His voice was deep and gravelly and his eyes were full of desire as he leant down to kiss me. The lift jerked to a stop, pressing us into each other and the second the doors pinged open I ducked under his arm and ran up the corridor.
‘Hey! I’m supposed to be accompanying you!’ Leo called, chasing after me. He caught me up as I unlocked the door and I pulled him inside by his belt, popping his shirt open with my other hand.
‘Can you accompany me any further?’ I asked.
‘All the way,’ he said, picking me up and throwing me on the bed.
Twenty-four
Sunday 4th July
‘I hope you don’t mind me saying so, Kat, but you look dreadful,’ Heidi said, sitting opposite me with her overnight oats.
I smiled sweetly and tried to muster some tolerance, while a vein pulsed in my forehead. ‘Not at all! Why would I mind?’ I’d piled on extra concealer to hide my black eye, but there was only so much Maybelline could be expected to do. And while I hated to admit it, Heidi was right – my face was getting worse, not better. I put my sunglasses on and pulled down my cap. ‘Today must be the final day for the bruising to come out.’
‘Let’s hope so,’ she said, unconvinced. ‘Now. I’ve got some bad news to share. Sam was on the phone first thing this morning and he needs me home urgently.’
‘Was he? Why? What’s happened?’ Another fake cat emergency no doubt.
‘I’d rather not go into the details if you don’t mind. I appreciate that it leaves you in the lurch somewhat, but needs must. I’m booked on a flight this afternoon.’
‘To London?! This afternoon, as intoday?’
‘Yes,today,’ she said, rolling her eyes. ‘Urgent means urgent. I’ve explained and apologised to Brooke, but I’ve seen enough now to shape the pitch, especially now we have the unimaginable moments territory to play with, and you’re still here to represent as the cruise wraps up.’
‘Right.’
I tried not to look too pleased. I didn’t want to let her off the hook completely, but my overwhelming feeling was one of relief. A couple more hours and I’d be free of her breathing down my neck 24/7, volunteering me for all the activities and skiving off. I could hide in my cabin and pretend to be working for the last day or two.
‘I’ve sketched up a few execution ideas, so I’ll send those over. And look, I’m sorry, OK? I’ll make it up to you,’ she offered, at least having the good grace to look contrite. ‘I promise.’
Just as I opened my mouth to put a request in, Leo stumbled into the restaurant, and I nearly dropped dead in shock as Heidi frowned in his direction. ‘What’s he doing here?’
I shrugged dramatically. ‘Morning!’ I shouted, giving him the stink eye behind Heidi’s back. Was this a wind-up? We’d agreed he’d leave discreetly, not follow me into the restaurant for a quick continental. He may as well wear a T-shirt withKat’s in the bagon the front and be done with it. He gave us one of his cheeky salutes, and my insides turned to jelly. That mischievous grin worked every time.
‘Bom dia, ladies,’ he said, piling his plate high with custard tarts. There was no further explanation offered, so Heidi leapt up and marched over, while I sat frozen to my chair.
‘Industrial espionage for breakfast, is it?’
He laughed. ‘Hardly. This place does the bestpastel de natasin Lisbon according to the guidebook, so we thought we’d swing by and check it out.’
‘We?’ Heidi looked behind him. ‘Are you with your imaginary friend?’
Zach marched through the swingy doors on cue and slapped Leo on the back. ‘I’m starving,’ he said, grunting an acknowledgement in our direction. He looked like he’d slept on the streets, with his pale face and wild, woolly beard.
‘You’re both here,’ I said, relieved to see Zach.
‘Obviously. We come as a pair.’
‘A pair of jokers,’ Heidi quipped and Zach gave her a withering stare. ‘Bookends?’
‘Aces more like. And we aren’talwaystogether; we bumped into each other down the street.’
‘How romantic,’ Heidi said. ‘Well, if your plan was to sabotage our thinking time you’re too late. We’re done with our ideas for now and I’m flying home this afternoon. My stint on theEsmeraldais over.’
Zach frowned in disbelief. ‘Since when?’
‘Since I got a call from home, just now.’
