Page 114 of What Happens in Paradise

I shut the door, switched on Alejandro’s playlist, then danced around the room. I did an honorary wiggle of my hips to mark the fact that Alejandro had not only got his job back, but had finally secured his dream position.

Then, when the track switched to Lucy Pearl’s ‘Dance Tonight’, I gave my booty several extra celebratory shakes in honour of Bob getting a role at the hotel too. I was so happy!

It was a shame I couldn’t share the news with Alejandro. He’d probably be more thrilled to hear about me and Bob than he would himself. He was always so selfless. God, I missed him so much.

I was just about to call Stella to tell her the good news and thank her and Max for pestering Celine’s PA when there was a knock at the door.

Celine must’ve forgotten something.

I skipped over to the door, still buzzing with joy. But when I opened it, it wasn’t Celine standing there.

It was Alejandro.

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ALEJANDRO

When Jasmine opened the door, my breath caught in my throat and every nerve ending in my body came alive.

Madre mía.

She was breathtaking.

I knew I had missed Jasmine, but my reaction to seeing her for the first time in a week showed that I’d missed her more than I’d realised.

The urge to throw my arms around her and hold her tight was overwhelming. I wanted to hold her. I wanted to kiss her. I wanted to stroke her soft skin. Inhale her sweet scent. I just wanted her.

But I had to go slowly. I could not mess this up.

‘Hi!’ she said, her eyes like saucers and her mouth wide with shock. ‘You’re here! I mean, obviously you’re here. It’s just, I wasn’t expecting you. I thought… Did you see Celine?’

Jasmine was always so cool and composed, so it was reassuring to know that just like me, she was nervous.

‘Sí. She was leaving just as I was about to ring your doorbell. I came to thank you for the cake.’

I was in the kitchen testing a new recipe when I heard my buzzer. By the time I went to the door, there was no one there. I was about to go back inside when I looked down and saw the box.

When I opened it up and saw that Jasmine had made an apology cake, my heart swelled so much, I thought it would burst.

Jasmine was a confident woman, but I knew baking was something she was not comfortable with. So for her to take the time to do something she knew would mean a lot to me was a big deal.

I planned to come and see her anyway, once I had found a way to get her job back, but as soon as I received her thoughtful gift, I knew I did not want to put it off any longer.

‘You’re welcome!’

Music was playing in the background. I had not noticed it before because seeing Jasmine again had scrambled my brain.

‘You are listening to the playlist!’ I smiled.

‘Yes! I love it! Especially this song.’

It was ¿Téo?’s ‘In Your Body’.

‘I am glad. That is one of my favourites. And “Part of Me”.’

‘Same!’ She grinned. Our eyes locked for a few beats, then Jasmine cleared her throat. ‘So, did Celine tell you the news?’

‘No.’ I shook my head. ‘She thanked me for my email and said she would leave you to update me.’

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