Page 11 of What Happens in Paradise

‘Hi,’ she said softly.

‘You look very…’ I paused. I was about to say she looked beautiful, but then stopped myself.

At the team meeting a few days ago, Jasmine gave a speech about the importance of professionalism in the workplace and warned against inappropriate comments and behaviour towards our colleagues.

One of the waiters had heard it was because Miguel, the creepy head of housekeeping was caught fucking the new lady.

Jasmine’s message was clear. Getting involved with co-workers was not a good idea. So calling her beautiful was not a smart thing to do either.

‘You look very…summery,’ I corrected myself.

‘Thanks,’ she smiled. ‘It’s always hard to know what to wear for a long flight.’

‘Right,’ I said, thinking I had not given much thought to my clothes. I was a shorts and T-shirt guy.

I had barely stood next to her for two minutes, but her beautiful scent already filled the air. She always smelt so good.

‘So this was a surprise,’ I said to break the silence. We had not spoken since Hazel told us we would be travelling together, so it was a good time to mention it.

‘It certainly was,’ she replied.

‘But a good opportunity. For us both.’

‘It will be. If we meet their objectives.’

‘We will,’ I said confidently. ‘You are excellent at your job. And so am I.’

‘You’re very modest.’ She laughed softly.

‘Is it not the truth? Are you not excellent at what you do?’

‘I like to think so.’

‘And am I not excellent at my job?’

‘Your food is very nice.’

‘Very nice?’ I gasped and clutched my chest as if I had been wounded. ‘A burger isvery nice. A glass of water on a hot day isvery nice.Niceis just ordinary. It is boring. Do you think I am boring?’ I raised my eyebrow as I shuffled along in the queue.

‘No, well, I don’t really know you.’

‘That will change. We will be spending a lot of time together…’ My voice trailed off and Jasmine’s eyes dropped to the floor. ‘You may not know me well yet, but you have tasted my food, no?’

‘Of course, many times.’

‘And how did it make you feel?’

‘It’s always been delicious. Surprising. Somehow everything you make tastes different – better than I’m expecting.’

‘There, that is better. I preferdeliciousandunexpectedly superiorto just very nice.Gracias.’

‘You’re very confident.’ She smiled.

‘I believe in myself. I cannot expect others to clap for me if I do not clap for myself first.’

‘That’s true. So have you been to Jamaica before?’ Jasmine asked.

‘Never, but I have heard many great things. You?’

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