Page 51 of Never Gonna Happen

Emily shrugged. ‘I’ve never been to Mauritius; it could be a shithole for all I know.’

Jamie laughed. ‘It’s not.’

‘I know,’ she said with an excited smile. ‘I have Google. Also Sam talks about it a lot.’

‘You’ll get to meet Jessie, Sam’s sister. She and her family run the best beach café in the world.’

‘Will it be warm enough for the beach in January?’

Jamie chuckled gently. ‘It’s in the southern hemisphere; it’s high summer there right now.’

‘Oh,’ said Emily, feeling her face redden as she kicked herself for being so stupid.

‘Hey,’ said Jamie, taking her hand and pulling her towards him. ‘There’s no reason why anyone would know that if they hadn’t been there.’

‘My geography isn’t the best,’ mumbled Emily. ‘Haven’t been around much.’

‘Well, then you’re perfect for dad’s mystery hotel guest. I suppose I should speak to the grooms about some extra cover.’

Emily tried to stay cool, even though her stomach was doing somersaults. ‘Does that mean you’re coming?’

Jamie laughed and rolled his eyes. ‘It’s a week in the sunshine in January watching you parade around in a bikini. Of course I’m coming.’

‘I don’t even own a bikini,’ said Emily, her brow furrowed. ‘Where do I buy a bikini in January?’

‘I thought you had Google?’

Emily could feel her excitement building, and she was itching to start making lists of things she needed to do. ‘It means I won’t be around this weekend.’

‘How come?’

‘It’s my mum’s birthday next week; I’d planned to go home the following weekend but now we’ll be away. So I need to go home this weekend instead.’

‘That’s fair enough,’ said Jamie, opening the fridge and peering into the abyss.

‘You could come if you like,’ she added, feeling like she should offer even though he’d only been there less than two weeks ago.

Jamie smiled. ‘Emily, go and see your family. Have a night with Kelly, make up for New Year. You don’t need me hanging around. And anyway, sounds like we’ve got a week away to look forward to.’

‘I can’t wait,’ she said, imagining the two of them swaying in a hammock under a palm tree.

‘Yeah, me too.’ He pulled her in for a kiss, sliding the clip out of her hair so it fell loose around her shoulders.

‘I’m going to have to tell Mum and Dad and Kelly who you are,’ said Emily. ‘I’m not sure how else to explain your dad taking the guy who looks after the horses on a trip.’

‘Hmm,’ said Jamie, kissing her neck. ‘Might be tough to explain.’

‘It felt weird lying to them anyway.’

He undid the top button of her blouse and kissed her collarbone. ‘I’d like to think it won’t make any difference.’

Emily laughed. ‘I’d like to think that too, but this is my mum we’re talking about.’

‘Well, you can tell them my intentions are honourable.’

Emily tilted her head, eyeing him suspiciously. ‘Is that true?’

‘Right this second, absolutely not.’ He undid the next two buttons on her shirt and slid it off one shoulder.