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Sam suspected the reason was that Omar didn’t yet know she was back teaching at the resort. Something he would no doubt still disapprove of.

His misplaced sense of protectiveness toward Maya rose up again, like an iron shield. “Don’t worry, Ben, we’ve got it covered,” he said, thinking on his feet. “Maya and I have time earmarked to cover all that stuff tomorrow.”

Maya looked at him with a frown. “We do?” