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“Oh!” Kirsty continued, raising her finger in triumph at her tequila-laden memory skills and seeming oblivious to Maya’s discomfort. No doubt the current level of alcohol in her system was dampening her frontal lobe processes. “You ended up working together at the ski place, he suddenly decided he liked you, and you fooled around in the boot room a few times.” Kirsty met Maya’s eyes with a satisfied expression. “That guy?”
“Yes!” Maya said, rolling her eyes. “That guy.”
Kirsty nodded. She stayed silent for a second, a frown spreading across her features. “What about that guy?”
Maya raised her eyebrows. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” How many cocktails has this woman consumed?
“Ohh,” Kirsty said, the alcohol-laden, slow-moving penny finally dropping. “Hot Naked Waiter Guy is that guy.”
“Yes,” Maya said, waving her hands as if a major performance had finished.
“Blimey.” Kirsty paused. “That’s an extremely unfortunate coincidence.”
No shit, Sherlock. Maya shook her head. “Though perhaps not for me, given my streak of crappy luck.”
“Mm,” Kirsty said. She hummed a few bars of Miley’s “Wrecking Ball,” then glanced over. “Sitting on this bath is tearing my arse to shreds.”
Maya laughed despite herself. “Thanks for the sympathy, mate.”
“Sorry,” Kirsty said, standing and rubbing her bottom. “Come on. We’ll chat some more in my room.”
Kirsty took Maya’s hand and led her out of the bathroom, across the upstairs landing, and into the primary bedroom, where she ushered Maya to sit on a plush chair.
Kirsty perched on a chaise longue. “What’s the plan?”
Maya leaned back. “I’m going to live up here forever.” She pointed across the room. “I’ll sleep at the bottom of the bed and keep your and Paul’s feet warm.”
Kirsty raised her eyebrows. “That’s the shittiest master plan I’ve ever heard. MI5 won’t be calling you anytime soon.”
“Nope. I could do with a job, though.” Maya touched her charm bracelet, letting her fingers linger on the moon charm.
“Why the hell is he down here, working as a naked butler, if he lives up in Glenavie?” Kirsty asked.
Maya shrugged. “Beats me. I’ve barely seen him the last few years. But I’m sure he was still a ski instructor at the Glenavie resort. Liv’s definitely mentioned it.”
“Weird,” Kirsty said, pursing her lips.
Maya huffed out her breath. “I still think the best plan is for me to stay here forever. I won’t cause you any bother. Plus, it means I won’t have to go home and get the you-need-to-decide-where-your-life-is-going lecture from Dad. Nor the ever-relevant TED talk ‘Why Can’t You Be More like Your Sister?’ ”
“Ugh,” Kirsty said, wrinkling her nose. “He actually said that?”
Maya frowned, her stomach tightening. “No. But that’s what he means when he goes on about all her achievements.”
Kirsty groaned and rubbed her eyes, then quickly lifted her hands away. “Crap. I keep forgetting I’ve got all this eye makeup on. I’m going to look like a panda. Right. Here’s plan B. I’ll go and have a word with Sam in private, ask if he can leave early. It won’t affect his fee.”
Maya shook her head. “Don’t. I’m not ruining your party. I’m sure everyone already thinks I’m a weirdo for leaving the room so abruptly.”
“Nah. They were all too distracted by the drink and how hot the naked butler is.” Kirsty paused, her eyes widening. “Oops. Sorry.”
Maya groaned. “That’s okay. I’m well aware of how attractive he is.” The image of Sam standing there with all his muscles on display floated across her mind’s eye, so she attempted to mentally push it down, but it kept popping back up like an unsinkable buoy.
Kirsty blew her breath out. “Anyway, the only ones who noticed were Isabelle and Una, and they don’t think you’re a weirdo.” She smiled. “Maybe just a bit eccentric, and that you like to overshare your toilet habits.”
Maya covered her face with her hands. “I forgot I said that.”
Kirsty laughed. “Don’t sweat it. It’s not the most embarrassing thing that’s happened tonight. Una was miming an enthusiastic pelvic thrust behind Sam’s back earlier, and he turned around and caught her.”
Maya snorted. “Classic Una.”
