Bet on Me (13 page)

My shoulders slumped. “What’s there to explain? He kissed me to tell me good-bye.”

She raised one perfectly shaped eyebrow dubiously. “I know you’re not telling me the whole story so spill it.”

“There really is nothing to tell. We met on the train, he found me here, we hung out, and then he left after kissing me.”

“Wow, you must have been terrible for a guy to check out of a hotel because of it.”

“Really? You think that’s helpful right now?”

“No, sorry.” At least she had the decency to appear apologetic.

I knew she didn’t mean it; I was just taking everything to heart a lot quicker these days. “I don’t know, Rose. Is it weird to miss someone this much after only a few weeks?”

“You fell for him, Alaya.” She raised a hand to cut off my protest. “You fell for him hard, end of discussion. Don’t bullshit me with denial.”

I puffed out a breath and deflated into my seat. “I know.”

The applause to my right drew my sceptical gaze back to her instantly.

“Finally, you admit it! That’s step one on the road to recovery.”

“Isn’t that for alcoholics?”

She waved me away nonchalantly. “It applies to your case too.”

“What’s step two?”

“Deciding what to do about everything. Either you suck it up, forget him, and move on, or you don’t give up on finding him.”

I dropped my gaze to the table top again and traced the patterns with my finger. “Unless he comes to me we’ll never see each other again. We never exchanged numbers—not that it would have mattered seeing as he threw his phone into the river—and he’s not even on social media.” Yeah, I’d reached the level of sadness where I attempted to cyber stalk him. “Who doesn’t have an account on at least
one
site nowadays? He doesn’t want to be found.”

She reached out to touch my knee, her smile weak and her expression pitying. “You know what you have to do then, right?”

I only peered up at her, my head tilted to the side in question. My eyebrows knitted together, knowing I wasn’t going to like whatever she had to say.

“Stop looking. You have to forget him, Alaya. If there really is no chance of you seeing him again you have to forget him, and we’re going to start now. I need some girl time and I think you could use it too.”

I groaned. I wanted to wallow and be self-deprecating.

“Come on, stand up.” She hauled me from my seat, throwing me out of it like someone had detonated an airbag beneath me.

“Rooose,” I whined, my head lolling back and my body limp as she dragged me through my room. While she meant well, I didn’t feel like doing anything other than staying in my room away from the world so I didn’t notice how numb I was becoming. If I had nothing to get excited about, then I couldn’t compare the empty feeling inside of me to anything. There were no highs or lows; just a casual acceptance of my existence.

“Shut it. You came here for adventure and I’m not allowing you to throw away your opportunity because of one asshole. When you arrived you were free and loved life. You’re going to get that back even if it kills me, so deal with it … or I’m phoning Dalton.”

Trust me to make friends with the only other employee who knows Dalton personally.

“Fine. Can I at least know where we’re going?”

“We’re going to get crêpes and then we’re going to sit out by the lake.”

* * *

It turned out “crêpes” had been Rose’s code for cocktails.

Typical
.

We placed our order at the bar and as soon as our drinks were made up, Rose insisted on taking them out to the lake. Personally, I didn’t think alcohol, negative emotions, and water mixed. Then again, I didn’t have a choice.

We sat on a boulder a little way off the path and out of view from the hotel. Silver Firs partially surrounded the lake, but the sun had risen too high for them to cast any kind of shadow over us. I swirled my feet in the clear water, staring at the smooth pebbles beneath the rippled surface as I slurped up the centimetre of drink I had left through my straw. Against the tranquil background noises, I sounded like a plughole. The thought made me giggle as I imagined someone pulling the plug on the lake and it emptying like a sink.

“Please don’t tell me it only takes one Sex on the Beach for you to become tipsy.”

“I’m good.” I collapsed back against the rock, throwing my arms over my head and letting the glass fall to the ground with a clink. And it was true. I felt lighter, not so empty inside as a contented smile worked its way on to my lips and the rays warmed me. Okay, maybe the alcohol had a
slight
effect.

“Are you sure?”

“Mmm hmm.” I hummed, not bothering to open my eyes.

