Page 21 of The Christmas Holiday
Chapter Six
The next morning, far earlier than was polite, I headed downstairs to where Hunter was waiting in the lobby. His large hands were wrapped around a camera body, brows drawn together as he concentrated on fitting a lens to it. He looked up as I arrived beside him.
‘Morning.’
‘Good morning. Ready to go?’
‘Yep.’
‘Did you manage to grab some breakfast? There’s timeif you—’
‘Already eaten, thanks.’
In fact, I’d showered, eaten, dressed and made a few notes for our early-morning trip, all before I’d heard Hunter’s door close next to mine. By the time he’d left last night, after we’d gone over Sandeep and Olivia’s plans, together with the schedule Hunter had put together after liaising with Jeremy over the sort of thing he wanted, the bath was coldand I was too tired to get into it anyway. I’d flapped a flannel around myself so that I at least felt sort of human and then fallen into the soft, feather pillows and one of, if not the, most comfortable beds I’d ever been in.
The constant arguing with Hunter wasn’t ideal but something had shifted once I’d plopped down next to him and we’d begun going over the best way for us to get the mostout of this trip for Sandy and Liv, as well as for us and the work it could lead to.
Jeremy had given me some vague ideas as to what he wanted but had said I’d need to get together with Scott, as someone familiar with many of the areas we were going to, and he’d show me the ropes and introduce me to people who could be useful. It had irked me to know I had to rely on Hunter for connections.I was used to doing things for myself and I liked it that way. But I also knew that digging my heels in and refusing to take any help from him could backfire on me in a massive way. I’d always been open to learning from other people’s experience, eager to absorb knowledge, and I knew the main problem I had in this situation was purely the source of that knowledge. I also realised that if I was todo the best job I could on this assignment, I had to get over that hang-up. And quickly.
Hunter fastened his bag, slung his camera over his shoulder and stood.
‘Ready?’
‘Absolutely.’
He led the way to the doors of the hotel, and we stepped out into the early-morning warmth, the soft light casting a glow over everything, including Hunter’s features. He’d not shaved this morning,and dark stubble covered his jaw, highlighting the hollow beneath his cheekbones in a way that rivalled anything the Kardashians could achieve with contouring. His hair was cropped, and a tan line at the back of his neck hinted that he’d been wearing it a little longer previously as a line of paler skin peeked out. A pair of sunglasses perched on top of his head. Glancing around, he suddenly smiledas a man hurried up to him, grinning widely.
‘Hey, Jayesh!’
‘Hello, hello! It is a pleasure to see you again.’ The man’s smile and easy manner were infectious. ‘I am so glad to see you back in Delhi. Is it for business again this time, or perhaps pleasure?’ He cast the slightest of glances at me.
Hunter laughed, without even looking in my direction.
‘Definitely business. As always.Jayesh, this is my colleague, Mia Walker. Mia, this is Jayesh. One of the best drivers in the city.’
‘It is a pleasure to meet you,’ Jayesh smiled.
‘And you,’ I returned, my mind processing the sound of Hunter’s voice introducing me as his colleague. It sounded odd to my ears. Probably because I’d had several years of being introduced as something far different, and even though that wasa while ago, the sound of the initial words had taken me back to a different time. Momentarily.
‘Shall we go?’ Jayesh asked, pulling me from my thoughts.
I nodded and Hunter and I followed Jayesh down the hotel drive to where he’d parked his car.
The city was just waking as we drove along. Breakfasts were being cooked on the street and young children toddled about near steaming potsin a way that made me anxious. Shops and stalls were being prepared for opening and as we travelled away from the very centre, more cows could be seen wandering along, their sacred status ensuring they were given right of way. I took it all in: the colours, the smells, the dust, the smog I could see hanging on the horizon as we stopped in traffic and I looked across at the Lutyens’ skyline. My headwas tumbling words and I snapped some pictures with my phone as we moved along, just to act as a reminder and prompts.
Hunter nodded at the phone as I scanned a few of the photos I’d taken. ‘Not trying to do me out of a job, are you?’
I looked up at him, expecting the serious look I’d quickly become used to, but instead there was the hint of a smile.
‘Hmm, I hadn’t actually thoughtof that. But now you mention it…’ I tapped my jawline with my finger as though pondering over a situation before sliding my glance to him. His smile widened a little.
‘Touché.’
I smiled back and momentarily he held it. It seemed it was time for a truce, and secretly I was pleased. This trip excited me more than anything had in a long time. It wasn’t ideal that Hunter and I had been forcedinto a proximity closer than either of us wanted or felt comfortable with for such an amount of time, but it was how it was. I didn’t want the experience ruined for anyone by us two bickering.
‘Here we are.’ Jayesh pulled up outside what looked to be a park. ‘I shall wait here. Don’t hurry.’
Hunter gave Jayesh a quick double pat on the shoulder and we exited the car. I followed Hunteras he headed towards the entrance to the park.
