Chapter 23
ROMEO
As I saw Samantha walking towards the coach, my breath caught in my throat.
Mamma mia.
She looked absolutely incredible.
Her lemon-coloured dress clung to her curves, her beautiful curls hung loosely over her shoulders and those pretty brown eyes sparkled.
When she saw me, her face broke into a smile and it felt like a fire had just been lit inside me.
I had been trying to deny and fight it ever since I first saw her, but it was time to stop lying to myself and admit the truth.
I liked Samantha.
A lot .
And this was bad, because Samantha was off limits.
There were so many reasons why this attraction was dangerous.
Firstly, she was a guest. And as Victoria had reminded me dozens of times, getting involved with guests was not allowed.
I would not risk my opportunity to go to California or jeopardise securing the savings I needed to give Mamma the chance to make a fresh start for some stupid infatuation.
Secondly, she was Edward’s match. Whilst it was unlikely, there was still a chance that he could return. Even though he did not deserve her, Samantha was still his partner, so getting involved would be like stealing another man’s woman.
It did not matter that they had only been matched for a week. I remembered the betrayal I felt when I was cheated on and I refused to put anyone through that.
Thirdly, she was from London and I lived here, so it would never work.
And fourthly… well, I could not think of a fourth reason right now, but I would find one if I thought hard enough.
The point was, I had to stop thinking about her in that way.
But I did not know how to.
The sensation of her hand in mine when we were at Matera still played on repeat in my head.
I enjoyed our conversations.
I loved her laugh, her smile and her sense of humour. She did not take herself too seriously and I liked that.
And of course, she was as sexy as hell.
‘Hi,’ she said as she reached me. He sweet citrus scent surrounded me and I reminded myself again to act professionally.
‘ Ciao ,’ I replied, resisting the temptation to tell her how beautiful she looked.
‘You gonna tell us where we’re going tonight?’ She cocked her head to the side.
‘It is a surprise,’ I said.
‘Ooh, I like surprises! Good ones though. Not like when you walk in a room and a spider jumps out. Or when you come home and your boyfriend tells you he’s met someone else!
Those are very bad surprises. It won’t be anything like that, will it?
’ She laughed, but I saw a flicker of sadness in her eyes.
Had her ex cheated? I wanted to know more about her story. I wanted to know everything about her. But it was not my place to.
‘I promise that it will be the kind of surprise that will put an even bigger smile on your beautiful face,’ I said, then groaned internally as I realised what I had just said.
I was not supposed to say that out loud. Now she would think I was a creep.
‘Such a charmer.’ She touched my shoulder gently and heat blazed beneath my skin. ‘You really know how to make your guests feel special. I’ll be sure to give you a five out of five rating,’ she grinned.
As I watched her board the coach, I tried not to look at her arse, but failed.
She had a really great arse. Full, round and perfect for…
‘ Ciao , Romeo!’ Miranda, one of the guests, approached, jolting me out of my inappropriate thoughts.
‘ Ci-ciao ,’ I stuttered. ‘How was your day?’
‘Great, thanks.’
After I’d chatted briefly with Miranda then checked that all of the guests were onboard, the driver set off.
During the journey, I did my usual rounds, speaking with each of the couples, asking them about their days and making mental notes of important things they had mentioned about their likes or dislikes that I could use to bring them closer together.
When I got to where Samantha was sitting, she had her headphones in and her eyes squeezed shut as she danced in her seat to the music.
For a moment I just stood and watched her, a smile tugging at my lips.
I loved how free she was. Samantha was on a coach full of people, but she was dancing like she was alone in her bedroom.
Just as I was about to continue walking, her eyes flicked open. They bulged in surprise and then a wide grin spread across her face, causing my heart to expand.
‘Hey, you!’ she said enthusiastically.
‘Good song?’ I asked.
‘Yep! How did you guess?’
‘From your very enthusiastic dancing.’
‘Is enthusiastic your Italian for shit?’
‘No,’ I laughed. ‘Not at all. It was very interesting dancing.’
‘Interesting is probably more of an insult than shit!’ She laughed. ‘If you think my seat dancing is rubbish, you should hear me sing.’
‘I am sure you sound like an angel.’
‘Yeah! One that’s being tortured by the devil,’ Samantha cackled and I could not help laughing too.
This woman.
Her personality and joy were infectious.
If I did not have to work and take care of the other guests, I would happily sit here and chat with her all night.
But that was not possible.
‘Well, now that I have confirmation that you are happy and enjoying your chair disco, I will check on the other guests. We will be arriving at our destination soon.’
‘Okey dokey!’
Samantha gave me a thumbs up and then went back to dancing. I smiled again as I thought that she was quickly becoming one of my favourite guests.
* * *
Once the coach had dropped us off, I led the guests towards our destination.
‘Isn’t this the town we came to the other day?’ one of the guests said.
‘You are correct,’ I replied. ‘We are back at Polignano a Mare, but we are going somewhere that we did not visit.’ When we stepped into the restaurant, the gasps were audible.
‘So this is Grotta Palazzese which translates to Cave Palace in English. It is one of the most iconic cave restaurants in the world.’
‘Holy crap!’ Samantha’s mouth fell open.
She looked like a child who had just woken up in a toy factory.
‘This place is flipping amazing! I’ve never been to a restaurant that’s on the edge of a cliff and built inside a cave before!
And the sea’s right there!’ That was true.
Because the cave was open, the sea was directly in front of us.
‘I know it’s not cool, but is it okay to take photos?
