Chapter 7
Snoring woke her. It took a second to realise where they were and what had happened, then another to realise that if they didn’t get a wriggle on, they were about to miss breakfast.
“Hey, sleepyhead. Wake up. It’s breakfast time.” She gently shook Katie’s arm.
“Go ‘way.” Katie rolled to face the other side.
“Hey, you’ll miss out if you don’t get changed now.”
“Don’t care. Not hungry.”
“Come on. It’s our last chance. Then we check out, remember?”
“I’m tired. You go. I’ll stay here.”
Ellie studied her. Ever since they’d returned last night, Katie had been very standoffish, to the extent that Ellie had started to wonder if Katie would even be here when she woke up in the morning.
She’d never seen Katie like this before, no reasoning with her.
Which was in itself concerning. How could a man get between them so quickly?
And if she went to breakfast by herself, could she rely on Katie to be here when she returned? She shook her head at herself. That was silly talk. And today being the last day, it would be a shame if she didn’t enjoy one last buffet breakfast.
“Look, I’m going to get up and eat something. Would you like me to bring you something back?”
“I don’t care. You do whatever you think is best. You always do.”
Ouch. She slipped from her bed and quickly got changed. Breakfast would be served for another fifteen minutes, and they still had another hour or so as part of their late checkout, so she could have a shower and pack when she returned.
She slipped into jeans and a shirt and striped cardigan, flicked a brush through her hair once, then shoved on sneakers. “I’ll be back soon, okay?”
No response. Okay.
She slipped a room key card into her back pocket and hurried to the restaurant area where the breakfast buffet was served. After giving her name and room number, she found a small table for two near the door, as—of course—all the window seats with the amazing view were taken.
She glanced around. Was Ethan here? She had so much to apologise for, not least of which was her sister’s foolishness, which had frozen her in embarrassment and stopped her from saying all the things she should’ve said.
Like the fact that Ethan was the first man she’d come across who she’d felt instantly connected with.
Like the fact she appreciated his patience with her.
Like the fact she’d love to meet up again one day soon.
But—another glance around confirmed what the first had—it didn’t seem like he was here. Her heart sank. See? This was what happened when a girl had more sense than was good for her. She didn’t know how to let a man know she actually was interested in him.
A rumble in her belly reminded her that she needed to eat, something reiterated when a server came to tell her they were closing the buffet in ten minutes.
She moved to the buffet, served herself a bowl of muesli and Greek yoghurt and fresh berries, then grabbed an orange juice.
She placed this on the table, then returned, and on another plate she served herself the last of the bacon, a fried tomato and hash brown, along with the last of the scrambled eggs.
She eyed it dubiously, hoping it was hot.
Then she perched a couple of small pastries on the side, along with a banana and apple for Katie to have if she desired.
“Hey, it’s the peacock girl.” One of the elderly men she recognised from last night smiled as she lined up behind him to get her coffee. “I recognised you from your hair.”
“It was a good night, wasn’t it?”
“We had a ball.”
She smiled politely, then, a pour of coffee later, she finally sat and got to eat.
But the food tasted a little bland, as she kept searching for any new arrivals. Where was Ethan? Surely he’d know that she wanted to see him again. It didn’t feel like their good night had been goodbye. At least, she hoped it hadn’t been.
She sipped her orange juice, smiling at a couple of others she recognised from last night, those who had been kind in saying how nice she looked. She glanced at her phone, at the photos she’d taken. She should’ve charged it.
“Is this seat taken?”
She glanced up, heart fluttering. “Good morning.”
“It is now. May I?” Ethan gestured to the empty seat, and at her nod, slipped into it. “How are you this morning?”
It took her a moment to refocus, so glad was she to see him again. Or was that relief to know he was still talking to her? “Oh! Um, sorry. What was the question?”
His eyes crinkled behind his glasses. “Did you sleep well?”
“Mostly. Although I’m a little tired still. Hence why I’m here now, and why Katie is still in bed.” She hoped.
“Well, don’t let me stop you.” He gestured for her to keep eating. “I’ll go grab a pastry. I ate earlier, but seeing they’re closing the buffet, they probably won’t mind if I grab a piece of fruit for the road.”
He left, and she did her best to shovel in as much as she could, hoping he hadn’t noticed just how much she’d piled on her plate before. And while she knew she didn’t have to apologise for enjoying food, she also didn’t want to look like a glutton.
She was nibbling the last of her hash brown as he returned.
