We end up getting stuck in traffic on our way to the Chelsea hotel, but I don’t mind. I’m still reeling from the news about Anna Bardet. I emailed her back immediately accepting the scholarship, and her assistant told me that they’d get back to me today with a date I could fly out to the HQ in New York. I spend the whole car ride bouncing in my seat, obsessively checking my emails as Josh inches the car forward.
It takes over two hours, but we eventually make it to the hotel, pulling up outside a huge white building covered in ivy. As we step inside the atrium, my eyes are like dinner plates. The place is massive, with tiled floors and big marble columns supporting the high ceiling. There’s a waterfall splashing happily in the centre of the hall, lined with leafy foliage. One wall is lined by a whole fleet of shiny silver lifts; in the opposite corner, I hear clinking glasses and laughter coming from the hotel bar. Busy-looking people in expensive suits and dresses stride through the hall, talking on phones as they drag their suitcases behind them.
“Wow,” I say. Whatever Josh’s brother does for a living, he must be loaded to be able to afford a venue like this.
I turn towards the reception, but Zack stops me. “Let me get that for you,” he says, grabbing the handle of my suitcase. He and Josh exchange a nod. “Me and Luke are gonna go put these in the room. Why don’t you sit down while Josh checks us in?” With a hand on my back, he walks me towards the circle of plush white armchairs in the waiting area.
“It’s fine, I’ll come with you.” I reach for my suitcase, but he shakes his head.
“Sorry, pudding cup. We’re gonna set up your surprise. You gotta wait. Preferably out of earshot of Josh.”
“You’re leaving me here?” I ask, glancing at Luke. He just smiles mysteriously. “For how long? What am I meant to do?”
Zack shrugs. “Design some knickers. Practice flirting with one of the bellboys. I don’t know. You’re good at entertaining yourself, aren’t you?” He gives me one last lingering kiss on the cheek, then squeezes my shoulder. I watch as he and Luke drag our cases towards the lift, then glance back at the reception. Josh is already deep in conversation with the pretty lady at the desk.
Sighing, I plop into an armchair and pull out my phone, bringing up my email again. My inbox is tragically empty, but I still go through every folder obsessively, triple-checking my spam, junk, and promotions tabs.
Nothing.
A throat clears over my head. I glance up to see a man standing over me. He’s attractive — tall, with brown skin and thick glasses. The sleeves on his black shirt are rolled up, and there are tattoos running up and down his forearms.
“Hey,” he says in a deep, gravelly voice. “Mind if I sit here?” He gestures to the chair on my right.
“Go for it,” I say, turning back to my screen.
The guy sits down. “Thanks. I’m Gavin.”
I nod, not looking up.
“I’m guessing you’re here for the wedding?” He asks, after a moment. “Bride or groom’s side?”
“Groom,” I say automatically, then frown. “Um. Bride? Both?” I’m dating the groom’s brother, but I’m Luke’s plus-one, and he was invited by Amy. Group relationships are confusing.
At the reminder of the wedding, my stomach pangs with nerves. Honestly, I’m kind of dreading it. Every time I think of meeting Mrs Martins — Amy — again, I feel kind of sick. I haven’t seen my old headmistress since I left high school. And she wasn’t exactly the nicest to me back then.
Maybe Luke and I can avoid her together.
Gavin’s mouth quirks up. “Sounds complicated.” He narrows his eyes on me. “You look familiar. Do I know you?”
“I don’t think so,” I say shortly, scrolling through my messages. Why does he keep talking to me?
He tilts his head, studying my face. “Really?” He says quietly. “I could swear we’ve met before. Maybe I’ve seen you at work?”
“I don’t…” I trail off as his eyes flicker down to my mouth, just for a second, before meeting mine again. A lightbulb goes off over my head.
Oh. He’s flirting.
Oh.
FORTY-SIX
LAYLA
My heart starts to beat faster. I do a quick catalogue of his body language.
His feet are pointing towards me. His face is dipped close to mine. His eyes are focussed on me.
He’s definitely flirting with me.
I smile slowly. It’s about time I had a new victim. And Zack did tell me to practice.
I put my phone down. “That depends. Do you buy a lot of women’s underwear?”
He looks taken aback. “Uh. No?… Why?”
Maybe that’s a bad line. “I own a lingerie company.”
His eyebrows shoot up. “Wow, okay. That’s way cooler than mine. I work in stocks.” He pulls a face. “It’s boring, I know.”
“That is pretty boring,” I agree, and his expression shutters slightly.
Oops. I open my mouth to tell him I’m kidding, but Gavin coughs. “I know. To be honest, I hate it, but it pays well, so—”
“That’s okay then,” I say before I can stop myself. “I don’t mind boring men if they’re rich.”
Jesus. Shoot me.
Luckily, this time Gavin catches on. “I’ll be the wallet, you be the looks?”
“Perfect. We can text each other once a fortnight from opposite sides of your yacht.”
Gavin throws back his head and laughs too loudly. A couple across the atrium turns to look at us. “Oh, that’s great. But how about I make you a drink, first?” He gives me a winning smile. “I’m a mixologist in my free time. Come back to my room, and I bet I could make you a better drink than the rubbish they’re serving in the bar.”
I blink. “Your hotel room? That’s bold.”
“We have to start somewhere.” His eyes twinkle. “You could show me some of your designs. It’d be fun.”
“I’m sure.”
He leans forward, and I lean back. I’m enjoying flirting just fine, but I don’t want him in my personal space. And I really, really don’t want to go back to his room with him.
It’s funny. From the very first time I started ‘practise flirting’ with Josh and Zack, I was hooked. But I don’t feel any of that desire with this man. I’m not sure why; he seems kind enough, and he’s obviously interested in me. But I don’t feel that same tug towards him.
“What do you say?” Gavin asks, leaning in even closer. His breath fans over my face, and I fight the urge to wince. “Are you busy tonight?”
I open my mouth, but before I can reject him, strong arms wrap around my shoulders.
“Yes,” a low voice says over my head. “She is.”
I breathe in the cool smell of mint as Josh dips down, nuzzling at my temple. Immediately, all of my unease fades away.
Gavin leans back, lifting up his hands. “Sorry, mate,” he laughs. “Didn’t realise she was taken. You better keep an eye on her.”
Josh ignores him, taking my hand and tugging me upright and towards the lifts. Before I know what’s happening, I’m being gently pulled into the lift car, the mirrored doors sliding shut.
I study his face as the lift shoots upwards. His expression is blank and hard, his jaw clenched.
“Are you mad?” I ask.
He softens and threads his fingers through my hair. “Not at you. It was just… surprising to see you with another man.”
“Zack told me to practice flirting.”
He mutters something under his breath that sounds a lot like ‘bloody idiot.’
The lift dings and the doors slide open. We step out into a long white corridor lined with black doors and crystal light fixtures.
“It actually went pretty well,” I say, as Josh leads me to the door at the very end of the hallway. “I think you’d be proud of me. I only insulted him a bit, and I think he was kinda into it.”
He pulls a keycard out of his pocket, then pauses. “Did you… want to spend the evening with him? I’m sorry. I just assumed—”
I lean against his chest. “No. I didn’t.”
His body relaxes. He bends and brushes his lips lightly against mine. “Good,” he murmurs.