‘Would you?’ she asked, responding to his flirty smile.
‘Bom dia, you must be Rebecca.’ A shadow loomed over them and Rebecca looked up to find a very tall woman with long, dark hair and a piercing stare standing there. ‘I hope Felipe isn’t bothering you.’ She gave him a withering stare. ‘Don’t you have somewhere to be?’
He sighed heavily, his bright eyes still full of fun despite her chiding tone.
‘Duty calls. I’ll see you later, Rebecca. Perhaps for a repeat match in the pool?’ His eyes focused on hers once again and she felt that silly roll of her heart. He was a charmer, that was for sure, but there was also something else about him too. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it.
‘Maybe I’ll give you a head start this time,’ she replied with a quick smirk.
He rose, saluted both women and wandered off in the direction of the garden.
Inês rolled her eyes and watched him leave as she sat down in the seat he’d just vacated.
‘Whatever you do, don’t take him seriously.’ Her mouth crimped in a disapproving line. ‘It’s about time he settled down. Hispaiwould not have been impressed. He should be married by now.’
Rebecca nodded, feeling that Felipe was definitely not the sort to be married by now. He seemed to be more interested in having fun, and it was infectious. He clearly knew how to have a good time, which made him even more attractive because he was everything Will wasn’t– light-hearted, irreverent and he would never be interested in anything permanent. Just the thing to take her mind off her heartache. Just the thing to help her forget Will.
Chapter Four
He leaned against the bar, contemplating ordering a nice cool Sagres. It was just after seven and he’d barely touched the dozen urgent things on his to-do list, let alone solve the six imperative should-have-been-sorted-yesterday problems. A headache danced around his temples, threatening to squeeze harder. He’d missed lunch and was more than ready for dinner, although that wouldn’t be for another hour and a half. But there wasn’t much more he could do today. He’d go through the books after dinner this evening but in the meantime, the restaurant was fully booked and three new sets of guests had checked in.
‘Ah, Felipe.’ Inês appeared with the new hire at her side. ‘Can I hand Rebecca over to you? I’m going home and I haven’t had a chance to tell her about her other duties. Would you mind doing it? You don’t look busy.’ She gave him a sarcastic smile.
At the sight of Rebecca, Felipe perked up. Her challenge and their exchange over breakfast this morning had made him feel more alive and energetic than he had done for a while. ‘I’d love to.’
‘Good, I’m going home. Some of us have put in a full day’s work. Bye, Rebecca, I’ll leave you to it. Do you remember where the yoga mats are stored for the morning? And what the combination lock is to open up the gym? And don’t forget to put towels out in the gym. I’ve ordered a uniform for you. Make sure you wear it as soon as it arrives.’ Felipe bit back a smile at his bossy sister. She never believed anyone could do a job as well as she could. It had taken him a while to persuade her that additional help on the spa side of the hotel would be of benefit.
Rebecca, clearly unfazed by Inês’s control freakery, tapped her phone. ‘All in my notes, don’t worry.’
‘Right,’ said his eldest sister reluctantly. ‘I’m going home. Garcia promised to cook dinner tonight, although we’ll see.’
‘Have a good evening, Inês,’ he said.
‘Huh,’ she replied with a disparaging sniff. ‘It’s all right for you, you’ve gotMãeand the girls running around after you. You don’t have to lift a finger.’
He grinned at her. ‘And that’s the way it should be.’ He winked at Rebecca.
Inês huffed out a sigh and hurried away.
Rebecca watched her and he saw the polite facade drop. She looked a little tired and bemused.
‘How was your day?’ he asked.
‘There’s a lot to take in,’ she said. ‘I think my brain is a little fried.’
‘Fancy a swim at the beach?’
‘A swim?’ Rebecca’s face lit up. ‘Oh yes, that sounds like bliss. I haven’t been to the beach yet.’
‘Meet you back here in five?’
‘Done.’ She beamed back at him and darted away before he could warn her it was a bit of a walk down there.
And five minutes later, with no fuss, there she was, a tote bag slung over her shoulders, her hair swinging in a swishy ponytail and trainers on her feet.
‘What are you smirking about?’ she asked as she caught sight of the look on his face.
‘I’m impressed.’ He tapped his watch. His cousins would have taken at least three quarters of an hour to decide which bikini to wear, whether the sunglasses they chose were right and if their make-up would survive. And although Ana wouldn’t fuss about what she looked like, she would meticulously round everyone up, making sure they had everything they needed. You could always rely on her to have a spare towel, extra suncream and an emergency hat.
