Page 5 of What Happens in Paradise

He disappeared to the office attached to the kitchen then returned clutching a sheet of paper.

‘Here. I printed it for you. Two copies. In case you would like to keep one to show Hazel. I know you like to be organised.’

‘Thanks.’ My heart fluttered, grateful that he knew that was important to me.

‘De nada.So,’ he leant on the shiny, silver counter. ‘Tell me. What do you like to do when you are not working? You like to go out, to eat?’

‘Sometimes,’ I replied. ‘You know how much I love food!’ I was always first in line when Marco, the head chef (or Cuisine King, to use his correct title) needed volunteers to sample new dishes.

‘Or perhaps you prefer when someone cooks for you?’

‘For everyone else’s safety, it’s usually better if I don’t do the cooking!’ I laughed. ‘So yes, a meal that I haven’t had to make myself isalwaysa better option.’

Alejandro smiled, his full lips parting to reveal his gorgeous, perfect white teeth.

‘I am happy to hear that. Maybe one evening, on your day off…’ He paused as if he was considering how best to phrase the question.

Wait.

I might be out of practice (actually, there was nomightabout it, I definitely was) but I got the feeling that Alejandro was about to ask me out.

‘I was thinking that maybe we could…’

‘I have to go!’ I jumped in. ‘Busy! I have loads to do before the VIP arrives. Thanks for the menu!’

I flew out the back door like my feet were on fire, heading straight to my office, where I slumped into my chair and put my head in my hands.

That was close.

If I was honest, that wasn’t the first time I’d thought that maybe Alejandro was about to ask me out.

We’d had a few near misses. Nothing major but lately, whenever we worked together, there’d been occasions where we’d exchanged lingering gazes and brushed hands.

I thought I was imagining it until my friend Stella, who was a former hotel guest, asked if there was something going on between us.

Of course I told her there wasn’t, which was true. But the fact that she suspected wasn’t good. At the next team meeting, I was supposed to stand up and remind everyone that co-worker canoodling was not encouraged, so I couldn’t start being a giant hypocrite and the poster girl for bad decisions.

It was clear. Being alone with Alejandro wasn’t a good idea. So, I just needed to avoid him.

Yes, we worked in the same hotel. Yes, I was kind of his boss and had to meet with him to discuss special meals for our guests, but it was still possible for us not to cross paths.

Right?

2

ALEJANDRO

‘Did you do it?’ my eldest sister Lola shouted down the phone as I walked along the hotel’s private golden, sandy beach.

‘Sí.’ I rolled my eyes, then wiped the back of my hand over my forehead as the blazing afternoon sunshine heated my skin. ‘She is not interested.’

When my sister had called last week and asked for the hundredth time if there were any attractive women working at the hotel, I made the mistake of mentioning Jasmine. And after Lola had finished screaming with excitement about the fact that I was finally showing some interest in another woman, she said – no, in fact, shedemanded– that I ask Jasmine out.

I told Lola that just because I considered Jasmine to be an intelligent and attractive woman, it did not mean that I was ready to start dating again, because I was not. It was too soon.

But when my hand touched Jasmine’s in the kitchen earlier, I had felt a connection, so I thought it was worth a try.

Based on the way she had run out of the kitchen, the feeling was not mutual. It was no big deal though because like I had said to Lola multiple times, right now, I was happy just to focus on my career.

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