Page 32 of Paradise Pride

“I’ll miss you too,” Meghan said, and she meant it. “But I can’t make any promises.”

“I know. Let’s just be together while you’re here. We don’t need to think ahead.” Florence put on a brave face and smiled. “Do you want dessert?”

“No. Not unless you do.” Meghan’s appetite still wasn’t back. The constant butterflies made it hard to eat, and anticipating their night ahead, she couldn’t wait to get Florence out of that white shirt.

“I’m good.” Florence asked the waiter for their bill. Clearly on the same wavelength, her eyes sparkled with mischief as she turned back to Meghan. “We could go to the hotel,” she suggested, looking her up and down as if undressing her with her eyes. “I wouldn’t mind havingyoufor dessert.”

32

Florence

“Are you sure you don’t want to stay here and wait for Kim?”

Meghan shook her head. “I’m sure. I already messaged her with an excuse. She won’t mind being on her own for a while, and she can always hang around the restaurant while Andres works.” She smiled. “It’s your day off, so I’d love to do something together. I’m meeting Kim and Andres and one of his friends for dinner tonight, though, but that’s not until seven.”

“Great.” Florence felt her stomach rumble. She hadn’t been able to eat much last night, and her body was screaming out for food. “How about breakfast?” she suggested.

“Perfect. I’m actually hungry for the first time in days.” Meghan ran a brush through her hair, then ruffled a hand through it. She was wearing an elegant navy dress Florence hadn’t seen before and she looked beautiful with white leather sandals and little pearl earrings. “Do you have a favourite breakfast place?”

“I do have a regular, but it’s under my apartment, so it’s probably best if we go somewhere else.” Florence stared at Meghan’s reflection in the mirror. “I’ll be all, over you when you’re looking like that.” She bit her lip and winked. “Beach or town?”

“You decide.” Meghan turned away from the mirror to look at her with a dazzling smile, then closed the distance between them and wrapped her arms around Florence’s neck. “Anywhere a little private is good for me.”

“Then beach it is.” Florence pulled her close and kissed her. She couldn’t get enough of those soft, full lips and although she’d gladly just stay here and go back to bed, there was also something to say for being out and about in the daylight with Meghan because they hadn’t had that chance yet. This was an opportunity to talk more, and she was looking forward to getting to know her better. “Are you up for taking a bus?”

“Of course.” Meghan grinned. “What, you don’t think I take public transport in London?”

“Well, you are a casino boss. Don’t you have a white limo or something?” Florence joked. “With some hot women in the back?” She held the door open for Meghan, wishing she had a car or any other form of private transportation to show her around. It wasn’t very gallant to make her go on a bus, but Meghan didn’t seem to mind.

“Yeah, lots of hot women,” Meghan shot back at her, then added, “In bikinis. We drink Champagne straight from the bottle, and I eat sushi from their breasts.”

“Now that’s a sexy picture you’re painting.” Florence pushed her against the wall in the lift and kissed her again. Their playful and sexy interaction had her hormones raging, and running her hands under Meghan’s dress, it was hard to hold back as she felt her tense under her touch. “I wouldn’t mind being in the back of a limo with you,” she whispered, moving her mouth to Meghan’s neck. “Do you know what I would do to you?”

“What?”

The lift abruptly came to a halt, and it shook so hard that Florence shrieked as she jumped back. “Fuck. What was that?” Her eyes darted to the operating panel, and then she spotted the red emergency button above it.Did I just push Meghan against it?They waited in silence, but nothing happened.

“I think the lift broke,” Meghan said, straightening her dress.

“No. We caused it.” Florence pointed to the red button.

Meghan gasped. “Oh, God. I did wonder what was pressing into my back. Her gaze shifted around. “Are there cameras in here?” She winced as she nodded upwards, to the opposite corner. “We’re busted.”

“Security cameras rarely work,” Florence said nervously while she waited for someone to come and save them. “Is it warm in here? It feels warm.” She opened a couple of buttons on her shirt and noted her heart was racing. They were stuck, there was no way out right now, and that made her incredibly uncomfortable. “We need to get out of here.”

“Someone will come soon enough,” Meghan said, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Hey, are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. Why?” Turning away from Meghan and trying to prise open the doors, Florence’s breath quickened. “Why won’t they open? Aren’t they supposed to give way just a little so we can get oxygen? Isn’t that what they do in the movies?”

“There’s a vent in the ceiling. We won’t run out of oxygen, no matter how long it takes.” Meghan took her face in her hands and forced her to look at her. “Don’t panic, Florence. Just breathe. It’s really important that you stay calm right now. Nothing is going to happen. You’re safe, I promise.” She glanced over the operating board and pressed ‘call’. It rang a couple of times, but no one answered.

Half kicking herself for not coming up with that idea herself, even though she was having a serious meltdown, Florence pressed the button again and again. “Why are they not picking up?”

“I don’t know. Maybe the security guard went for a break? It could be anything.” Meghan took her phone out of her purse. “I’ll call reception from my phone, but to be honest, they’re probably already onto it.” She locked her eyes with Florence’s. “Please sit down on the floor and try to breathe. I’ve got this. We’ll be out of here in no time.”

Florence nodded and sank down in a corner. She felt like she was suffocating and there was no way they’d ever get out of there.The lift might drop, and what if the lights go out?“I can’t breathe,” she whispered, leaning forward to tug at the door.

“Stay with me, Florence. You’re having a panic attack,” Meghan said, lifting Florence’s chin and turning her face towards her. “The phone is ringing—they’ll pick up soon. Breathe in while you count to four…” She nodded when Florence did so. “Good. now hold it for four counts and then breathe out over four counts. Keep doing that while I get help. Can you do that?”

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