Page 20 of Paradise Pride

“Why don’t we stay here instead?” Meghan suggested. “I’ll get a takeaway. I’m sure you’ll be tired after working your ass off all weekend, and if our date tomorrow is still standing, then—” She stopped herself. “I meant drinks or dinner,” she corrected herself. “It’s not a date.”

“Sure, tomorrow, you, me… Of course it’s still on. And I would love to have a quiet night with you tonight. You’re right. I am a little tired. My body is, anyway,” she said, rolling her shoulders. “If you get the food, I’ll bring a bottle.”

“Okay. Do you have any preferences?”

Florence narrowed her eyes, and her lips pulled into a mischievous smile. “You could wear the T-shirt you sleep in. I like that one.”

Meghan laughed. “I was talking about food, and you know it.”This is getting interesting.Again, there was electric eye contact that confused her as much as it thrilled her. She certainly didn’t mind seeing Florence in one of her thin T-shirts either.

“Oh, right. The food. I don’t mind, you pick.” Florence grinned widely. “I’m sorry, I’ll behave myself.”

“You don’t have to behave.” Meghan bit her lip and shook her head with a chuckle. The words had slipped out as a joke, but they both knew there was truth to them.

“Are you sure about that?” Florence paused. “Because if you let me, Iwillmisbehave.” She lowered her gaze to Meghan’s lips. “And I can be very bad.”

Meghan didn’t reply, as she had no idea what to say to that. Yes, she wanted Florence to kiss her. She wanted to do a lot of things with Florence, things she’d never considered before, but it was still too soon to admit that out loud. She was shaking on her feet as she clumsily picked up her towel, hugged it in front of her and buried her hands under her armpits. They were trembling, and she didn’t want Florence to see how much her comment had affected her.

Florence didn’t break the silence either, and Meghan suspected she was enjoying the standoff and seeing her sweat. She arched a brow and tilted her head as she studied Meghan with bemusement. “Well?” she finally asked.

“Let’s see how the night goes,” Meghan said so softly she could barely hear herself. She had to get to her room as she couldn’t cope with Florence’s daring stare any longer, and looking up at the hotel, she was relieved to see her neighbours playing music and dancing on their balcony. That would make her more comfortable in her room if she left the doors open while she got ready for whatever the night would bring. “I need a shower. I’ll see you up there.” She walked off without waiting for a reply and didn’t dare look back.

20

Florence

“Hey, Florence. Are you almost done for the day?” The woman who had been making eyes at her for the past couple of hours swooped right in after Meghan had left. Tipsy from the cocktails, she’d already introduced herself twice.

“Hey, Clarissa. Yes, I’m almost done.” Florence wiped her forehead. “We’re closing soon.”

Clarissa sighed and jutted out her bottom lip. “Well, I’m not ready to go to bed. I’m still buzzing and hoping for a different kind of action.”

Florence pretended she hadn’t registered the undertone in the woman’s voice. “There are plenty of places still open in town, even on a Sunday night.”

“Good. Want to come with me? My friends and I were thinking of going dancing somewhere.”

“Thank you, but I have plans for tonight.”

“With the woman who just left? Was that your girlfriend?”

“Who? Meghan?” Florence shook her head. “You’re not the first to ask me that. She’s not my girlfriend, but I am seeing her later.”

“Oh. I kind of thought so. But hey, no harm in trying, right?” Clarissa looked disappointed but she smiled anyway. “I hope it works out for you.”

“Thank you,” Florence said, surprising herself. “And have a great night. It looks like you’ve made friends.” The group of women who were hanging around waiting for Clarissa waved at them from across the poolside, and she waved back.

“Yeah. It’s been fun. I’ll come again next year if it’s on. Will this be a regular thing?”

“I’m not sure. It wasn’t supposed to be here in the first place—it was kind of a last-minute change of venue—but the organisation was pleased with how it went, so fingers crossed.”

“Well, if it’s on, I guess I’ll see you next year.” Clarissa shot her a smile before she turned away. “It was nice to meet you, Florence.”

“Everything okay?” Stella asked as she squeezed past Florence behind the bar.

Florence chuckled. “All good. I’m almost done here. Are you leaving?”

“No, I’ll close up with you. I’m meeting Lisa and a friend in town later.” Stella grabbed a cloth and started wiping the bar. “This has been so much fun. I feel a little sad that it’s over.”

“Yeah, me too.” Florence watched two team members take down the rainbow decorations. The poolside suddenly looked bare without colour, and there was a large gap in between the sun loungers where the DJ booth had been. “Are we full house tomorrow?”

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