Suddenly Rose’s hands found my side, and with a shove she pushed me off the rock. With nothing to hold on to and no time to react, I landed ass first in the shallow water and kicked up a splash.

I shrieked in surprise, but soon caught myself. The water had been warmed by the afternoon sun, making the shallows feel like a hot bath. I glared up at Rose, lifting one hand to block out the sun. She lay back on the rock, holding her stomach. Her body shook with uncontrolled laughter.

“I cannot believe you did that!” Flicking up water with my hands, I made sure as much connected with her as possible.

She squealed, flailing her legs like an insect stuck on its back. I picked up more water, cupping my hands together so I could carry it right over her head. Making sure she had her mouth closed, I released the mini shower with a giggle.

Rose jolted up, sliding off the rock so she landed shin deep in water. Immediately, she kicked up a splash, her leg moving so quickly I didn’t have time to dodge the attack. Cool droplets hit my shirt, seeping through to my skin, and I turned away to shield my face from her attack. I didn’t see her moving towards me until it was too late. Her hands landed on my shoulders and the next thing I saw was sky before she plunged me beneath the water. The sharp sting of cold bit into my skin and cut off my yelp.

When Rose dropped her hands from my shoulders, I pushed myself to the surface and shook my head to clear my eyes. Blinking up at Rose, she looked smug as she tucked a strand of hair back behind her ear and began wading towards the shore.

“What the hell was that for?” I cried, trying my best to sound irritated, only I struggled to stop giggling. The cold dip washed away the numb sensation and happiness filled its place. Life flowed through my veins and I felt revived once more.

“To get you out of your funk. And by the looks of it, my job is done.” She bowed dramatically. “You’re welcome.”

I threw myself backwards. Letting my ears dip beneath the surface, I lay on my back and stared up at the sky. It silenced all noises except for the gentle splashes of movement around me in the water. The sun dried the droplets on my skin rapidly, and shutting my eyes I allowed myself to float there.

Taking a deep breath, I held it, enjoying the feeling of weightlessness again. It couldn’t compare to soaring, however it came a close second. If I could, I would have stayed there all day and let a current dictate my journey. My problems would seep into the water and trail behind me as I flowed around the world.

Flecks of water landing on my face interrupted my dreaming. They forced me to squint against the light, and the sight of Rose’s face peering over me once more had my body sinking like a block of cement as I lost my balance. I took in a mouthful of water when I went under, the natural taste of pond weed and stagnant water forcing me to spit it straight back out the second I came back up for air.

Rose appeared too pleased with herself.

“You’re not getting away with that a second time.” Sensing she planned to retreat, I dived on her back. Clinging to her like a baby, I wrapped my arms around her neck and my legs around her waist. The force of my landing caused her knees to buckle, sending us both back into the water headfirst.

I pushed off from her and waited for her to surface a few metres away. When she did I roared at the mass of blonde hair she had to push out of her mouth and untangle.

“Now we’re even.”

“What are you two
doing
?” a third voice shouted from behind us.

Jumping in shock at the recognisable, male voice, we both spun. My mouth dropped open at the sight of Dalton on the bank, his hands lowering from where he’d cupped them over his mouth. He shook his head with a chuckle as he watched us wade towards him.

“I thought you weren’t going to call him,” I hissed at Rose.

She stared at me like I was stupid. “I didn’t. And even if I did he wouldn’t have arrived so quickly.”

I shrugged, then glanced across at Rose with a knowing grin as an idea formed. I jerked my head towards Dalton. For a second she looked confused, but when I opened my arms and started to run she caught on quickly.

“Don’t you even think about it, Alaya.” His tone remained light and full of humour so I continued. Even with his back peddling I caught up with him easily.

Wrapping my arms around him, I hugged him tightly and Rose did the same from the other side to soak him. He grumbled too low for me to decipher his words, although he soon relented and hugged us back.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, stepping back and wringing the water from my hair. When I peered up, two dark splodges covered either side of Dalton’s body.

“I own the place, remember? Or has the heat gone to your head?”

