What Happens in Paradise (The Love Hotel #2)

Chapter 43

43

ALEJANDRO

When Jasmine opened the door, my breath caught in my throat and every nerve ending in my body came alive.

Madre mía.

She was breathtaking.

I knew I had missed Jasmine, but my reaction to seeing her for the first time in a week showed that I’d missed her more than I’d realised.

The urge to throw my arms around her and hold her tight was overwhelming. I wanted to hold her. I wanted to kiss her. I wanted to stroke her soft skin. Inhale her sweet scent. I just wanted her.

But I had to go slowly. I could not mess this up.

‘Hi!’ she said, her eyes like saucers and her mouth wide with shock. ‘You’re here! I mean, obviously you’re here. It’s just, I wasn’t expecting you. I thought… Did you see Celine?’

Jasmine was always so cool and composed, so it was reassuring to know that just like me, she was nervous.

‘ Sí . She was leaving just as I was about to ring your doorbell. I came to thank you for the cake.’

I was in the kitchen testing a new recipe when I heard my buzzer. By the time I went to the door, there was no one there. I was about to go back inside when I looked down and saw the box.

When I opened it up and saw that Jasmine had made an apology cake, my heart swelled so much, I thought it would burst.

Jasmine was a confident woman, but I knew baking was something she was not comfortable with. So for her to take the time to do something she knew would mean a lot to me was a big deal.

I planned to come and see her anyway, once I had found a way to get her job back, but as soon as I received her thoughtful gift, I knew I did not want to put it off any longer.

‘You’re welcome!’

Music was playing in the background. I had not noticed it before because seeing Jasmine again had scrambled my brain.

‘You are listening to the playlist!’ I smiled.

‘Yes! I love it! Especially this song.’

It was ?Téo?’s ‘In Your Body’.

‘I am glad. That is one of my favourites. And “Part of Me”.’

‘Same!’ She grinned. Our eyes locked for a few beats, then Jasmine cleared her throat. ‘So, did Celine tell you the news?’

‘No.’ I shook my head. ‘She thanked me for my email and said she would leave you to update me.’

‘We’ve got our jobs back!’ Jasmine jumped up and down excitedly.

‘ Qué? ’ My eyebrows shot up.

‘She came to tell us we can go back to work at the hotel!’

‘That is amazing!’ I threw my arms around Jasmine and squeezed her tight. It felt so good to hold her close. I breathed in her scent and closed my eyes. I had dreamt about this moment for so long. Then I realised I had not checked she was fine with a hug, so pulled away. ‘I am sorry.’

‘No need to apologise!’ She smiled. ‘I’ve missed having your arms around me.’

‘I have too. So much. I have also missed kissing you,’ I looked into her beautiful eyes.

‘Really?’ She smiled.

‘ Sí . Want me to show you how much?’

‘That would be a very good idea.’ She bit her lip.

After cupping her face, I leant down and pressed my lips onto hers.

As our mouths connected, it was like everything made sense in the world again. Our lips moved hungrily, desperate to make up for all of the time they were apart. But even if I kissed her for a week, it would never be enough.

I could feel myself getting hard and knew that if we continued, I would be carrying her to the bedroom.

‘Jasmine.’ I reluctantly removed my mouth from hers. ‘I want to make love to you, but we still have some things to discuss.’

‘You’re right.’ She slowly opened her eyes. ‘But first, I have to tell you the good news!’ She took my hand and pulled me over to sit with her on the sofa.

‘You already told me!’ That kiss must have pureed her brain like it had done to mine.

‘No! There were two pieces of good news. Actually, no. Four other pieces of good news.’

‘Four?’ My eyes widened. ‘Tell me!’

‘Well, extra-good news number one: they’re hiring Bob.’

‘ Genial! ’

‘Two: they’ve got rid of Hazel.’

‘ Bien . She deserved to be fired.’

‘And three: there’s a new Cuisine King at the hotel.’

‘Oh.’ My heart sank. Under different circumstances, I would have hoped to have been considered, but I knew it was only a matter of time. I would make head chef one day. For now, I was just grateful to have my job back. ‘Have you heard anything about him?’

