Page 96 of What Happens in Paradise

Alejandro looked into my eyes and the intensity of his gaze was like a laser burning through me. My stomach somersaulted and desire coursed through my veins.

If I continued looking at him and let him hold me with those soft, warm hands for a second longer, I’d want to kiss him and I couldn’t let that happen.

‘Thank you.’ I pulled away. ‘I’m starving!’

I headed to the table. It’d be better to sit on the wet rock in my bikini, so I pulled off my dress then put it in my waterproof bag on the driest area I could find.

It was funny. This time last week, I wouldn’t have worn a bikini. I would’ve preferred to cover up in my swimming costume. But something had shifted. I felt more comfortable in my skin and judging by the way Alejandro was admiring me as he strode over to the rock, his eyes wide with desire, he approved too. Not that his opinion mattered any more.

As Alejandro peeled off his T-shirt, revealing his delicious, bare chest, I quickly diverted my gaze to the table.

He’d prepared slices of fresh mango, pineapple, banana and papaya and when I saw what was on the plate beside it, my mouth fell open.

‘Are those saltfish fritters?’ I asked.

‘Sí.’ He nodded. ‘Dudley showed me how to make them yesterday. I remembered they were your favourite.’

‘Thanks.’ I smiled, warning my stomach to stop flipping. That was sweet of him to get up early to make them for me, though. ‘Dudley’s the Cuisine King, right?’

‘Sí,’ he repeated.

‘How’s it going with him?’ I said, taking a bite of the fritter. It was delicious.

‘Not good.’

‘Why?’

‘He is very… how do you say in English? Set in his ways? He is old fashioned. He does not like to try new things. He likes to remind me that he is the expert in Jamaican food, which of course is true. I told him that I already know this. I am not here to teach him how to cook Jamaican food. That would be stupid. I told him I am here to learn from him, to bring ideas back to the Spanish hotel, and to introduce him to some ideas which may complement his menu, but he says he does not need new ideas.’

‘Oof.’ I winced.

‘And you? How is it with your manager here?’

‘It’s okay. We locked horns the first day or two but we’re making good progress on the itinerary. She wasn’t sure about including Nadine’s class or a visit to Rick’s Café, but I said I thought it was good for fostering romance and creating a… connection between couples.’

‘It worked for us.’ Alejandro’s mouth curved into a smile.

‘About that.’ I rested the fritter on the plate. ‘I like you, but we can’t see each other any more. Hazel already suspects something.’

Alejandro’s eyes widened.

I explained the conversation I had and how I got around it. Now that I thought about it, we were lucky she didn’t ask Alejandro to verify the story. I should’ve filled him in sooner on what I’d said.

‘Even if she is suspicious, she does not have proof. We have been careful. We have not done anything at the hotel. We have not been in each other’s rooms. She has nothing.’

‘And the only way to make sure it stays that way is to end this. Before it’s too late.’

‘It is already too late.’ He leant forward and brushed my cheek, setting my skin on fire. ‘I have already fallen for you.’

I squeezed my eyes shut, savouring the sweet sensation of his hand on me. As the realisation of what he’d just said hit me, first I felt butterflies, then fear.

No, no, no.We couldn’t afford to catch feelings. He probably just felt close to me because I was the first woman he’d slept with since Freya.

‘Alejandro, I really appreciate you setting all of this up and making breakfast, but I’ve got to go.’ I jumped up and raced forward.

‘Jasmine!’ he called out. Just as I reached the waterfall, he grabbed my arm and pulled me into him.

My head told me to resist and pull away, but I couldn’t. My body didn’t want to. Alejandro tilted my chin upwards, then slammed his mouth onto mine. The kiss was a desperate collision of lips. It was hot, hungry and feral. Like we’d been told the world was about to end and we were determined to savour every last moment together.

---