My heart starts to beat faster. I do a quick catalogue of his body language.
His feet are pointing towards me. His face is dipped close to mine. His eyes are focussed on me.
He’s definitely flirting with me.
I smile slowly. It’s about time I had a new victim. And Zack did tell me to practice.
I put my phone down. “That depends. Do you buy a lot of women’s underwear?”
He looks taken aback. “Uh. No?… Why?”
Maybe that’s a bad line. “I own a lingerie company.”
His eyebrows shoot up. “Wow, okay. That’s way cooler than mine. I work in stocks.” He pulls a face. “It’s boring, I know.”
“That is pretty boring,” I agree, and his expression shutters slightly.
Oops. I open my mouth to tell him I’m kidding, but Gavin coughs. “I know. To be honest, I hate it, but it pays well, so—”
“That’s okay then,” I say before I can stop myself. “I don’t mind boring men if they’re rich.”
Jesus. Shoot me.
Luckily, this time Gavin catches on. “I’ll be the wallet, you be the looks?”
“Perfect. We can text each other once a fortnight from opposite sides of your yacht.”
Gavin throws back his head and laughs too loudly. A couple across the atrium turns to look at us. “Oh, that’s great. But how about I make you a drink, first?” He gives me a winning smile. “I’m a mixologist in my free time. Come back to my room, and I bet I could make you a better drink than the rubbish they’re serving in the bar.”
I blink. “Your hotel room? That’s bold.”
“We have to start somewhere.” His eyes twinkle. “You could show me some of your designs. It’d be fun.”
“I’m sure.”
He leans forward, and I lean back. I’m enjoying flirting just fine, but I don’t want him in my personal space. And I really, really don’t want to go back to his room with him.
It’s funny. From the very first time I started ‘practise flirting’ with Josh and Zack, I was hooked. But I don’t feel any of that desire with this man. I’m not sure why; he seems kind enough, and he’s obviously interested in me. But I don’t feel that same tug towards him.
“What do you say?” Gavin asks, leaning in even closer. His breath fans over my face, and I fight the urge to wince. “Are you busy tonight?”
I open my mouth, but before I can reject him, strong arms wrap around my shoulders.
“Yes,” a low voice says over my head. “She is.”
I breathe in the cool smell of mint as Josh dips down, nuzzling at my temple. Immediately, all of my unease fades away.
Gavin leans back, lifting up his hands. “Sorry, mate,” he laughs. “Didn’t realise she was taken. You better keep an eye on her.”
Josh ignores him, taking my hand and tugging me upright and towards the lifts. Before I know what’s happening, I’m being gently pulled into the lift car, the mirrored doors sliding shut.
I study his face as the lift shoots upwards. His expression is blank and hard, his jaw clenched.
“Are you mad?” I ask.
He softens and threads his fingers through my hair. “Not at you. It was just… surprising to see you with another man.”
“Zack told me to practice flirting.”
He mutters something under his breath that sounds a lot like ‘bloody idiot.’
The lift dings and the doors slide open. We step out into a long white corridor lined with black doors and crystal light fixtures.
“It actually went pretty well,” I say, as Josh leads me to the door at the very end of the hallway. “I think you’d be proud of me. I only insulted him a bit, and I think he was kinda into it.”
He pulls a keycard out of his pocket, then pauses. “Did you… want to spend the evening with him? I’m sorry. I just assumed—”
I lean against his chest. “No. I didn’t.”
His body relaxes. He bends and brushes his lips lightly against mine. “Good,” he murmurs.
I kiss him back slowly, then turn back to the door. “Go on, then. Show me my surprise.”
He taps the keycard against the keypad. A light flashes green, and he gestures for me to turn the handle. My eyes widen as the door swings open.