He smiled, which instantly lit warmth within. “Hungry, huh?”
“You weren’t supposed to notice, let alone comment.”
“Sorry. But if you are still hungry, you might want to get more now, as they’re clearing things away.”
“I’m not sure if I’ll need to eat again this week.”
His smile faded a little. “That’s a shame.”
“What do you mean?”
“I was hoping you might be willing to share a high tea with me today.”
“I beg your pardon?”
He half shrugged. “I went to check out and found that as part of my package, they’d included a high tea. And after your comments about the one you enjoyed the other day, I think it’ll just go to waste if it’s not eaten.”
Oh, what a shame. If only she’d known.
He leaned forward, eyes intent on her. “I wish I’d known earlier, because I would’ve mentioned something to you last night. Because it’d be great to spend more time with you.”
“Even after all the embarrassing things with my sister?”
“Hey, family is family, right? We all have moments we’d rather forget, don’t we?”
Why was this man so kind? She nodded and sipped her coffee. Then made a face.
“Not the best, huh?”
“I hate to sound like a café snob, but those kinds of instant machines never are as good as when a barista makes it. Well, a barista who knows how to make good coffee.”
“I’m not a coffee snob, but I do appreciate the difference between those who don’t and those who do know what they’re doing.”
“You’ll have to come visit us at my family’s café one day and see what you think.” As soon as the words popped out she wanted to stuff them in again.
He smiled and leaned closer. “Let me guess: You make a good coffee too.”
“I do.”
He grinned. “I like the sound of that.”
“Of me saying ‘I do’?”
He chuckled. “I meant coming to see you and good coffee making, but we can go with that too.”
Her cheeks fired with new heat, and she was awfully glad that nobody else was around to hear or see.
Why did she have to have quite so many moments she’d rather forget?
It was enough that she continually embarrassed herself with this man, let alone in front of any others.
And she was especially glad that Katie wasn’t here to say—
“Well, look who just so happened to be here.”
Ellie glanced up to see her sister as Ethan said, “Good morning, Katie.”
“Katie! I thought you wanted to sleep.” Judging from those puffy eyes, she’d still prefer to be in bed. “If you’re hungry, there might still be something left at the buffet—but they’re closing it now, so you need to hurry.”
“I’m not hungry,” she muttered, slumping into a nearby chair.
“Would you like me to get you a tea or a coffee?” Ethan asked.
Katie peered at him. “Are you doing that because you want to be in my good books or hers?”
He shook his head. “I might be doing this because I want one, and I can make you one too. If you like.” He glanced at Ellie. “Do you need a top-up?”
“I’m fine, but thank you.”
His smile sent another quiver of awareness through her soul. Oh, he seemed like a really nice man.
“So, how about you, Katie?”
“Thanks. I’d like a green tea.”
“Okay. I’ll be right back.” He winked at Ellie and moved to the coffee and tea station.
Katie sighed. “So your knight in shining armour is here still, huh?”
She shrugged. “He’s not my knight in shining armour.”
“Could’ve fooled me.” Katie glanced at the plate that still had the pastries and fruit Ellie had salvaged earlier.
Ellie pushed the plate towards her. “I got this for you.”
“Thanks.” She ate one pain au chocolate, then quickly scarfed down the apple fritter too.
Ellie bit back a smile. So much for not being hungry. “So, what do you want to do today?”
Katie yawned, and Ellie caught an unfortunate glimpse of unmasticated food. “I don’t know. Do we have to go back? Can we see if there’s a spare room so we can stay tonight too?”
“As tempting as that sounds, I do have work tomorrow.”
“You and your work obligations.”
“I know, right? Crazy that something called ‘work’ isn’t as fun as going away, but there you have it. Such is life.”
Katie’s lips peaked up on one side for a moment, and she glanced around.
Ellie glanced across at where Ethan was bringing over the hot drinks.
Was Katie included on his invitation to high tea too?
Katie wasn’t exactly in the best of moods to encourage deep and meaningful conversation, and asking Ethan would be awkward.
But she did want to stretch out the time she had with him.
Ethan placed a hot mug of green tea in front of Katie, scoring a muttered “thanks,” then resumed his seat.
He glanced at Ellie. “So, have you asked her yet?”
“About?”
“About the high tea.” He turned to Katie. “Would you like to join us?”
Katie’s glance swivelled back to Ellie. “You’re having another high tea? With him?”
“He asked me this morning.”
Katie frowned. “What kind of man books high tea?”