Page 7 of Ignited in Iceland
‘Hæ,’said Siggi, as they had a brief hug. The manly kind where they both clapped each other on the back.
‘Excuse us for a moment,’ Siggi said to Iris, and the two men started conversing in Icelandic.
It wasn’t too much of a stretch for Iris to realise that Siggi was asking Anders for something he couldn’t do. He kept shaking his head, but Siggi seemed undeterred. She hoped he wasn’t trying to negotiate a discount or something like that. She’d just met the man, so she wasn’t sure why he was doing anything to help her out.
‘Siggi,’ she interjected. ‘I’m fine with checking in myself.’ She smiled at him in a way she hoped conveyed that there was no need for further discussion, and headed to the desk herself.
‘Hello. I’d like to take a room please. For two weeks, but I may need to extend if that’s possible?’
Suddenly, Anders was next to her. ‘I am sorry. What is your name? Iris…?’
‘Bellingham.’
‘Please check Ms Bellingham into room fourteen.’
The receptionist raised her eyebrows but took the almost imperceptible nod that Anders gave her in response as confirmation.
‘Thank you, Anders,’ Iris said.
‘You are welcome. You have a very persuasive friend.’
Iris was about to launch into an explanation about how they weren’t friends because they’d only met twenty minutes ago, but Siggi had helped her find a lovely hotel in a good location, and in record time, so she wasn’t going to start arguing. Instead, she smiled and thanked him again before he disappeared through the door he’d come through.
‘I’m also very happy to pay the advertised rate,’ she said to the receptionist, out of earshot of Siggi, who was busy looking athis phone. ‘I’m not sure what Siggi arranged with Anders, but it’s not necessary.’
‘He was asking Anders to find a room for you even though we are full,’ the woman said without cracking a smile.
‘Oh.’ Iris was taken aback. ‘But you do have room?’
‘Anders is going to move someone else’s booking to another hotel.’
Siggi had joined her by the desk, overhearing the end of the conversation.
‘No, it is not what you think,’ he said, his face the picture of innocence as he turned to Iris. ‘There is room.’
‘I didn’t ask you to do anything like this for me. All I wanted was a hotel room. In any hotel. I don’t want other people to be inconvenienced because of me.’ Because the reception area was quiet, and because by now, Siggi’s expression was that of a disappointed puppy, Iris managed to contain her annoyance to a low whisper. ‘Why would you try and pull strings for me?’
‘I’m sorry. You look tired and this is the closest place. It is good luck that I know Anders.’
Suddenly, almost as if him mentioning it made her realise, she felt tired. Right to her bones.
‘I am tired and the thought of having to find another hotel isn’t that appealing. If it helps, I’m happy to look for somewhere else tomorrow.’ She said this last part to the receptionist.
The sullen woman managed a tight smile and said, ‘There is no need, Ms Bellingham. Anders is happy to make the arrangements for you to stay here.’ Then she shot Siggi a quick look of disgust.
Siggi was grinning from ear-to-ear, seemingly unbothered about what this woman thought of him. There was probably some history there, Iris realised.
‘Do you need help with any bags?’
‘I’ll take the bags,’ said Siggi, before Iris could answer. He was already heaving her holdall back onto his shoulder and had picked up her case and started up the stairs, so there seemed little point in making a fuss.
‘Thank you. I think we have it covered.’ She gave the receptionist a weary smile in a final attempt to get on her good side, if she had one.
‘Your room is on the third floor. Breakfast is between seven and ten and here is a card with the code for access to the rooftop spa.’
Iris thanked her again and headed up the stairs after Siggi, ready to forgive him everything now that she’d found out there was a spa.
‘Thank you,’ she said, stopping outside room fourteen, where Siggi stood with her bags. ‘I wasn’t expecting this when I emailed you this morning. Your tour company really goes the extra mile.’
