Page 82 of Only One Tour Bus

The bar is already packed by the time we make sure no one needs anything else at the restaurant and everyone knows the leaving time for tomorrow. We go straight to the bartender and enjoy some of the perks of the tour leader life, which in this particular bar is free drinks.

We find a corner, and I’m as antisocial as I’ve ever been on tour. I’ve never had someone I’d rather spend my time with before, though. Even with the impending job issue, I can’t deny how happy he makes me.

Members of the group come and go, stopping to chat for a bit then leaving. It must be Callum’s glower every time we’re interrupted that eventually wears down even the most drunk tourist. Even though I try to soften his one-word responses, I want them to leave us alone, too.

The moments we do get alone, the heat builds between us, then we get interrupted, and the heat recedes slightly, only to rise the next time we’re alone. My body is in a constant state of confusion and low-grade arousal.

“I think we’ve been here for long enough to say we did our job,” I say, surprising both of us by being the one to cut the workday short.

We get up from our seats and walk out of the bar and into the lobby, stopping when we run into Charlotte. “Hey, Charlotte. I hope you’re enjoying your trip?” I ask.

“I am! I was hoping you could take care of my laundry for me? I heard you helped Jennifer before.”

Callum puffs up like he’s about to unload, but I step in front of him. “You know, I would love to help you. And I can direct you to the nearest places you can get that done, including on site at the chalet. But I can’t take it anywhere.”

“But you did it before.” Charlotte looks miffed at me and I have to stop myself from giving in. But taking laundry to a dry cleaner is not in my job description, and it cuts into what little rest time I have in a job where I already work long hours.

“That was a one-time exception I made early in the trip since everyone was getting used to traveling. But my job is really to facilitate helping you guys, and letting you know where and how you can get things done. If I keep doing it, I won’t be able to do some of my other duties, and that won’t be fair to the others in the group.” I might be whispering the denial, but it’s out in the world.

“That is not cool.” Charlotte is three seconds from stomping her foot in anger. “And we’re not even going to get to spend enough time in Milan to do any decent shopping.” She stalks off to the bar.

“Look at you, standing up for yourself. Must be my good influence.” Callum preens.

“That was hard. And I don’t think Charlotte thinks you’re a good influence.” I get out my phone.

“What are you doing now?”

“If Charlotte wants and has the funds to, she can spend more time in Milan and meet up with us later. I can look up all the train and hotel information and give it to her as a peace offering.”

“Still soft Asha, under all that standing up for yourself.”

“Well, coordinating stuff is our job. But Charlotte’s reaction to this is tomorrow morning’s problem.”

“Is it?”

We stop in front of our joint room’s door. “Yup. I have other things to occupy my time tonight.”

“Reading a nice book?”

“Nope.” I open the door and raise up on my toes to drop small kisses around his mouth.

“Getting some exercise?”

I pause in kissing him. “In a manner of speaking, yes, actually.”

And then neither of us talks for a while.

CHAPTER 36

CALLUM

The next morning I wake up with a fully functioning arm. I was smarter last night than I have been and shifted Asha a little so my arm was above her head under her pillow. I get all the benefits of keeping close to the Wee Sunshine, with none of the physical pain.

I didn’t take her up on her rolling advice, because at the end of that, she would be too far away.

“Are you ready for another travel day?” I whisper into her mass of hair. She’s got so much of it I have no idea what I’m actually talking to, whether it’s the back of her head or the front. But her ears are somewhere in the middle, so at least there’s that.

Asha sits up and stretches. The covers fall and I drink in the sight of her naked torso in movement. This wake-up I could get used to.