked.

Rosalina’s facial expression didn’t falter. She didn’t understand the banter, but that was fine. Her hair was tied back tightly in a low bun. It seemed to be the theme with most of the women in the hotel. She was pretty, with skin so smooth I wanted to reach out and touch it.

Rosalina didn’t say anything else, but she stared at Billie with the eyes of someone suddenly in love.

She touched the sleeve of Billies T-shirt, allowing her arm to linger for a few seconds longer than I would deem appropriate for a concierge.

“I like your shirt.”

“Thank you,” Billie said. She was oblivious.

Rosalina eventually said her parting farewell. The heavy wooden door slammed into the frame, and I spun back towards Billie.

“It’s not your birthday!”

“They don’t know that.” Billie let her hair down. Now the cap made her look like a lifeguard. “Honestly, does it suit me?”

“Yes, just don’t get in the ring with a bull,” I jested.

“I don’t plan on it!”

“What if they find out it’s not your birthday?” I asked.

“How are they going to do that?” She scoffed.

“They have our passports, Billie.” I worried.

“Oh.” She yanked the bottle of champagne from the ice bucket. “We better drink this quick then.”

“You don’t even like champagne.”

“I like free champagne.” She beamed.

The hotel was all-inclusive. I was positive they weren’t coming back for the complimentary bottle of champagne, but once I’d gotten overthe initial anxiety of being associated with rebel Billie, I found it amusing to watch her drink three glasses in record time.

We sat on the balcony for a short while before Sarah came to join us. There was a short window of time in the afternoon when she scheduled a video chat with her newest captivation. We decided that would be our “sun break”, and judging by the colour of my skin it was necessary.

The balcony provided an unbelievable ocean view. All the rooms were angled towards the sea, which gave it a new level of privacy. Billie climbed into the empty soapstone tub, sliding into the man-made grooves that were designed to keep you in place.

“This is the life.”

“Isn’t it.” I exhaled, relaxing back into the plush grey seating.

Billie rolled her head to the left. “We haven’t caught a glimpse of your arch nemesis today.”