Page 4 of What Happens in Paradise

I quickly closed my mouth, pulled back my shoulders, stood up straighter then cleared my throat, hoping that it would stabilise my racing heartbeat.

‘I’m fine!’ I said, my voice sounding like I’d just sucked on a helium balloon.

‘I am sorry about your phone.’

‘It’s… no worries!’

I bent down to pick it up, just as Alejandro did the same, so my palm landed on top of his.

The heat from his big, manly hand sent a bolt of electricity straight through me and my knees turned to jelly. I quickly removed my palm, stood up and tried to compose myself.

‘Here.’ As Alejandro got up and handed the phone to me, his fingertips skimmed my hand, causing goosebumps to erupt over my skin.

‘Th-thank you.’

Our eyes locked and my heart raced.

This was insane.

Alejandro had worked here for more than six months. This ridiculous crush should’ve gone away by now. I was a thirty-nine-year-old woman. I’d be forty soon. I shouldn’t be acting like a hormonal adolescent.

‘I…’ I broke the silence, determined to act like a professional, but then my mind went blank. I’d come here to check something with him, but as we continued to hold each other’s gaze, I couldn’t remember what it was. ‘I… have… needs!’ I blurted out.

Ground, please swallow me up.

Alejandro’s eyes widened, then he frowned.

‘You haveneeds?’

‘No! I mean, yes!’ I did have needs and under different circumstances, I was sure Alejandro would be just the man to satisfy them, but that wasn’t what I meant to say. ‘I meantrequirements. Not mine. The VIP’s. I came to check if Marco had passed on her dietary requirements.’

Hallelujah!I’d finally managed to string a sentence together.

This was so unlike me. For some reason, whenever Alejandro was around, my brain turned to mush and I lost the ability to speak coherently.

‘Sí. I have it. She is a vegetarian, but she eats fish. But not salmon or tuna, correct?’

‘Exactly,’ I nodded, impressed that he’d memorised the details.

‘And she would like to try Spanish dishes. Something traditional, but not tourist food.’

‘That’s right. So perhaps no paella.’

‘Understood. And she likes dessert, but nothing too creamy.’

‘Yes,’ I started to relax, feeling confident that he’d get the job done.

‘Do not worry, Jasmine. I will make a very special menu for her. Everything is fine.’

Just when my pulse was starting to stabilise, Alejandro had to go and say my name in his delicious accent. I always loved how he pronounced it. I swore my body temperature just shot up ten degrees.

‘Great!’ I squeaked. I had to get out of here before I embarrassed myself even more. ‘I’ll let Hazel know. Thanks. Bye!’ I raced to the door.

‘Wait!’ Alejandro called back. ‘Would you like to see the menu?’

Doh. I should’ve asked him that.

‘Yes. Of course.’

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