Page 64 of The One That Got Away

Oh.

Dear.

God.

I thought it was going to be a big enough challenge avoiding Max when we were staying in separate rooms.

But keeping my mind, lips and body from straying when we were living under the same roof?

How the hell was I going to be able to resist?

29

MAX

You’ve got to be joking.

As Jasmine fielded questions about the latest bombshell she’d just dropped about each couple moving in together, my brain scrambled.

This wasn’t good.

My willpower was already hanging by a thread.

Ever since that almost kiss last night, I’d tried to keep my thoughts about Stella platonic, but I was fighting a losing battle.

The plan was to try and spend the minimum amount of time together. But if we were staying under the same roof, there’d be nowhere to hide.

‘You’ll each be staying in a two-bedroom villa, so there’s no pressure whatsoever to share a bed,’ Jasmine added.That’s something, I suppose. ‘And if anyone has any safety concerns, please don’t hesitate to come and speak to me in confidence. I can’t wait to introduce you to your new homes!’

I glanced at Stella. Her jaw was almost on the floor. At least I wasn’t the only one who was surprised.

‘Looks like we’re going to be roomies!’ I said, trying to lighten the mood.

‘Yeah. I’m happy in my room, though, so I don’t mind just staying there. You?’

‘Same.’ That’d definitely make things a lot easier.

‘Let’s go and talk to her.’

We both approached Jasmine, who was just finishing a conversation with another couple.

‘Hi,’ I said once she was free. ‘Can we talk?’

‘Stella, Max, hi! I was just coming to find you to brief you on today’s activity. How can I help?’

‘We just wondered if we could keep our rooms?’ Stella asked. ‘I’m sure the villa’s nice but Max and I, we’re happy where we are and considering our past, we already know each other quite well, so the whole getting to know you thing is better suited to new couples.’

‘Ah,’ Jasmine winced. ‘I’m so sorry, but that’s not going to be possible. The new arrivals are coming tomorrow so your rooms have already been allocated. All couples move into the villas on the property in the second week.’

‘Is there really no way we can stay somewhere else, like separately?’ I added.

‘No.’ She shook her head. ‘Not really. I mean there are a couple of rooms, but they haven’t been renovated yet, so they’re…’

‘We’ll take them!’ Stella and I shouted our agreement.

‘I’ll tell you what. Why don’t I show you the rooms we have available and then I’ll take you to the villa, which as I said has two completely separate bedrooms, and then you can decide. What do you think?’

‘Cool,’ I said. Stella nodded.

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