‘I have. He is very talented. And kind. And smart and very sexy.’

I frowned, then as the realisation of what she had said hit me, my mouth dropped open.

‘In case it isn’t obvious, the new Cuisine King is you!’

‘ En serio? ’ I jumped off the sofa.

‘ Sí! ’ Jasmine said. ‘I’m totally serious! Congratulations!’

I picked her up off the sofa and span her around, almost knocking over the vase on her coffee table.

‘I cannot believe it.’ I shook my head. My pulse raced, my heart thumped and I was not ashamed to say that I even felt a tear come to my eye. I had waited so long for this moment.

‘You’d better, because it’s happening! Your dream has finally come true!’

‘Wow. Lola and Evita will be so happy.’

‘And proud. Just like I am. You did it! Just like we all knew you would.’

Now two tears came to my eyes. Freya would have been proud of me too.

‘ Gracias .’

‘No need to thank me. You’re the one that did all the hard work.’

‘Celine also told me that you had emailed her?’ I said.

‘I did. I told her you were amazing and she’d basically be an idiot not to get you back and promote you.’

‘Ha!’ I smiled. ‘I told her the same in my email. But I did not call her an idiot!’

‘No? You missed out. It was strangely effective!’ She laughed and the sound made my chest swell.

‘And us?’ I said, bringing it back to the most important part of our conversation.

She took my hands in hers and as we both sat back on the sofa, I prepared myself for her response.

‘I did a lot of thinking and you’re right: the fact that we work together and the age difference don’t matter. The fact is, I love you, Alejandro. More than anything. And I don’t want to waste time worrying about the future and what may or may not happen. I know we’ll be great together. So I’d love to go all in, if you’ll still have me?’

‘There is nothing I would want more.’ I leant over to kiss her. Getting my job back was fantastic. Finally becoming Cuisine King was incredible news too. But hearing that Jasmine loved me and wanted us to be together was the greatest news of all.

‘That’s a relief!’ She laughed when we came up for air for a few seconds before kissing again.

When we had finally lasted more than thirty seconds without our lips fused together, I remembered something.

‘I do not mean to question your maths.’ I stroked her cheek. ‘But you said there were four pieces of good news, but you only mentioned three extra things?’

‘Oh yeah!’ She smiled. ‘I got promoted too!’

I bolted upright, my eyes wide.

‘Why did you not tell me that as the first piece of news? That is amazing!’ I pulled her in for a hug and then gave her another long, slow kiss.

‘You’re now looking at the new Love Alchemist Empress.’

‘Congratulations! I am so happy for you. You deserve this!’ I squeezed her tight.

‘Thanks.’ She smiled. ‘I’m so excited!’

‘I know how much this means to you. You’re going to be the best Love Alchemist Empress in the universe!’ I said and meant every word. ‘Actually, you are not the only person with extra good news.’

‘Oh?’

‘ Sí . Your cake. I tried it and once again, it was delicious. So I am officially declaring you a Dessert Doyenne.’

‘Dessert Doyenne?’ She laughed again.

‘Well, as we are employees, sorry, Romance Rockstars, of the Love Hotel once again, it is only right that I give you a crazy job title, no?’

‘Very true! So you really liked it?’

‘I loved it!’

‘I’m glad. It was my fourth attempt and it wasn’t as fun baking it by myself as it was with you.’

‘Next time, we can bake it together.’

‘That would be great! Maybe you could teach me a few more dishes too?’

‘ Por supuesto ,’ I confirmed. ‘I want to do everything with you: cook, travel… enjoy all that life has to offer. Whatever comes our way, as long as we are together, I know it will be wonderful.’

‘Agreed!’ She kissed me again. ‘Seeing as we both have work tomorrow in our new big fancy roles, this might be the most relaxing day we have off for a while, so we should get started on enjoying ourselves.’

‘What would you suggest we do first?’

‘I was about to clear up the kitchen then make a start on lunch, but perhaps we could skip straight to dessert?’ She raised her eyebrow suggestively.

‘Well, you are the newly crowned Dessert Doyenne.’ I stood up, took her hand and led her to the bedroom. ‘And as the English like to say, dessert is always a good idea.’