Page 29 of What Happens in Paradise

‘I…’ Alejandro’s gaze travelled from my head to toe and I winced inside. I knew this swimming costume was frumpy. ‘Sure. We should put our things away.’

A weird silence hung in the air as we walked to the lockers.

We joined a tour guide and a group of other tourists and I was grateful that we were no longer alone.

The tour guide explained that if we didn’t want to walk up the waterfall, we could take the stairs. He also told us that there were many different access points so we could start midway, or climb say halfway up the waterfall then take the pathway for the rest. It was up to us.

‘What do you think?’ Alejandro asked. It was probably the only thing he’d said to me since we’d both got changed.

‘I’d like to walk up the whole waterfall. I’m not the best with heights, but I’m here for research, so I need to try it properly so I know what our guests will experience.’

‘Vale,’ he said.

‘You don’t mind, do you?’

‘No! I love this kind of thing.’

‘Great,’ I said. ‘This isonlysix hundred feet high. If I can do the Caminito del Rey walk in Spain, hopefully I can do this too!’

We headed down to the beach so that we could start right at the bottom.

As I took the first steps in the water, I shivered a little. It was cold but so clear and beautiful and the more we walked, I got used to it and found it was actually refreshing.

I stepped up onto the next level. At the base, it was quite flat and relatively smooth, but when I looked up, I noticed that it became a lot steeper and more uneven higher up.

There were a range of different people in our group. Looked like some were couples, others perhaps friends or family. Everyone was dressed in swimwear and from the sound of the chatter around me, most people were from English-speaking countries, although I think I heard some German being spoken too.

The next level up was too steep to climb easily. The guide explained how best to navigate ourselves and advised where to step to avoid slipping.

‘I will go first,’ Alejandro offered. ‘Then I can help you up.’

That was sweet, but I couldn’t agree. Being beside Alejandro was challenging enough. The sensation of holding his hand would probably cause me to fall off the waterfall.

‘I’m okay, thanks. I’ll be fine.’

I struggled up the slippery rocks and when we got to the next steep level, I saw several people in front of us, holding out their hands to help others climb up.

Alejandro went ahead and once he’d reached the level, he offered his hand.

‘I’m good,’ I insisted, even though I wasn’t. I needed help and for a second, I even contemplated taking the hand of a stranger. Anything to avoid making contact with his big, manly palm.

‘Jasmine.’ Alejandro’s deep voice boomed and my body immediately straightened. ‘I know that you are a strong, independent woman and you can climb this rock or the highest mountains by yourself, but just because you can, it does not mean you must. Why struggle and risk slipping when you can take my hand and make it easier? There is no shame in asking for help.’

As I looked around, everyone was getting help. If I kept insisting I could climb each level by myself, but then slipped, I’d look like a fool.

Was I going to risk ending up at the bottom of the waterfall with broken bones just because I couldn’t control a stupid crush or be sensible and take his hand?

‘Okay.’ I stretched out my hand like it was no big deal.

But as my palm connected with Alejandro’s, I realised that my initial concerns were right. This was averybig deal.

Alejandro’s palm was warm and welcoming. The sensation was like sliding a mug of hot chocolate into your hands on a cold winter’s night. It was so comforting.

He helped me up effortlessly like I was as light as a feather.

‘Todo bien?’ he asked, checking that I was okay.

‘Yes, I’m good. Thank you.’

---