The only reason I’d agreed to stay was because I’d always wanted to see Paris and I didn’t want to waste Juliette’s money. That was all.
This excursion with Gabriel would be purely platonic. I hadn’t crossed any lines so far by being in the same hotel as him, so as long as I stuck to that, I’d be fine.
At least that was what I’d told myself when I had breakfast in my room this morning as I tried to psyche myself up to come to the briefing.
I’d wanted to eat in the restaurant, but I was worried I’d be seated with Gabriel. And sitting across a table, staring into his gorgeous eyes, wouldn’t have been ideal.
But now that the Love Alchemists had revealed the Love Tasks we’d need to do every day, I was seriously questioning my decision.
Doing romantic things in every location?
Taking photostogether?
Making playlists?
Finding extra locations to visit?
Every single requirement hadbig mistakewritten all over it.
I understood that the whole point of coming here was to bring the couples closer together, so it made sense for most of the guests. Just not for Gabriel and me.
It’d be fine though. I was a grown woman, not a horny teenager. I had raised my son single-handedly, despite the odds. If I could do that, I could manage two days of excursions with a man without catching feelings.
Gabriel pressed the lift button and we stood there in silence for several beats. Maybe taking the stairs would’ve been less awkward.
‘What made you stay?’ he asked.
‘I’ve always wanted to see Paris, so I thought it’d be a good opportunity.’
‘So you are here just to sightsee?’
‘Yes,’ I replied defiantly. ‘I meant what I said yesterday. Nothing can ever happen between us. I just want to enjoy the city for forty-eight hours. But if it gets too awkward, I’ll leave.’
‘I see.’
My gut twisted. Although this was the best decision for me, I hadn’t thought about how Gabriel must feel about all of this.
‘I’m really sorry.’ I winced. ‘You came here expecting to meet your dream woman and you ended up with me. And not only that, I’ve just told you there’ll be no romance. I hate that I’m wasting not just your time, but also your money because I know you must be working hard on your app and it must be so hard to get it off the ground. Don’t they say it takes several years for new businesses to be profitable?’
Gabriel frowned. He was probably thinking I didn’t know the first thing about running a company and he’d be right.
‘Anyway,’ I continued, ‘my point is, the last thing you need is to waste money coming here when you could’ve invested that cash in marketing and advertising stuff. The hotel wouldn’t give me a refund or find me a new match, but maybe they’d make an exception for you, seeing as it’s my fault.’
‘I do not want another match,’ Gabriel said quickly.
I swallowed hard. His words made me feel flattered and guilty at the same time.
‘But I just told you I can’t have a relationship with you.’
‘I know. But you also told me that you will stay for two days. That is good enough for me right now.’
‘You’re sure?’ I said, thinking it was important to double-check. The last thing I wanted was to lead him on.
‘Certain,’ he said as the lift dinged and the doors sprang open. ‘After you.’ He gestured for me to step inside.
As soon as the doors closed, I wished for the second time that we’d taken the stairs. Now we were in this small space. Alone.
Gabriel’s woody, masculine scent surrounded me.
