Page 12 of Snug in Iceland
“Would you like a drink?”
She turned around to find Jonas crouched on the side of the pool behind her, now wearing a knitted hat and carrying a tray of glasses.
“It’s Icelandic beer, very refreshing.”
“Oh, thanks,” she said, twisting round to take a glass.
“Are you enjoying it?”
“It’s amazing, apart from being freezing before you get in.”
He smiled at her and his eyes crinkled at the corners which Rachel thought was nice because that meant he must smile a lot.
“That just makes it all the better when you do get in,” he said.
“True. Thanks for the beer.” She raised it to him, “Cheers!”
“Skál!” he said and disappeared into the steam.
Rachel was surprised to find herself wishing that he’d stayed to chat for a bit longer. She was probably just feeling a bit lonely, she told herself. It was a lovely place but it would be lovelier to share it with someone special. Not that he was special. He was probably special to someone with eyes like that, but not special to her. Adam was special but he wouldn’t enjoy this, he never even wanted to go swimming with her. That was quite a sad thought; that there was no-one who would want to be here with her in a romantic sense. The thought of being there with Jonas lingered uncomfortably for a moment in Rachel’s thoughts before she lost herself in the feeling of complete contentment that had enveloped her.
After two hours of bliss in the Blue Lagoon and what felt like another two hours spent trying to wash the conditioner out of her hair, Rachel and the others in their party congregated back in reception. She bought some souvenir mud face packs for her mum and Anna which might well have been extortionately expensive but as she hadn’t got to grips with the exchange rate yet, she had no idea so decided that it didn’t count.
Jonas did a headcount as if they were on a school trip and announced that it was time to leave. He waited until everyone had headed outside and followed behind, next to Rachel who was walking at the back of the group.
“I was wondering if you would mind sitting at the front with Olafur and me?” he asked. “We have a couple of people who came to an earlier session and then stayed for a meal so we are quite full. I think they are all couples so… normally we wouldn’t ask a guest to do that but…”
“It’s fine, I don’t mind.”
“Thank you. It is much appreciated.”
Rachel climbed into the front of the minibus behind Jonas so at least she wasn’t sat in between them which really would have been awkward. The intense state of relaxation that the Blue Lagoon had lulled her into was now rapidly dissipating as they set off towards Reykjavik. This was it now. The adventure was about to start in earnest and she found herself buzzing with excitement as she thought about what was ahead, mixed with a little trepidation at it being the first store she would be in complete control of from start to finish. But she knew she could do it.
“Have you been to Iceland before, Rachel?” Jonas asked, cutting into her daydreaming.
“No, it’s my first visit but I think I’m going to love it if the rest of it is as nice as the Blue Lagoon.”
“Well, the Lagoon is wonderful but there are plenty of beautiful things to see in Iceland which you won’t have to share with a hundred other people.” Jonas grinned.
“I would love to see more but I’m here working, so I’m not sure I’ll have much spare time.”
“Let me know when you are free and I can arrange for you to join one of our Golden Circle tours. It is a typical tourist thing to do in Reykjavik but it is a good start. You will enjoy it. Then if you do have more time you could go for something more adventurous like a glacier walking excursion.” He rummaged in the folder he’d been carrying and handed her a brochure.
“I’m not sure I’m as adventurous as that but the Golden Circle tour looks good,” she said, thumbing through the brochure. “Thanks.” She couldn’t help but think how amazing his English was and how much she liked his accent.
“What do you do?”
“I work for a retailer. We’re opening a new store here.”
“Oh, is it the empty one on Laugavegar?”
“I think that might be the address actually, yes. How do you know that?”
“Most overseas stores are on that street so it was a lucky guess.” He smiled at her, his twinkling eyes hinting at a sense of fun.
“I’m looking forward to seeing it. I’ve only seen a photo of the shop front so it’s always nice to see the rest of the street.”
“Your hotel is just one street over.”
