‘He is,’ Gunnar replied, feeling a little prideful. ‘So, the bus is ready for the south coast tour? I will apologise to the customers for keeping them waiting. I will make sure they have the best time and?—’
‘No,’ Erik said firmly.
Gunnar swallowed. This was the moment he lost his job. This was the next disaster to happen because things always came in threes. Hildur’s accident. Magnús’s issues with school. But, actually, Hildur had had a second accident and Kirstin had turned up and…
‘You are on a different job today,’ Erik said.
His relief at not hearing the words ‘you’re fired’ quickly turned into curiosity.
‘A different job? What route?’ Gunnar asked him.
‘It is a private tour,’ Erik stated. ‘You will take the luxury minibus. The customer asked for you specifically. She said she needed the best driver and the best driver was you according to your high ratings on Tripadvisor.’
As the information started to soak into him Gunnar looked across the icy car park to the luxury minibus and that’s when he noticed someone stood beside it. Chloe.
‘But what tour is it?’ Gunnar asked Erik.
His boss laughed, cinnamon roll crumbs spilling from his lips as he finished the other half. ‘She has paid a good sum, Gunnar. Just take her wherever she wants to go.’
* * *
Chloe blew out a breath that was thick in the air. It was freezing today, the snow a thin crispy carpet underfoot. But she was full of confidence about her new plan for the Sinclairz Chairs event and she was determined, by the end of this day trip, she was going to have told Gunnar her fertility story. It didn’t need to be overthought, it didn’t even need to be for any potential relationship opportunity purpose, it just had to be said. Her sharing her truth with someone.
‘Halló,’ she greeted, waving a hand as Gunnar strode towards her.
‘Krúttio mitt, you wanted to see me so much you bought a luxury minibus,’ Gunnar said, arriving with her.
‘Oh, did I buy the whole thing? I still can’t get the hang of the currency. I mean it was thousands ofkrónabut I thought that was only for the day trip, I didn’t realise the whole thing was mine now.’
‘You would never fit it in your luggage on the plane,’ he joked.
‘Not the way you pack,’ she answered.
He laughed. ‘I loaded your case back up for speed not precision. But you know I will do a much better job at taking you on a private tour today. So, where are we going?’
‘Let’s start with the Golden Circle,’ Chloe said. ‘And see what happens after that.’
‘OK,’ Gunnar said. ‘Then, please, your five-star transportation awaits.’
50
STROKKUR GEYSER
‘So, there is no Kat today?’ Gunnar asked as they walked from where he had parked the minibus to the start of this area of geothermal activity, crowds beginning to gather, all wrapped up against the cold weather.
‘No,’ Chloe answered. ‘Kat said her feet were going to fall off if I made her walk all day again. But she will probably do just as many steps shopping for Christmas gifts in the town centre.’
‘This is true,’ Gunnar agreed, nodding. ‘OK, so, what you need to know about this place is that Strokkur is the most active geyser here and it erupts approximately every five to ten minutes, shooting water around fifteen to twenty metres high. However, it can get even higher than that, sometimes to forty metres.’
‘Wow, that’s crazy,’ Chloe said.
And then she screamed as something like an explosion happened and she put her hands to her ears and jumped in shock.
Gunnar laughed and took her by the shoulders, spinning her round to face the opposite direction. ‘That was Strokkur!’
‘I can’t see anything,’ Chloe said, eyes scanning the bubbling pools on the trail ahead of them.
‘It is very fast,’ Gunnar said. ‘A few seconds, a powerful surge and it is all over.’
