Page 48 of What Happens in Paradise

‘Yogurt?’ I frowned. ‘And oil? Where’s the butter? I thought all cakes used butter? Not that I’m an expert or anything. Just curious.’

‘I prefer yogurt and olive oil. It makes the sponge lighter.’

‘Oh! I didn’t know that!’

I mixed them in along with the eggs, freshly grated coconut, chopped pineapple, spices and a dash of rum.

‘How’s that?’ I tipped the bowl so he could see.

‘You need to mix it a little more.’ He came over.

‘Like this?’ I picked up the spoon and moved it around the bowl.

‘No.’ Alejandro stood behind me, put his hand on mine and began to stir the mixture in large, fast, circular movements.

At least I thought that was what he was doing but I couldn’t be sure because my brain had just short-circuited.

As soon as his big, manly hand connected with mine, my pulse rocketed. Just like it did that time in the kitchen when he handed me my phone after we’d crashed into each other and it’d dropped.

Just like it had when he held my hand at Dunn’s River Falls.

Just like it had when he gave me the foot massage.

And again when his hard-on pressed against me during our dance class earlier.

Fuck.

I willed myself to calm down and knew the only way to do that was to create some distance.Fast.

‘I… I think I’ve got the hang of it now,’ I stuttered.

‘Sure?’ he asked.

‘Positive.’

Alejandro stepped back, returned to the stove and started doing something with the sauce whilst I tried to get my heart rate to stabilise.

The worrying thing was that, although I should be grateful that he was now a few feet away from me, I missed the feeling of his hand on mine.

I also missed the heat from his body when he stood behind me and the way his warm breath tickled the back of my neck when he’d spoken.

Telling myself that I was crazy, I returned to stirring the mixture.

‘I think it’s done now.’

Alejandro walked back over to inspect the contents and my heart raced again.

‘That looks perfect,’ he smiled. ‘I told you. You are a natural!’

My heart fluttered and I almost asked if he was joking before reminding myself that I was supposed to be strong and confident and that when someone complimented you, you shouldn’t question it.

‘Thank you. Here’s hoping it tastes as good as it looks!’ I joked.

Okay, so I still had some work to do on the whole accepting praise thing. I was usually fine when it came to accepting compliments about how good I was at my job, but baking? This was a new one for me.

‘It will. I believe in you.’

My eyes widened and my heart swelled. Two compliments within a couple of minutes was a lot to take in.

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