‘Great idea,’ Brooke said. ‘When we’re curating experiences for our VIPs, we can add that into the brainstorm. I’ll speak to Dahlia. For now, all I can offer is… another mint?’
Leo kept glancing over, sending me weak at the knees. This level of closeness was too much after last night. I needed some time and space to think about our conversation over dinner (among other things), not to be wedged into a tiny glass bubble with him, boinging about. It was a relief to reach the top of the hill and step out into the fresh air. Brooke and Zach must surely have sensed the sexual tension pulsating between the two of us. I could barely breathe.
‘Well, take a look at all this,’ Brooke squealed. ‘Real-life HD.’
The colours were rich and vibrant; no filter needed – Mother Nature had already added hers. The cable car station opened out into Monte Palace and Gardens from the bygone days of Madeiran gentry. Butterflies danced in delight among the plethora of plants. Ancient trees and beautifully manicured rose bushes added a soft fragrance to the Japanese-style ponds, ornamental fountains and elaborate red pagoda. The gardens were mapped into separate squares and looked like red and green flags from a distance, slowly revealing themselves to be carefully curated plant combinations that would give Kew Gardens a run for its money.
‘Ain’t this just so magical?’ Brooke said with a twirl and Zach rolled his eyes. His British disdain was on full show. ‘Should we take a turn around the gardens? That’s what they say inBridgertonain’t it?’
‘They certainly do!’ Leo said, in a mock-posh voice, offering her his arm. ‘Let’s.’
Zach wasn’t keen to follow suit and marched on ahead while I trailed behind full of jealousy at their closeness. I wanted to be folded into Leo’s arms. Brooke had snuggled in way too close for my liking, but I couldn’t very well burst through the middle of them and interrupt. I hurried to catch them up and linked her other arm instead.
‘Have you ever tried Madeira? As in the wine? We’ll have to drink some while we’re here,’ I said, grappling for her attention.
‘Hell, yeah. Let’s grab a couple bottles at lunch,’ Brooke replied, getting intoThe Wizard of Ozvibe as the three of us walked in time.
‘It’s a type of port, isn’t it?’ Leo said. ‘Count me out of that, thanks. I had enough last night to last me a while.’
‘That tiny thimbleful?’ I teased.
‘It was enough.’
Zach was slowly waving in the distance. ‘Hurry!’ he shouted, and we ran towards him. ‘How sick is this?’
We rounded the corner, and the toboggans came into view. A bunch of hot air balloons were missing their baskets somewhere out there. Huge wicker sledges on wheels were lined up in a row, and couple after couple were being helped in by men wearing white suits and boater hats. Two per toboggan, they circled the baskets, then pushed them along the road to gain momentum before leaping on the edges like the guys who ran the waltzers at the local fair.
Zach jumped in the front toboggan, while the huge queue huffed and puffed, giving the four of us death stares. ‘Who’s coming?’ he shouted.
‘Me!’ Brooke ran over and got in, leaving me and Leo looking at each other.
‘Alone again,’ he said, wiggling his eyebrows as Brooke and Zach sped off with a whoop.
‘We might get ten minutes if we’re lucky,’ I said, nudging him.
‘Plenty of time.’ He took my hand and helped me into the toboggan, then squeezed in next to me, his arm around my shoulder. ‘Do you mind?’
‘Not at all,’ I said, snuggling into him. There weren’t any seatbelts and his grip made me feel safe and secure.
‘Ready for it?’ a beardy man in white shouted, and we nodded.
‘Then let’s GO!’ said another and they started rolling us along the road. My stomach dropped at the realisation Ihad no idea what was around the corner or what this whole thing was all about. It could have been a sheer cliff drop for all we knew; none of us had really questioned it, but it was too late now. We’d watched cart after cart fly off and disappear with abandon and I felt like I was inching up a rollercoaster track, getting ready to drop. Madeira looked spectacular, with her glittering white buildings shining in the sunshine, and a couple of donkeys hee-hawed at us from a nearby field. Leo gave me a squeeze as the cart sped up and the warmth of his hand gave me goosebumps.
We whizzed along the tarmac and I held my breath, but it was just a plain old road waiting for us – smooth and wide, with nothing to fear. The two men were riding the toboggan like a skateboard, steering with their bodyweight, their rubber shoes working as extra leverage to navigate the bends and whenever we started to slow, they’d paw at the road in sync to speed us back up again. This was no job for a couch potato.
‘Flying down mountains is becoming our thing,’ Leo said. ‘Can you ski?’
‘God, no. I’m a working-class Bootle babe! Although if Dahlia’s got it planned in, I’ll give it a go.’
He frowned. ‘You can’t go hurling yourself down a mountain without knowing what you’re doing.’
‘What do you call this?’
He laughed, as the sledge zigzagged, sliding us back and forth and pushing us even closer together. ‘Fair point.’
‘I don’t mind taking chances, as long as I feel safe,’ I said, smiling up at him.
‘Oh yeah?’ I melted as he kissed me, holding on tight, our legs glued together as we flew down the hill. The windwhipped through my hair, making my skin tingle as he pulled me closer, both of us knowing it was a risky move and we could only get away with it for a few seconds.
