Page 80 of One More Shot
The rest of the tour takes about another half hour, but I’m barely listening as we traipse after our host. I don’t think it’s possible for me to care any less about the antique bay windows in the main foyer that have Amber gasping andreaching for her phone to snap photos, or about the spot in the second terrace around the back of the villa that apparently is the best spot for golden hour photos that Bailey makes note of.
My disinterest must be obvious because Cash suddenly pulls back from the rest of the group and nudges his shoulder against mine.
‘Somewhere else you’d rather be right now?’ he asks with a knowing smirk.
‘Nah,’ I lie. ‘Just a little tired after all this travelling.’ We’ve been up since about four and have crossed three borders today. I’m actually surprised everyone else isn’t dead on their feet.
‘I think the plan is to have an early night,’ Cash says. ‘Everyone in bed by ten since we’ll be up early tomorrow.’
I pretend to frown. ‘Tomorrow? Why? Is something happening?’
‘Hilarious,’ Cash deadpans. ‘Seriously though, are you good? You seem… distracted.’ That smirk is back again in full force, like he knows something, but he’s not willing to say it aloud just yet. He’s waiting for me to take the first step.
‘I’m not—’
Eliott chooses that moment to waltz in through the secondary terrace doors and I suddenly understand exactly what our host was talking about when she mentioned golden hour.
The world seems to slow down and the sounds of everyone talking and laughing around me fade away until the only thing I can hear is the steady thrum of my heartbeat.
Eliott is bathed in a warm glow and the sunlight is practically dancing across her skin.
Her gaze scans the room and quickly finds my own. Eliott’s eyes – always beautiful, always expressive – catch the last rays of the sun before the doors swing closed behind her, making them sparkle with an intensity that quite literally takes my breath away.
She looks like a goddess.
Ethereal.
Her full lips curve into a shy grin of acknowledgment before she turns and waves down Bailey and Cash.
‘I think I’ve got everything I need, so I’ll head over to my hotel now.’
I cross the room without even thinking about it, my legs moving on autopilot.
‘Are you sure?’ Bailey asks. ‘We’re not doing anything crazy tonight, but we’ll probably hang out around the fire pit for a while and have something to eat. If you want to join us, you’re more than welcome to.’
‘That’s so kind of you,’ Eliott starts. It’s only for a brief second, but her gaze flickers over to me before returning to Bailey and Cash. ‘But I’m pretty tired, so I’ll just head back and get an early night.’
Bailey’s lip twitches and Cash ducks his head suddenly as if he’s hiding a laugh.
‘Totally understand.’ Bailey turns and raises a brow at me. ‘What about you, Dane? You coming to hang by the fire pit?’
‘Sure,’ I say with an easy shrug. ‘I’ll meet you guys out there.’
Bailey’s lip twitch turns into a full-on grin. ‘Are you going somewhere first?’
I feel my cheeks start to warm. She knows exactly what she’s doing and I’ve fallen straight into her trap. I shrug again, trying to keep my expression as casual as possible. ‘Thought I’d help Eliott carry her stuff back to her hotel.’
‘We can get a taxi for her,’ Cash says. The grin on his face is almost identical to Bailey’s.
Those two really are meant for each other.
‘Waste of money,’ I say dismissively. ‘And I wanted to get some air, anyway.’
It’s an incredibly lame excuse and I expect them both to pick it apart immediately. But they don’t. Instead, their grins soften slightly into something a little less shit-eating and a little more genuine.
‘Cool,’ Cash says. ‘We’ll catch you later tonight, then.’
‘Yeah.’
