“I’m not having a holiday fling!” I insisted, doing my best to look innocent. We were both on our second drinks by now, and it was getting harder to control my expressions, all of my muscles a little too relaxed, a little lazy. My cheeks were feeling pleasantly warm, but I couldn’t tell if it was from the wine or because I was blushing.
But, I mean, I wasn’t lying. I wasn’t.
She waved her glass. “If you’re not having a holiday fling, explain to me exactly what happened up at that waterfall.”
I stared at my glass. “Nothing. Just what we said when we got back. We ended up taking a little swim is all…”
“Oh, sure.” She leaned back, one brow raised. “Just a casual dip in the glacial runoff. And then you show up, wearing his shirt. Doctor Noah Grady’s shirt, who also just happens to be the hottest guy I’ve ever taken on one of these trips.”
“We didn’t—he wasn’t—I just?—”
“Hey, if you don’t want to tell me, that’s fine.” She leaned back, one brow raised. “But I still think you two should totally hook up.”
Hook up. The words made me feel like a teenager. And that, more than anything, opened the gates.
I covered my face with both hands. “We aren’t hooking up, Tay.” I sighed and peeked through my fingers before glancing around, just to be sure there wasn’t anyone from our tour who might be listening. “We just…kissed, okay?”
Tay blinked slowly, like a cat. “And…? Was it any good?”
Okay. It looked like we were doing this. “It was…” I shook my head. “The best kiss I’ve ever had.”
“Better than your ex?”
I didn’t even have to think about it. “Yep.”
Tay sat back. “Interesting.”
And, well, yeah. But that didn’t change anything. “It was like a fairytale, you know? But fairytales aren’t real. None of this”—I gestured around the lounge—"is real life. And everything about that waterfall… So romantic! But afterward, even though we agreed the kiss was…wow,” I couldn’t think of any other way to describe it, “we agreed that doing anything more would be a mistake. He knows about Leo. So we aren’t going to let it happen again.”
Tay lifted a brow. “You just decided that? Both of you?”
“Yeah. Mutual decision. One-and-done. Bucket-list waterfall kiss.”
“One-and-done?” She stared into her empty martini glass and then back up at me. “I think thou doth protest too much.”
“Nope. It isn’t like that.” I folded my arms. “He’s…he’s here for his mom. And I’m not looking for…anyone. I’m here to get my feet under me again.”
“Okay.” Tay just nodded. “But, since it’s my responsibility to ensure that you have a safe and entertaining vacation, I’m going to say just one thing: maybe the timing isn’t great, but…life only happens once. You’re on vacation. Don’t let the good stuff get away while you’re waiting to feel ready.”
I opened my mouth to respond, though I wasn’t sure exactly what I was planning to say, but then her phone rang, and she frowned down at the display. “It’s the company. I have to take this.” She lifted the phone to her ear, throwing some money onto the bar and sliding off her stool. “Tay here. Hang on just a second.”
Tay pressed her phone against her shoulder and pulled a small piece of paper out of her pocket. After skimming what looked like some sort of list, she jotted a number onto one of the cocktail napkins and slid it over to me. “I’m not supposed to do this, but in case you want to check another item off your bucket list…” She winked. “You can find him here.”
I shook my head, laughing.
After she left, I just stared at the number she’d written—331.
THIN WALLS
For the record, I did not go to Noah’s room for the reasons Tay had insinuated. I actually did have a perfectly legitimate reason to knock on his door. I mean, I needed to return his shirt, right? Couldn’t hold onto that forever. Because that would be weird.
And also, the souvenir I’d picked up.
Still, I stood there stalling for far too long. Any minute, someone else was gonna pop into the hallway and look at me like I was a crazy person—or worse, Noah would open the door and ask why I was just standing there like an idiot.
But Tay’s words were ringing in my head.
I was on vacation. If I was gonna have a fling with anyone, it ought to be a good guy.
