Page 25 of Run Away With Me

If I hadn’t been watching for it, I wouldn’t have spotted the move. He was good.

Which meant he’d practiced.

Which meant we were in trouble.

I leaned around Brooke, cutting off her conversation, and looked right at Chris.

‘Sorry. Do you know where the restrooms are?’ I asked, pushing down my nerves.

‘Uh, in the lobby, I think.’

‘Thanks.’ I gave him a big, toothy smile.

I didn’t want to leave Brooke alone with him, but I couldn’t see how else I could get us out of this stupid situation.

The lobby was busier now with people waiting for a table in the bar, which made me slightly more confident to go to the restroom. If Chris tried anything with Brooke, there would be plenty of witnesses. Just in case he was watching, I went and washed my hands twice, then headed back to the front desk. A man stepped away as I approached, giving me the perfect opportunity to slip in.

‘How can I help?’ The receptionist’s nametag saidSUSANand she had a friendly smile on her face.

‘Hi,’ I said. ‘I’m so sorry, but my cousin has lost her room key and it was still in the wallet with the room number written on it. We’re worried someone might pick it up and …’

Lying was easier, I found, when I had a clear objective. Susan nodded, already tapping her keyboard.

‘What’s the room number?’

‘Two-ten. It should be in the name Summer.’

‘I’ve got you,’ she said. ‘Give me a second. I’m going to cancel both keys and give you new ones.’

‘Thank you so much.’

After a few minutes, Brooke glanced out into the lobby and noticed me waiting. She frowned, and I shook my head at her, trying to silently tell her it was fine.

‘Here you go.’ The receptionist slid two new key cards across the counter to me. ‘The old ones have been wiped.’

‘Great, thank you.’

I put both cards into my wallet and tucked it securely into my purse. Chris wasn’t going to get his hands on these.

‘Everything okay?’ Brooke asked as I took my seat at the bar again.

‘Yeah, fine. I just wanted to check what time breakfast is available tomorrow. Since we’re leaving early and all.’

She nodded but still looked confused. We had confirmed that at check-in.

‘So, Chris, what do you do?’ I asked, and Brooke looked even more confused that I was suddenly taking an interest in him.

‘I’m in shipping,’ he said.

‘Chris spends a lot of time in South America,’ Brooke added.

I wasdelightedto hear they’d been getting to know each other so well.

‘What do you ship?’ I asked, ignoring Brooke’s glare that was clearly telling me I was being rude.

‘Nothing exciting, I’m afraid. Mostly avocados and other fruit and vegetables. Produce that has a fairly short shelf life. There are lots of logistics involved to make sure we’ve got the right people at either end so they’re delivered on time.’ He laughed, too high and definitely fake. ‘I’m boring you.’

‘Not at all,’ I said with a sweet smile.

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