Page 25 of What Happens in Paradise

The truth was that I did not like watching another man admire the woman I liked. But that was my problem.

It was true that Jasmine and I were here together for work, but we were nottogetherin the way that my tone had suggested.

‘Mi name Bob Harley,’he said, ignoring my statement.

‘BobHarley?’ Jasmine frowned.

‘Ya mon!’Bob replied in agreement.

‘Like BobMarley, butHarleyinstead?’ Her frowned deepened.

‘Ya mon! Come.’He gestured towards the car.

I opened the door for Jasmine, then slid onto the backseat.

Her scent hit me like lightning. She smelt like summer berries and coconut and I was torn between wanting to open the window to escape the intoxicating aroma and inhaling deeply so it could flood all of my senses.

‘A weh yuh come fram?’Bob said, breaking my train of thought.

‘London,’ Jasmine said.

‘Madrid,’ I answered.

‘But we both live near Marbella in Spain,’ Jasmine added.

‘Irie.’Bob said, then turned up the ‘Could You Be Loved’ Bob Marley track.

It was not a surprise that like me and so many people around the world, he was a fan of the Jamaican legend’s music. Although I got the feeling that his real name was not BobHarleyand he probably played BobMarley’ssongs because he wanted to make the tourists happy.

‘So, I am now your activities partner.’ I turned to face Jasmine. She was not in the office when I had my meeting and because we had not spoken since then, I wanted to see how she felt about it.

I was sure she could not be happy about it. Even if her reasons were different to mine.

‘Looks that way. I’m really sorry.’ She winced. ‘I’m sure you’d much rather be out shopping for ingredients and working in the kitchen.’

‘I was so angry when they told me I would have to spend time visiting one of Jamaica’s most famous attractions with a beautiful woman. My life sucks so bad right now!’ I smirked. I had not intended to mention that I thought she was beautiful, butmadre mía, she really was.

Jasmine was wearing a long, orange dress and even though it was only her shoulders and arms that were exposed, she still looked like the sexiest woman I’d ever seen.

I did not know if it was because of her confidence but everything about Jasmine was hot.

‘Oh!’ She laughed. ‘When you said you were angry, I felt awful, but you’re joking, right?’

‘I am not joking.’ I narrowed my eyes for a few seconds before my face broke into a smile. ‘Of course! I am being paid to visit a place that I would pay to visit myself. But I was not joking when I said I am going there with a beautiful woman. And I do not say that to be a creep or to make you uncomfortable, because I know that after the meeting this week, employees are supposed to not notice these things. It is just a fact.’

‘A fact, eh?’ She raised her eyebrow.

‘Sí. Nobody could disagree with this.’

‘In your opinion.’ She smiled.

‘In my opinion, which of course is correct.’

‘Ya mon.’Bob slapped his steering wheel in agreement. I did not like that he was listening to our conversation, but at least he supported my conclusion.

‘Well, thank you for the subjective observation.’

‘You do not think you are beautiful?’ I frowned.

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