Page 31 of Obsession Under the Southern Stars

Opito Bay in the Northland—there’s another one down in the Coromandel—is a small bay shrouded by pohutukawa trees. There’s no town as such, and it mainly consists of holiday homes. It has a pebble beach too, so it’s not as beautiful as Te Ngaere or Matauri Bay further up the coast, but it’s a popular place to launch boats from.

The Montgomery Hotel sits high on the hill overlooking the bay, its estate sprawling to the north and west. It has an award-winning winery and a splendid restaurant, although we’re not actually eating there tonight.

Zoe’s eyes nearly fall out of her head as I turn onto the drive, and the car heads slowly along the winding road past the championship golf course with its panoramic views over the bay and the Te Puna and Kerikeri inlets.

“Jesus,” she says when I park in one of the spaces out the front of the hotel. “Does the MOANA budget for accommodation stretch this far?”

“Let’s just say I added a bit.”

She gives me a wry look, then gets out and looks around, running a hand through her hair. “I feel far too scruffy to stay here.”

“You look amazing.” I get our cases from the car, and she follows me along the path, clutching her case, looking a little nervous. I try not to laugh. If this impresses her, God knows what she’ll think of the accommodation.

We go into the spacious reception area and up to the desk. Zoe takes a few steps toward the seating area that overlooks the golf course and the Pacific Ocean beyond, her jaw dropping. “Look at that view.”

I just smile at the woman behind the desk and say, “Joel Bell. We have a villa booked for four nights?”

Zoe’s head snaps around. “A villa?”

“Yes, welcome Mr. Bell,” the woman says. “Here you go, if you could check your details and sign here.”

I fill in the form, sign it, and accept the key card from her. “Jamie will take you to the villa,” she says, gesturing to a young man in a uniform standing to one side. “I hope you have a pleasant stay.”

“Thank you.” I let Jamie place our cases on a trolley, then follow him out of the foyer and along a covered walkway.

“A villa?” Zoe whispers to me.

“I thought you deserved a treat.”

“Yes, but… how much did this cost?”

I laugh. “Don’t worry about it.”

We follow Jamie past the end of the building and around the corner. The villas are surrounded by trees, so it’s only when we turn onto the pathway leading to ours that the building opens up before us.

It’s a wide, one-level building built in the colonial style, with large windows on either side of its central entrance, and a covered verandah. Zoe doesn’t say anything as Jamie opens the door and invites us in. The whole front of the lounge opens out onto a sun-soaked wooden deck with a small courtyard to the side containing a table and chairs that’ll be perfect for alfrescodining. It has its own private infinity pool, as well as a jacuzzi, all surrounded by a lush, tropical garden.

Jamie shows us around the place. The lounge has a huge cream leather suite with colored throws that give it a country-style feel, and a large gas fire, should it be needed. Off it is a pristine kitchen with every amenity you could ever need. There are two bedrooms, both with en suite bathrooms and walk-in wardrobes. The place is magnificent.

“Thank you,” I say to Jamie when he’s done, and I give him a tip.

He smiles. “Enjoy your stay.” He heads back out the front door and closes it behind him.

I turn to Zoe, amused to see that, for maybe the first time ever, she’s speechless.

It was worth coming here, just for that.

Chapter Eight

Zoe

I stare at Joel, my phone in my hand. I’ve just Googled the Montgomery Hotel and looked up how much it costs to book one of these villas.

“What,” Joel asks, amused.

“This place costs four thousand dollars a night.”

“I got a discount,” he says.

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