Page 54 of The Christmas Holiday
‘I meant every word.’ Hunter hadn’t seemed to be listening to our conversation, focused instead on his job. But apparently he could multitask.
I stuck my tongue out at his back.
Marty laughed. ‘I have witnessed a few heated arguments between couples out here, that’s for sure.’
‘Oh! We’re not a couple.’
In front of me, Hunter’s headtilted ever so slightly.
‘Is that so?’ Marty asked.
‘Yes. Just work colleagues.’ I stuck a paddle down and reversed the slight drift we were caught in to keep us in a better position for the photographs.
‘I see. And you’re working locally?’
‘We’re travelling around. But we’re here for a few more days.’
‘And do you get any time off in those few days?’ Marty asked.
‘I… oh…I’m not entirely sure of the schedule at the moment.’
‘Maybe you could check? It’s just that I… I’d really like to take you to dinner, if you were free one night?’
‘That sounds very nice, thank you.’ I trotted out a polite reply, and tried to push away how awkward I felt getting asked out in front of – or rather directly behind – my ex. But why should I? Like I’d said, we were nothingmore than work colleagues and, bonus points to Marty, he hadn’t threatened to toss me fully clothed into a river.
‘Great,’ Marty beamed again. ‘I’ll give you my number when we get back on shore.’
‘OK.’
‘I’m ready when you are.’ Hunter’s voice came from in front, his hand now on a paddle.
‘OK. Let’s go.’ Marty cut smoothly in front of us, leading the way further up the river formore exploration.
I paddled behind, waiting for the inevitable comment from Hunter about Marty, but it never came. I let out a sigh. Perhaps I was reading too much into everything. It wouldn’t be the first time. Why should I feel awkward about Marty? I wouldn’t have if I’d been with someone else from the office. All right, Hunter was my ex, but it was almost five years ago and he certainlyhadn’t been sitting around nursing a broken heart if the coverage I’d seen of his love life was anything to go by. Why should I feel awkward about a nice, good-looking guy hitting on me, just because Hunter was there? The simple answer was, I shouldn’t.
Liv and Sandy came a little closer in their kayak.
‘Isn’t this brilliant?’ Liv asked, excitement radiating from every pore.
‘It reallyis,’ I agreed. ‘I’ve never done anything like this before. Thanks so much for the opportunity. It’s wonderful.’
‘You’re very welcome,’ Sandeep replied, his face shaded by a peaked cap displaying the name of a Formula One team, the owner of which he was close friends with, according to the last issue ofHelloI’d seen.
‘Marty seems… attentive,’ Liv teased.
I gave a little shake of myhead, and smiled.
Hunter glanced over at Sandy. ‘How many dates you reckon he gets out of this job?’
Sandeep pulled a face like he was thinking.
‘Oh, don’t be so cold. He doesn’t look the one-night-stand type. He’s… wholesome,’ Liv declared.
Hunter and Sandy looked at her like she was barmy.
‘Wholesome?’ Sandeep repeated.
‘Yes. I bet he’s just looking for the right womanto take home to his mama.’
