“Are you kidding me? I’d love to listen to your whining,” Stella joked. “Listen, I’m going for a coffee. Want to come?” When Lisa hesitated, she put on her most charming smile. “Come on. This is not a pity invitation. I don’t know why, but I have a feeling we’ll get on if we’re not confined to our manager-guest roles.” She glanced ahead and waved at one of her colleagues, who was staring at them.
“Are you even allowed to privately mingle with guests?” Lisa asked, sensing Stella felt like she was being watched.
“No… But if you don’t tell, I won’t. My car is parked around the corner next to the supermarket. I can wait for you there.”
“Okay, a coffee wouldn’t hurt, I suppose.” Lisa internally scolded herself for sounding so negative yet again. “I mean, a coffee would be nice.”
“It will be better than the stuff they serve here, that’s for sure.”
“It can’t possibly be worse than Paradise coffee,” Lisa shot back at her, and she felt her mood lift. She was surprised at herself for accepting the invitation, but something about Stella cheered her up, and that was exactly what she needed. “Let me get dressed. I’ll meet you there in ten minutes.”
9
Stella had no idea why she wanted to spend time with Lisa so badly; she hadn’t even meant to stop off at Paradise. It had been a subconscious action, but when she’d suddenly found herself parked close to the hotel, she’d decided to look for her anyway, because the quiet and reserved woman intrigued her. She was beautiful, stunning even, and Stella suspected her libido might have gotten the better of her again. Lisa was wearing a simple white summer dress and white Nikes, and her long bare legs looked enticing.Don’t even go there. You’re punching way above your weight, not to mention she’s a guest and probably straight.
“Have you seen much of the area?” she asked, driving out of town.
Lisa let out a sarcastic chuckle. “Trust me; I’ve seen enough.” She shook her head and held up a hand. “I’m sorry, I’m being negative again and I really need to stop complaining about everything.”
“That’s okay. Paradise Hotel and the tourist strip are far from charming at first sight, but you’ll come to appreciate it after a while.” Stella laughed when Lisa remained silent. “Hey, I moved here from Seville and believe me, coming from one of the most beautiful cities in Spain it was a little shocking to me too. But I like it here now.”
“Hmm…” Lisa seemed deep in thought as she rolled down the window. “How come your English is so good?”
“Eighteen years of working in tourism,” Stella said. “And most of those tourists were British. I’m sure you’ve noticed you’re not the only Brit here.” She shot Lisa a sideways glance, then forced herself to fix her eyes back on the road. Lisa’s long, blonde hair was blowing around her face wildly, and she kept tucking it behind her ear. “I started in a hotel in Seville when I was seventeen and moved here when I was twenty-five to work in a hotel not far from here.”
“Do you miss Seville?” Lisa asked.
“No, not anymore. But I used to. I go and see my family every six weeks or so, so it’s okay. It was harder when I couldn’t travel, though.” Stella paused. “Are your family based in England?”
“Yes, they live just outside London. My parents and my older brother.”
“Are you in a relationship?” Stella knew she might be pushing it with the questions, but she just couldn’t help herself.
“No.”
“Sorry. Did I overstep?”
“No, it’s not that. I just don’t like to talk about my private life right now as there’s not anything positive to say about it.” Lisa paused. “You?”
“In a relationship?” Stella shook her head. “No. Some flings here and there but nothing serious.” She didn’t mention that she was gay as she didn’t want Lisa to think that she was hitting on her. “I just haven’t met anyone special.”
“Hmm.”
Stella looked at her again. Lisa seemed to do the ‘hmm’ thing a lot and she had no idea what it meant. It sounded like disapproval, but she didn’t think it was.
“I’m sorry.” Lisa turned to her. “I haven’t really spoken to many people lately and I’m a little out of practice. I mean, not like this, in a social capacity. I’ve talked to delivery people and occasionally to my parents and my brother, but I’ve been very withdrawn, I guess.”
“Lockdown?” Stella asked.
“Yes. And depression. I just didn’t feel like speaking to anyone.”
“Not even your friends?”
“I’ve only been in contact with one friend…” Lisa stretched her arm out of the window and let her hand drift on the wind. “She was worried about me and thought some sunshine might do me good.”
“Maybe she was right.”
“Maybe.” Lisa paused. “Where are we going?”
