Page 28 of Best Laid Plans
They seemed to be kindred spirits.
Had he felt it too?
‘Indigo Hughes – I have a reservation here for tonight,’ she said absently to the receptionist when he looked up to greet her, her head still full of thoughts about Julien disappearing from her life. She knew he’d think it was foolish, but she’d begun to wonder whether they’d been thrown together here for a reason. Ever since she’d met him, she’d been filled with an unexpected buzz of hope and excitement for the future, which had been sadly lacking in her personal life for some time.
‘Ah, yes, Signorina Hughes, I have a bag for you here,’ the receptionist said.
She stared at him, her brain taking a while to switch gears and take in what he’d just said to her.
‘Did you say you’ve got my bag? From the airport?’ she asked, her voice trembling with excitement.
‘Sì,’ the receptionist said, leaving the desk to go into a small room behind reception and returning with her rucksack.
Indigo nearly fell to her knees with relief. After surviving with virtually nothing for half her holiday it was absolute bliss to have her possessions returned to her. She took the large rucksack from his outstretched hands and hugged it to her like it was a lost child, then dropped it onto a nearby sofa in the lobby and yanked open the drawstring to check everything was still in there.
Julien returned from the bathroom to find her in a state of ecstasy as she rummaged through the bag, having pulled out first her money, then her phone and now her bikini.
‘I can finally go for a swim! I’ve been desperate to get into the sea but I didn’t want to scare the other holidaymakers by stripping down to my sensibly supportive, but utterly hideous, underwear,’ she said, grinning at him.
He stood watching her, with an amused smile, as she continued to pull things out of her bag and hug them to her.
It felt a little like her birthday and Christmas had all come at once.
Except for the rather unsettling fact that she was about to say goodbye to Julien, of course. It seemed like such a shame when they’d just started getting on so well. Though there was always the possibility they might bump into each other again on the route.
‘So, I guess you should be okay with the rest of the walk from this point on,’ she said, forcing her mouth into a cheery smile. ‘I don’t think there are any more exposed paths to worry about.’
Crossing his arms, he leant his hip against the backrest of the sofa. ‘Actually, I’m hiring a boat from Nerano. I’m going to sail north along the coast and stop off at some of the places of interest along the way.’
The hope she’d not wanted to fully acknowledge vanished in a puff of smoke and was replaced by a heavy thump of disappointment. So, this really was it then. There would be no more opportunities to bump into him. She’d so enjoyed getting to know him today. It had been the most fun day she’d had since she got here. She’d loved the way he challenged and argued with her. Gavin had never stood up to her like that; he’d hated any kind of conflict, which, if she was totally honest, had made him rather dull company sometimes.
Julien, on the other hand, fired something inside her like no one else she’d ever met.
‘Okay, well, I guess this is goodbye then,’ she said, standing up on unsteady legs. ‘It’s been good getting to know you, Julien.’ She held out her hand, hoping the tremble in it wasn’t too obvious.
He stared down at it for the longest time, before clearing his throat and looking back up, straight into her eyes.
Her stomach swooped at the intensity she saw there.
‘Listen, why don’t you come out on the boat with me this evening? As – what do you English say? – a last hurrah? We can weigh anchor just off the coast, then you can swim away from the crowds. It would be good to have company for one more evening, to give me chance to check out the boat before I set off on my lone voyage.’
She froze and stared back at him, excited by the invitation, but trying not to let it get the better of her. It was just a sail and a swim he was offering her, nothing more, she reminded herself sternly.
‘That sounds like heaven, but are you sure you don’t want some peace after having me chewing your ear off all day?’
He smiled, his lopsided grin shooting a disconcerting dart of desire through her. ‘Non. I enjoyed our discussions today. It was a nice distraction.’ He didn’t say from what, but then he didn’t need to. He’d already made it plain why he was here. As an escape from bad memories. Just like her.
‘Anyway, I need more time to convince you to give my favourite thriller author another chance,’ he continued when she didn’t respond immediately. ‘I feel I’d be neglecting my duty to you as a friend if I didn’t give it at least one more try.’
The word ‘friend’ jolted her, reinforcing her resolution not to read anything more into this offer.
Despite her concerns, she couldn’t bring herself to say no. Not if saying yes meant being around him for a little while longer. She loved the idea that he’d enjoyed her company today and right now she’d take gratification whichever way it came. After Gavin’s accusations, it was nice to feel like she had more to offer than just a shoulder to cry on.
‘Well, that would be amazing. I tell you what – since the rest of my money’s turned up, I’ll buy us dinner,’ she suggested, needing to retain a modicum of control in their strange non-relationship relationship.
He smiled again, this time with real warmth, the action of it lighting up his whole face. ‘Agreed. Then we’re even,’ he said.
This time she had to force herself to smile back, because of course the sad truth was that they wouldn’t be.
