What Happens in Paradise (The Love Hotel #2)

Chapter 35

35

JASMINE

I zipped up my suitcase and wheeled it towards my room door. I couldn’t believe it was my last day in Jamaica. The time had flown by. Especially the last couple of days.

From dusk until dawn, I’d been locked inside the hotel’s conference room training the Jamaican Love Alchemists and it’d been intense.

Originally, the plan was to space out the training sessions. But because so many key team members were ill during the first week, I had to cram everything into the second.

But the work I’d come here to do was done. I hoped I’d impressed Hortense enough that she’d rave about me to Hazel and that when I returned to Spain, the promotion would be mine.

The last few times I’d video called Hazel, she’d been fine, so thankfully, I was off the hook and all suspicions of Alejandro and I being involved had evaporated.

Shame I couldn’t say the same for the situation in my brain.

That waterfall morning sex session still lived rent free in my head, playing on repeat day and night. And I could understand why. The feelings were unlike anything else I’d experienced in my whole life. Which was probably why I’d stupidly slipped up and called it making love .

I was glad I corrected myself quickly. I didn’t want Alejandro to think I was some sappy almost forty-year-old falling in love with a toy boy just because he’d given her multiple orgasms.

Obviously, I liked Alejandro. A lot. In fact, I didn’t think there was a man I’d ever liked more than him. But as much as wanted to continue seeing him, I just couldn’t see where it could go.

The work issue alone was big enough. Especially as Hazel had made her thoughts on employee fraternisation very clear. But the age thing was an even bigger concern. Not because I thought Alejandro was immature. In many ways, he showed more maturity than my ex who was twenty years his senior. It was the future that concerned me.

Alejandro would want kids and I wasn’t sure if that was something that I wanted or if it was even possible. I couldn’t expect him to sacrifice becoming a father for me.

So that was that.

Plus, I’d already had one failed relationship with an age gap. And that was a nine-year difference, so I wasn’t about to jump into another one with a man who was a whopping eleven years younger than me. Nope. No way .

Once we’d finished eating breakfast at the waterfall, I’d given him a long, slow kiss, thanked him again for an incredible morning and headed back to the hotel. And that was the last time I saw Alejandro.

Even if I’d wanted to see him, it wouldn’t have been possible. Like I said, I’d been working non-stop and crashed out the second my head hit the pillow. He hadn’t messaged, so I suspected it’d been the same for him too.

But now we’d be travelling back to Spain together. And that included an overnight stopover in Miami. As tempting as it would be for something to happen there, this time, I really had to be strong.

I took one last look at my bedroom, then headed to reception. When I arrived, Nadine was there.

‘Hey, girl!’ She smiled. ‘Can’t believe you’re leaving us! I’ve hardly seen you this week.’

‘I know! It’s been manic. How’ve you been?’

‘Good! Hortense said she’s interested in seeing my dance class, so thanks for recommending me.’

‘You’re welcome! I’ll keep everything crossed for you. Let’s keep in touch.’

Seconds after I’d given her my number, the hairs on my arms stood up and a gorgeous woody scent wafted through the air. When I turned around, I saw Alejandro a few feet away, looking ridiculously hot.

Did he ever look terrible? The idea of walking away from him in twenty-four hours would be so much easier if he didn’t look like an Adonis.

Alejandro was kind, attentive, smart and an amazing cook. Why did he have to be outrageously attractive too? I felt sorry for all the single guys in the world. Age and work complications aside, he was the total package.

He smiled and my stomach flip-flopped.

Ugh .

‘ Hola chicas! ’ he greeted us.

‘Hey, Alejandro!’ Nadine beamed. ‘I was just saying to Jasmine that it’s been ages since I’ve seen you guys.’

‘We have both been very busy.’ He looked at me.

‘So I heard! I hope you still got to do some bumping and whining during your time off?’ She smirked.

Alejandro’s eyes popped.

‘She means practising the dance moves we learnt.’

‘Oh…’ His shoulders loosened.

‘You thought I meant…’ Nadine laughed. ‘I hope you got some good, good lovin’ too!’ She looked between us then gave a knowing smile.

Did she know?

My heart raced, then I remembered that even if she suspected something, like Alejandro said when I told him about Hazel, she didn’t have any proof. And I trusted Nadine. It was fine.

‘I’m going to miss this place.’ I changed the subject.

‘Me too,’ Alejandro said.

‘Aww, you’ll have to visit when it’s open!’

‘I might take you up on that,’ I said.

I’d like to visit the hotel, but I’d also love to see my grandad. Despite trying to reach him several times on the phone this week during my short breaks, there was no answer. That was to be expected. He almost never answered. I wished I’d had more time here so I could’ve tried to visit again.

‘Your driver’s here.’ Nadine signalled to a stiff-looking chauffeur in a smart, grey suit and hat, standing beside a shiny, black Mercedes.

My heart instantly sank. Although I’d given him a hug and said goodbye when he dropped me back to the hotel after my trip to the waterfall, I was still hoping to see Bob one last time.

I hadn’t had a chance to look into his sacking yet, but I was making it a priority when I got back.

‘Okay,’ I said. ‘We’d better get going. Thanks again for everything.’

‘ Sí ,’ Alejandro added. ‘ Muchas gracias . ’ He stepped forward and gave Nadine two cheek kisses which instantly caused my brain to replay the memory of his mouth pressed on mine.

After I gave Nadine a hug, I headed over to the driver with Alejandro.

‘Good morning, sir, madam. My name is Egbert and I will be your driver for today. Please, allow me to take care of your luggage.’

Egbert was perfectly polite and fitted the Love Hotel criteria perfectly. But he was formal and a bit robotic. He didn’t have the same warm, energetic personality that Bob had.

‘Nice to meet you, Egbert,’ I said.

Just as we were about to get into the car, the sound of Bob Marley it was him.

‘Sure,’ he said.

Alejandro closed the door and we just stood there in front of each other, staring. I bit my lip, then leant in towards him. He dipped his head and held my gaze.

I could’ve tried playing it cool, but I wanted him too much. I quickly closed the gap between us, pressing my mouth onto his.

Instead of being crazed and feral like our first kisses, this time, it was slow and gentle. Alejandro scooped me up and carried me over to the bed.

He undressed me slowly in silence before making love to me. And this time, there could be no mistake. It wasn’t hard, fast fucking. It was slow, sensual lovemaking.

Afterwards, I lay on his chest and we fell asleep wrapped in each other’s arms.

And it was, without doubt, the best sleep I’d had all week.

How well I’d sleep once I was back in Spain and things were really over between us was a different story.