“Not the heat, probably the cocktail she just downed,” Rose laughed and wrung out her shirt.

“And here I was thinking I sent you on a journey of self-discovery.”

I rolled my eyes at his teasing tone. Shoving his arm he barely even moved under my assault. “This was the first drink I’ve had since moving out here.”

He watched Rose as if awaiting confirmation. Having known him for the last five years, though, I knew he was only trying to wind me up. Dalton was a relaxed guy, and a boss you could have a joke with—at least around a select few. He treated me more like a daughter than an employee, and nothing he said was ever serious. He acted like a big kid himself as long as things didn’t affect his business.

“Seriously, what brings you out here? You didn’t tell me you’d be coming.”

“I like to keep everyone on their toes every now and then. I couldn’t have you giving them a heads up, could I? Anyway, I thought I’d come and check up on you as well. It’s not the same back in Cornwall without you.”

“Aww, did you just admit you missed me, Dalt?”

“I said it’s not the same without you. Totally different thing.” His lips quirked and his eyes creased at the corners to crinkle his bronzed skin slightly—the only outward sign of his age.

“How’s it any different? You miss me, be honest.”

“I miss you like my cat misses its fleas.”

I clutched my hands over my chest and staggered back dramatically. “Ow! Stabbed me right in the heart.”

He chuckled. “Of course I’ve missed you, you idiot. Your smart mouth not so much, but things are definitely less interesting.”

“So you got on a plane to see me? I’m touched.”

Dalton threw his gaze to the sky. “How do you like it here so far? Is this trip everything you thought it would be?”

Rose groaned and raised her palm to her forehead with a smack. “Why, Dalton? I just got her back to normal.”

“Huh?” He gazed at Rose in confusion then settled his attention back on me as if expecting me to fill in the blanks. “Something you want to tell me?”

“Nope, I’m fine now. I only needed a reminder of why I began this journey, that’s all.”

Dalton stared at me, even more confused.

“Guy trouble, Dalt. She was having guy problems,” Rose piped up again and I wanted to strangle her. The last person who needed to know about Cole was my boss, no matter how close we were. Her words also had the effect of putting Cole right back in my thoughts. I couldn’t help but wonder if he was okay and whether he thought about me at all.

“Oh, right. Well …” He trailed off, his face reddening as he reached up to knead the back of his neck.

I placed a hand on his arm gently. “You don’t have to say anything. I’m good, but I think I’ll be moving on sooner than I expected.

“I don’t need to fire someone, do I? It’s not one of the staff?”

I couldn’t contain the laugh that slipped from my lips. Even though I normally pretended otherwise, I loved his protective streak. “No, French guys aren’t really my type.”

He gave me a curt nod, clearly uncomfortable with our line of conversation. “How about you two go and get changed, then we can get something to eat after I’ve scared everyone by appearing suddenly?”

“Sounds good,” we said at the same time, each taking an arm he offered to guide us back up to the hotel.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Alaya

“You do realise you almost gave him a heart attack, right?” I stared after Andre—a twenty-year-old waiter—disappearing back into the kitchen on shaky legs. Dalton liked teasing and testing his staff so had pretended there was a mix up over the orders.

“What good is being the boss if you can’t have a bit of fun every now and then?”

“You’re cruel. Not everyone knows you like I do.”

“Which is probably a good thing. If all of my staff were like you there’d be uproar and mutiny in my hotels.”

“Hey! I’m good at my job.”

“Did I say you weren’t?” He spooned a profiterole into his mouth around a Cheshire cat grin.

“I hate you,” I mumbled, and took a bite of my lemon ice-cream. It was the one thing I’d never been able to find back in the UK since first tasting it when I was fourteen on a school trip. Not one that compared anyway. I quickly came to adore its creaminess mixed with the tangy, sour lemon, and it easily dethroned my old favourite of caramel crunch.

“Be honest with me, is this trip turning into everything you thought it would?”

“I can’t say yet. It’s only just begun.” I proceeded to tell him everything I’d accomplished so far—minus a few details involving Cole. He listened to my every word intently as we ate, nodding and humming when necessary.