I might not get to come to somewhere as fancy as this again, so I can’t miss my chance. ’
‘Sure.’ I tried to stifle my grin.
Samantha whipped out her phone and started snapping away at the uninterrupted sea views. The other guests did the same. I could not blame them.
Whilst Samantha was taking pictures, the ma?tre d’ started allocating tables to the other guests.
When Samantha had finished, she waltzed over to him.
‘So, where do you want me?’ she said and the ma?tre d’s eyes popped. ‘Oops, that came out wrong! I meant to ask what table I’m on? I’m Samantha Gordon.’
‘ Sì ,’ the ma?tre d’ replied. ‘Please follow me. Here you are, madam. This is your table. The view is incredible, no?’ He stopped at a table for two overlooking the sea.
‘It’s, wow, thank you! But if you don’t mind, can you take away the other plate and cutlery? I only need a table for one.’
‘For one?’ His brows furrowed. ‘I have this table listed for two: you and a gentleman called Edward, no?’
‘Yeah, my match, he…’ Samantha’s face fell and my chest tightened.
‘ Scusi ,’ I said. ‘The reservation should have been updated.’ This was my fault.
I forgot to call ahead earlier to tell them Samantha would be dining alone.
I had been putting it off because I thought there was still a chance that Edward would have returned.
‘I will take care of this,’ I said to Samantha before I explained everything in Italian.
‘I understand,’ the ma?tre d’ replied, giving Samantha a reassuring smile.
‘This place is stunning!’ Kim said as she pulled out a chair at the table near where we were standing. ‘You sitting here?’
‘I think so,’ Samantha replied. ‘They’re just going to clear away one setting as it’s just me, but they have a reservation for two.’
‘Why don’t you join Samantha, Romeo?’ Kim asked and my brows shot up to my hairline. ‘You can’t let the poor girl sit at this beautiful place alone. They’ve probably already catered for ten couples and you gotta eat, right? Can’t let the food go to waste.’
Although she was right that the booking was made for ten couples, there was no way that I could have a candlelit dinner with one of the guests.
Especially not one that I was attracted to.
‘The booking is for guests. I do not normally eat here. The meals are very expensive. But of course, worth every euro.’ I smiled at the ma?tre d’.
‘The hotel’s probably going to have to pay for the meal anyway, so you might as well enjoy it,’ added Timothy. ‘You don’t mind, do you, Samantha?’
Now it was Samantha’s eyes that were bulging.
‘Course not!’ she said, quickly.
Her reply seemed genuine.
I should not want to have dinner with her.
I should dread the idea of sitting with a guest for hours, but the truth was I would love to spend more time with Samantha. She made me smile.
But this was different to walking around a town with her or checking on her during a beach excursion.
‘I will have to check with Victoria,’ I said. ‘It is very unusual for a Love Alchemist to dine with a guest in this kind of setting.’
A group dinner where we were all sat together on one large table like at the trip to Alberobello would have been fine.
But a table for two meant staring into Samantha’s eyes.
It was significantly more romantic. And that was the point.
This dinner was designed to stimulate romance between the guests.
The last thing I needed was to encourage any extra feelings between me and Samantha. Unfortunately, I was managing to do that all on my own.
‘Yeah,’ Samantha said. ‘That’s best. So she doesn’t get the wrong idea.’
‘Excuse me one moment.’ I nodded.
Given the fact that I was already on thin ice with the management and Victoria was worried about me flirting with female guests, she was sure to say no. I’d be disappointed when she did, but it was the sensible option.
I dialled Victoria’s number. The phone rang out and just as I was about to hang up, she answered.
‘Romeo?’ She seemed flustered. ‘What is it?’
‘I am at Grotta Palazzese. They still have a table for two for Samantha and’
‘I can’t… I’m in the middle of something,’ Victoria said and I realised she must have someone else on another line. ‘Sorry, Romeo. I’m dealing with a personal issue. What did you say?’ I explained the situation again. ‘So she’ll be sitting there, alone?’
‘ Sì .’
‘And is she upset?’
‘She is a little embarrassed and the other guests have said it’s not nice that she has to sit alone and…’
‘Shit. So not only is Samantha upset, the other guests are noticing how bad it is too? I don’t need a revolt on my hands.
I don’t need… I said I’ll sort it!’ Victoria was clearly still having a conversation with whoever was on the other line.
‘Sorry, I can’t deal with this right now.
I need you to resolve this. What do you suggest? ’
‘Get the waiter to clear away the second plate and cutlery?’ I suggested, even though I knew that would not make Samantha happy. It was the safest choice though.
‘What? And make everyone feel sorry for her? No! Just sit with her, for God’s sake. Do whatever you need to make her happy so she has a good experience.’
‘But I thought you did not want me to spend too much time with female guests?’
‘Yes! I’m still here!’ It sounded like I had lost Victoria again to her other conversation.
‘No! I can’t just drop everything just because…
hold on! I have one of our Love Alchemists on the other line.
Just give me one second! Romeo, I need to go.
Just sit with Samantha, smile, play nice and tell the other guests that this is a sign of the Love Hotel going the extra mile and doing whatever is needed to delight our guests.
It’s not like Edward can complain about you flirting when the bastard’s done a disappearing act! Speak tomorrow, okay?’
‘ Va bene .’ I hung up.
So that was settled then.
I would be having dinner with Samantha.
I had never shied away from a challenge, but something told me that staring into her beautiful eyes, sharing delicious food and chatting to her for hours without becoming more attracted to Samantha would be impossible.