Chapter 25
ROMEO
‘Did you enjoy your evening?’ I said as Sammie got off the coach.
The other guests had already left and the driver had pulled away, so now she was the only one around.
‘I had a fantastic evening!’ Her eyes sparkled. Seeing her so happy made my chest inflate several sizes. Making Sammie smile was becoming one of my favourite things to do.
Sammie.
I liked that she asked me to use her nickname and said that we were friends.
Although I would be lying if I said friendship was what I wanted from her.
‘The activities you organise are really cool.’
‘We try. The location helps. We have so many beautiful places nearby. We are always looking for new ideas to add to the itinerary though.’
‘Oooh! If you’re looking for stuff to do at the hotel to help couples bond, you could try a games night on the beach.
You could do board games or just play question-related games, like Two Truths and a Lie, where they say three things and the other person has to guess which is the lie, or Never Have I Ever, or This or That. ’
‘This or That?’ I frowned.
‘Yeah, like starter or dessert.’
‘ Always dessert,’ I replied.
‘Same!’ Sammie held my gaze for a few beats. ‘I… I have loads of other ideas. Sometimes my boss lets me organise the teambuilding activities at work and any parties we have. I really enjoy it.’
‘Those are great ideas. I will pass them on to Victoria.’
‘Yay!’ she said.
‘And I am glad you enjoyed your evening. I should not be surprised. The food was delicious, the setting was magical and you got to drink some good-quality wine.’
‘Yes! And don’t forget about the company. That was okay too.’
‘Okay?’ I glared. ‘First you compare me to a man in his seventies, then you spit in my face and now you call my presence okay ? Do you like insulting me?’
‘Oops!’ She covered her mouth with her hand. ‘I forgot about that Mr Bean stuff!’ She burst into a fit of giggles.
‘And now you laugh at me!’
‘I’m not! Well, sort of. It’s just that when we met and I said you looked like someone, you rolled your eyes, like, “Mamma mia! Not this again.”’ Sammie started talking in a terrible Italian accent.
‘“It is so tiring to be compared to a hot, sexy actor all the time!” So, I wanted to teach you a lesson.’
‘That was a terrible impersonation. Is that how you think I sound?’ Now it was my turn to laugh.
‘It wasn’t that bad!’
‘No, it was worse!’
‘ Scusi ,’ she said and the sound of her genuinely trying to talk in Italian sent electricity shooting through my veins. ‘Obviously you look nothing like Mr Bean.’
‘No, because I look like Sheldon.’
‘Sheldon is an attractive man. But no, you don’t look like him either. You look much, much better …’
Sammie’s voice trailed off and she bit her lip.
As our eyes locked I noticed there was something burning in hers.
Was it desire?
Was Sammie attracted to me?
Usually, if a woman was interested she would flirt openly or touch my arm like some of the guests had done.
But ever since we had met, Sammie had done nothing but joke with me or take pleasure in letting me know that she did not think I was anything special.
A woman who is attracted to you does not compare you to a senior citizen.
It is true that earlier when she had touched my hand, I had felt a spark again, but she was just trying to comfort me after I told her that Biscotti was unwell.
But it was more than just the physical attraction. I felt a connection.
The conversation tonight flowed easily.
She made me laugh more than any other woman ever had.
Sammie was strong, confident and fearless.
She said what she felt without caring what others would think, which was a breath of fresh air.
Many of the women that were interested in me were always so worried about looking a certain way or saying the right thing to impress me that they did the exact opposite. They did not have their own opinion. They dumbed down their personalities to be the person they thought I wanted them to be.
But not Sammie. She was unapologetically herself and I loved that.
‘ Grazie .’ I broke the silence.
We stood there for a few more beats, neither of us saying a word.
I should go. I should wish her goodnight and go straight to bed. But I was not ready for the night to end.
Of course, I was not suggesting that anything should happen between us.
Even if Edward had disappeared, Sammie was still his match.
And I was still her Love Alchemist.
That was when I remembered that the hotel grounds had cameras. If my bosses saw me gazing into the eyes of a guest, they would not be happy.
My gaze drifted to the reception entrance.
‘Are you okay to get to your room or would you like me to come with you?’
‘Oooh, you cheeky little thing!’ Sammie cackled. ‘I would’ve said that you should’ve at least bought me dinner first, but you’ve already done that.’
‘What?’ I frowned. ‘Oh…’ I said as I realised what she meant. If only she knew how much I would very much like to come with her . ‘Let me rephrase: would you like me to walk you to your room?’
‘I’m just pulling your leg! Grazie , but I’m a big girl. I can walk there myself.’
At that point, I thought she would say goodnight, but she did not move. We stood there again just staring at each other.
I was not sure before, but now I saw it. The attraction was mutual.
For the first time in years, I had a connection with a smart, sexy, funny woman.
And there was absolutely nothing that I could do about it.