Page 18 of One Week in Paradise
He blinks twice, then laughs. ‘Fair.’
Penelope hands me back my phone, and I quickly scan through the photos she took. If I’m being honest, they’rebrilliant. Cash and I look every bit the loved-up couple ready to spend a romantic week in Jamaica together. But for some reason, I prefer the photo Cash took on his phone. Penelope’s photos look staged, but we look natural in Cash’s one. Like we’ve been together for years.
‘Will you send me that?’ I ask him as we follow the rest of the group towards the blissfully air-conditioned taxi waiting for us.
‘You going to post it?’ Cash raises a brow.
‘Would you mind?’
Cash scratches at his jaw. He does that every so often when he’s really thinking about his answer. ‘I wouldn’t.’
‘Then, I think I will. I’ll do a carousel grid post with some other photos thrown in.’
Cash gives me an easy shrug. ‘You’re the professional. I’m just here to do what you tell me to.’
It’s a throwaway comment, and I know I shouldn’t read into it, but I still feel bad about the way I snapped at him at the airport.
‘I’m not your boss,’ I mumble. ‘This is your holiday too. You don’t just have to do whatever I say.’
His lips curl up into a sly grin as he meets my gaze. ‘Maybe I want to.’
If I didn’t know any better, I’d say that Cash was flirting with me. But I do know better, so I brush off his playful tone with a roll of my eyes.
He doesn’t like me, I remind myself as I climb into the large taxi waiting for us. He’s just doing me a favour, nothing more.
Our resort is about an hour’s drive from the airport. Penelope points out landmarks and interesting attractions as we drive past them, but I pay very little attention. I didn’t sleep much on the flight, and it’s starting to hit me. My eyelids feel heavy, and keeping my head upright is starting to hurt.
‘Here.’ Cash pulls his travel pillow off the strap of his carry-on and hands it to me. ‘Use this. It’s pretty comfy.’
‘I’m fine,’ I yawn. ‘We’ll be there soon.’
‘Penelope says we’ve got another forty minutes.’
Forty minutes? I snatch the pillow from Cash and wrap it around my neck. I’m immediately hit with Cash’s scent. I’ve never noticed it before, but now it floods my senses. I realise that it’s unmistakably him. And I quite like it.
I lean back into the pillow and close my eyes. I’m out like a light within seconds, my hazy thoughts filled with images of Cash hovering over me, his lips twisted into a sultry smirk, his thigh pressed between my legs.
‘We’re here, Bailey.’
Cash gently jostles me awake after what feels like no time at all. When I open my eyes, the others have already climbed out of the taxi, and it’s me and Cash left. His grey-green eyes crinkle with a hint of a smile as he watches me stretch and rub some of the sleep out of my eyes. I reach for my carry-on, but he easily grabs it and takes it with him as he climbs out of the taxi.
‘Welcome to the You and I Couples Resort,’ Penelope says with a wide grin once I’ve exited the taxi. ‘Your little bit of paradise for the next week. We pride ourselves on creating the ultimate romantic experience for our couples, and we just know you’re going to love your stay with us.’
The resort is stunning. I pull my phone out to take a video, and I’m not the only one. Lacey, Bea and Sara are all spinning around on the spot, making sure to get every angle possible.
We’re standing in a large driveway in the middle of a sprawling green garden that stretches out into the distance. Large palm trees line the driveway leading up to an enormouswhite building with oak wood doors and windows. The large doors at the entrance are open, giving a sneak peek into the glamorous reception area where a row of smartly dressed men and women wait to greet us. I can see a sliver of white sand behind the hotel.
‘This is the main entrance,’ Penelope explains, walking us up the driveway. ‘There are several apartments attached to this building here, but you’ll each be staying in one of our private standalone suites at the south end of the resort. We only have five, and I promise you, they are the height of luxury. I know you all must be tired, so we don’t have anything too strenuous planned for today. Go to your rooms, relax, explore the resort in your own time. And then we’ll meet for dinner at The Blue Mahoe. We have three restaurants in the resort. The first two are open to all guests at any hour, and you don’t require a booking. The Blue Mahoe is our Michelin-starred luxury restaurant headed up by Chef Bernard Pépin.’
‘Oh, I love him!’ Meera says suddenly. ‘He did a pop-up in London last year, and it wasdivine.’
Penelope grins. ‘Yes, you’re all in for a treat. The Blue Mahoe is by reservation only, and we’ve booked it out just for you this evening. We’ve also got a candlelit meal on the beach just behind the restaurant planned for you all later in the week. But if you’d like to dine again outside of these two meals, please let me know, and I’ll happily arrange thatfor you. After that, we’ve arranged for some local cocktails at the cabana bar by the pool.’
Everyone murmurs in excitement and anticipation for tonight, but I can’t bring myself to join in. I’m still so damn tired.
‘What time is dinner?’ I ask, barely managing to conceal my yawn.
‘7pm,’ says Penelope. ‘So you’ve got plenty of time to have a quick nap.’ She throws me a wink.
