Page 75 of The Christmas Holiday
Chapter Seventeen
The rescheduled bungee jump was about to take place and I was sitting on a rock watching from under the shade of a straw cowboy hat as Liv was strapped into the harness. Sandeep had already done it and was still buzzing from the thrill. He’d had Hunter’s GoPro strapped to him, and Hunter had taken various action shots throughout, and was now lining up to do the same forOlivia’s jump. There wasn’t a whole lot for me to write about here – Hunter’s photos said it all – so I was taking the opportunity to enjoy the view and the quietness of the location. Something I hadn’t been able to do yesterday, not only because I’d been busy arguing with Hunter, but because, out of everything, this had been the one thing I really hadn’t wanted to do. Everything else we’d done I’denjoyed, even if I’d been nervous before, but the thought of the bungee had filled my stomach with a nauseous feeling every time. As much as I hated to admit it, Hunter had been right. I wasn’t determined to do it because I was eager for the experience. I’d wanted to do it because I felt I needed to show them I could.
And while I was being so honest with myself, I had to admit as well thatnone of them – even the Hunter I knew now – would have thought any less of me if I’d just said no, bump on the head or not. But I’d been insistent on doing things for myself, and proving I could, for as long as I could remember. It was part of my drive and I didn’t want to lose that. But I couldn’t forget his words. And the more I thought about it, the more I realised he hadn’t been the only oneto say the same thing. Subtle hints along the same lines from others had begun to float into my memory. Comments I’d dismissed at the time, barely acknowledging them. But I couldn’t do that with Hunter. He wasn’t a man to be dismissed and his words had burned into me. He didn’t do subtle. It was all or nothing with Hunter Scott. It always had been – in his work, in his love, in his passion. It hadbeen one of the many things I’d admired and loved about him. I’d been on the receiving end of that when it was good – oh so good! And now, here I was again, on the opposite side. He’d let me have it all and I was still trying to work out what to do with it.
‘You look like you’re a million miles away.’ The deep tones broke into my thoughts as Hunter took a seat on the rock next to mine, adjustinga canvas, western-style hat that looked like it had taken a beating or two as he did so, the brim casting a slanting shadow across his face and the two-day beard he was now sporting. It was the first time he’d actually spoken to me all day, bar asking me to pass the bread at the vineyard where we’d had lunch and Sandeep had ordered some fancy bottles of wine with eye-watering price tags asgifts for some wedding participants. To be fair, there hadn’t been a lot left to say by the time Hunter had been done in the car. Either way, we were civil and acted professionally like the work colleagues we were. There was no atmosphere between us that would cast itself over the others. I knew that was the first concern for both of us. There just didn’t seem to be anything more to say. It was doneand it couldn’t be undone.
‘No. I’m just enjoying the scenery.’ I smiled briefly before looking back out over the gorge, waving at Liv as she got ready.
‘You’re not really sorry to miss this, are you?’
‘I’d rather have missed it in a less attention-grabbing way, but no. It wouldn’t be my first choice for how to pass an afternoon.’ There was no point disagreeing with Hunter. He knewme better than I wished he did and I was still tired from the day before, even though this morning had been a later start. Right now, I didn’t have the energy to try and create an argument with him. And for the first time, I didn’t even want to.
‘I always knew you were bright.’
I gave a little huff of air and smiled in acknowledgement. ‘Thanks. I think. Although I’m not sure preferringnot to throw myself off a bridge attached to an elastic band qualifies me as bright. I think it’s just having a stronger sense of self-preservation.’
He gave me a look I couldn’t make out. ‘You might be right.’ He took a deep breath and pushed himself up. ‘In the meantime…’ He gave a definitive point with his finger to where Liv was standing at the edge of the cradle. I saw him give a littleheadshake to himself as his hand went to the chain he wore around his neck, inherited from his beloved grandfather. He pulled it out and fiddled with it a moment before tucking it back under his T-shirt. Lifting the camera to his eye, he shifted position. Then, taking a knee, he focused again and captured Liv as she stepped into midair and didn’t stop screaming until the elastic went slack andshe was dangling around, upside down, over the Californian countryside. Even then, her ponytail was bloody perfect. Honestly, I seriously needed some tips from this woman.
***
The warm, damp heat of Malaysia engulfed us as we stepped from the air-conditioned cool of the airport, led by our uniformed hotel chauffeur, replete with hat, to the waiting area where our car was parked. The flighthad been smooth, but long. Liv was looking forward to booking in for a massage as soon as we got to the luxury resort and I was looking forward to flopping face down on the bed for an hour. I’d caught some sleep on the plane, as had the others from what I’d seen on my strolls around the cabin to keep my blood moving and my bum awake, but it still didn’t match up to a huge double bed with thousand-thread-countsheets and a view out over acres of carefully planned tropical gardens.
We were greeted at the doors by name, and the hotel manager himself conversed briefly with Sandeep about how pleased he was to see him again. Money definitely talked. Hunter caught me watching the exchange and quirked an eyebrow, agreeing silently with the sentiment.
‘Please, if you would come this way, we can getyou all checked in.’ He led us to two desks and the clerks began going through the procedure.
‘And here are your keys,’ the clerk said a short while later, handing over one wallet with two keycards tucked inside.
‘Umm…’ Hunter’s eyes scanned the desk as Liv and Sandeep rose and came over, ready to go up to the rooms together. ‘There should be another one of those.’
The clerk gave hima blank look. ‘I’m sorry, sir?’
Hunter held up the keycard wallet. ‘There should be another of these as there are two rooms.’
The blank look remained. ‘There is only one room, sir.’
‘No. There should be three rooms altogether,’ Liv stepped in. ‘One for Mr Singh and me and then one each for Miss Walker and Mr Scott. I had them confirmed.’
The clerk’s previous look of calm now tookon a slight sheen of panic as we all saw the manager who had made a fuss of Sandeep earlier circling us like a great white shark. Keys were pressed, names were checked but every time it came up the same. There were only two rooms under the reservation.
‘OK. Look, never mind,’ Hunter said, letting out a sigh as he put a hand on Liv’s arm in reassurance. ‘Don’t worry, Liv. They can just findme one now. It’s not a problem.’ He glanced back at the clerk who looked, if it were possible, even more nervous. ‘Right? Any room is fine.’
The man gave a wan smile. ‘Unfortunately, we are fully booked. There is nothing available. I have checked it four times now.’
‘OK. So, ring the nearest hotel and get me one there then, please.’
‘I can certainly try. But you are aware it is quitesome distance away. We pride ourselves on the remoteness of our resort.’ He gave a shrug. ‘It’s kind of our thing.’
For a moment, we all just sat looking at each other. The clerk tapped some more keys, possibly in an urge to break the silence and convince his manager, who had been waylaid by another guest on his way over, that he had the situation fully under control.
‘I am so sorry. Ican see thatthe initial reservation was for three rooms, but somewhere along the way it has been changed to two, and the third room has now been taken.’
‘Well, just untake it!’ Liv snapped, tiredness overwhelming her. I imagined this sort of thing didn’t happen to her very often. Conversely, things like this happened to me all the time.
‘I knew it was going too well!’ Liv said, slumpinginto a seat.
‘Are you sure there’s nothing?’ Hunter’s jaw was tight as he glanced at Liv.
