“Name?” the receptionist huffs impatiently.
“Matilda Simmons. But that’s not the name the booking is under.”Shit. Why am I getting flustered?“My friend, well, mybrother’s friend… No, that’s wrong, he’s my friend’s brother… Anyway, someone else made the booking.”
Where the hell is Connor with those bags?
“And their name is…? Connor!” The blonde is suddenly full of energy as she beams over my shoulder. She stands and rushes from behind the desk, barging her way past me with her arms outstretched. I turn to see that Connor has just walked in, and my stomach turns at the smile he gives her.
“Bambi!” He takes her in his arms and lifts her up effortlessly. Although, a toddler could probably pick her up, she’s so tiny. It would take an industrial crane to get me off the ground like that.
“It’s good to see you.” He puts her down and makes his way over to my side.
“You too! I was so excited when I saw your name in the check-in system this morning. It brought back a lot of memories.” She reaches out her hand and lays it on his bicep, giving it a squeeze as she lowers her voice and continues. “Really, really good memories. By the way, I shuffled a few things around and got you the best room. I thought I could take the spare key?”
My eyebrows shoot up at her brazenness, and I turn my head away, not wanting to witness Connor making night-time plans with someone else. I’m aware I have no right to be jealous, but my eyes turn a little green anyway.
But, to my surprise and relief, Connor cuts her off.
“Actually, Tilly can have the spare key.” He gestures to me, and ‘Bambi’ looks between us as if she’s only just realising that we’re here together. “We might as well have one each in case one gets lost.”
“Oh, you’re…? Right. Sorry, I assumed she was your assistant or something.” She stomps over to her swivel seat behind thedesk, clacks her fake nails on the keyboard and takes two key cards from a box behind her. She holds them out to us, and we each take one. She releases mine immediately, but holds on to Connor’s as she says, “But if you change your mind, you know where to find me.”
Without missing a beat, Connor pulls the keycard from her grasp and links his free hand in mine. “I won’t change my mind,” he says confidently.
I blush, despite knowing he’s just using me to give her the brush off. Even so, I get a tingle that shoots straight from my heart to between my legs.
Chapter 29
There isn’t always a ‘but’
“This is amazing! Remind me to thank Bambi for the upgrade later,” I joke.
Our room is incredible. (Yes, room, singular. Connor is still insisting on keeping a close eye on me, despite me feeling much better.) The huge bed is made with crisp white sheets, with an intricately carved wooden headboard at the top. The cream carpet is thick and bouncy under my sandals as I walk over to the floor-to-ceiling window. We have a perfect view of the sea, and I take a minute to stand and appreciate the sun glistening on the calm water.
“I’m sorry about Bambi, I didn’t realise she still worked here,” Connor says awkwardly as he opens his suitcase and starts to unpack his clothes.
“You don’t have anything to be sorry for,” I reply without turning from the peaceful view.
“I just didn’t want you to get the wrong idea.”
“The wrong idea about what?” I watch a boat pass slowlyacross the horizon, its sails billowing in the breeze. “You and the baby deer? You don’t have to explain yourself to me, Connor.”
“I know I don’thaveto, but Iwantto.”
I feel Connor move to stand close behind me, and when he doesn’t say anything, I turn to face him. He’s standing closer than I realised, towering over me, looking down at me seriously. My heart races at his close proximity, but I’m soon overwhelmed with worry.
“You okay?” I ask, concerned. Why is he looking at me like that? Have I done something wrong?
After an uncomfortable beat he says, “Can we talk? Tonight? Let me take you out for dinner and we’ll talk?”
“Yeah, okay,” I answer quietly. I start to file through my memory trying to figure out what I’ve done to upset him. Maybe he didn’t like me making fun of Bambi? Or maybe he’s realised it was a huge mistake to invite me back into his life and he wants me to find somewhere else to live?
“Good.” Connor looks at me for a moment longer, his face still unreadable. He turns back to his suitcase.
I follow suit and unpack my clothes into the wardrobe next to his. My phone charger and the books Connor packed for me find a home on the bedside table to the left of the bed, and I set out my cosmetics on one side of the dressing table. When I come back from putting away my toiletries in the bathroom, Connor has rearranged the items on the dressing table, pairing up our individual items into couples: his aftershave with my perfume, my hairbrush with his gel. I might find it cute if I weren’t riddled with anxiety.
As I unpack, I run through all of the reasons Connor might have to be annoyed with me, each scenario wilder and more upsetting than the last. After half an hour of fretting through small talk, I can’t take it anymore.
“Have I done something wrong?” I blurt out.
