Page 24 of One Week in Paradise
I blink up at him. That’s not what I was expecting him to do or say. I can still feel the phantom warmth of his arms around me. ‘I’m fine.’
‘You sure? We don’t have to go back out there. We can head back to the suite.’
‘No,’ I say. It’s a tempting offer, but I don’t want to look like I’m running away any more than I already have. ‘Thanks for coming to check on me, but I’m all good. She just… Lacey doesn’t think things through all the time.’
‘Yeah.’ Cash’s lips twist into a displeased frown. ‘I can see that.’
‘But it’s fine,’ I continue. ‘She didn’t mean any harm. Let’s go to the bar and try and salvage the night.’ I move to walk away, but Cash reaches out, grabs my hand and pulls me back towards him.
‘Are you sure?’ he asks me again. ‘We don’t have to stay anywhere that’s going to make you feel like that.’
His voice is dripping with sincerity, like he truly does care about me. It’s enough to make my heart stutter. Butthen I remember, he’s just playing a role. None of this is real. I’m sure if I wasn’t Dane’s sister, he’d still be at the table enjoying his meal.
‘I’m sure,’ I say, my tone slightly clipped.
He holds my gaze for a few long seconds like he’s searching for something in my eyes. Whatever it is he’s looking for, he seems to find it because he drops my gaze and my hand and gives me a small shrug. ‘Let’s go then.’
As we walk to the bar, I remember what Sara said, and I groan.
Cash quirks a brow. ‘What?’
‘I don’t think we’re a very convincing couple. The girls told me they were expecting me to introduce you as just a good friend.’ I glance at him sideways and then say, ‘I think we’re going to have to step our game up.’
His Adam’s apple bobs up and down as he swallows. ‘How do you mean?’
I shrug. ‘Be a bit more touchy-feely, I guess? Act like we’re actually into each other.’ That’s rapidly becoming a non-problem for me, but I push those thoughts aside. ‘You think you can do that?’
‘I think I can manage,’ Cash says slowly. A heady expression flashes across his features. ‘You ready?’
I give him a nod, and we step out into the pool area where the cabana bar is located. There’s loud music playing, and the others are already dotted around the bar oncomfortable-looking chairs. Lacey looks up at me as we walk towards them, but I avoid her entirely. I don’t need to be bombarded with a thousand apologies right now.
‘You grab a seat,’ I say, nodding to an empty pair of chairs by Bea and Marcus. ‘I’ll get us something to drink. Any requests?’
Cash shakes his head. ‘I told you, I’m not a big drinker. I’ll have whatever you have.’
I play it safe and order myself a porn star martini and a cranberry and vodka for Cash, since I know that he liked it back at the airport. While I wait for the bartender to mix our drinks, I watch Cash out of the corner of my eye. He’s in the middle of a conversation with Marcus. He laughs at something Marcus says, and I find myself mesmerised by how relaxed he looks. Like he’s genuinely enjoying Marcus’s company.
A pang of jealousy hits me.
Cash’s unnecessary dislike of me has neverreallybothered me. Until now. I’ve always just kind of brushed it off as a weird quirk of his and have never really taken it too seriously. Not everyone has to like me, and who wants to be friends with an egotistical ass like Cash Reid anyway, right? But as I watch him interact with the others – they’re all crowding around him now, like moths to a flame – I realise that I don’t know Cash. Not the real Cash. And why does that bother me so much?
I realise thatIwant to be on the receiving end of one of Cash’s genuine laughs. I want to be the reason he’s throwing his head back, shoulders shaking, as a roar of laughter rips through his body.
I know that he’s only here as a favour to Dane and to get a free holiday out of this and that the second we land back in London, things will go back to how they’ve always been between us. And the thought of that makes me sad.
As I walk back to him, I decide things are going to change. By the end of this trip, Cash and I are going to be friends.
Chapter Eight
I walk back to the group and place our drinks on the small glass table in front of Cash. He’s in the middle of a heated conversation with Marcus and Sara about a TV show calledThe Traitors. I’ve never heard of it before, but Cash is wildly animated as he talks about it. It’s oddly endearing to see, and I make a mental note to check out the show once we’re back home.
I move to sit down in the empty seat next to Cash, but before I drop into it, something snakes around my waist.
It’s Cash’s arm.
Without interrupting his conversation or even breaking eye contact with the others, Cash deftly pulls me onto his lap. I jerk forwards instinctively to move away, but his grip on my waist tightens, holding me firmly in place.
What is he doing?
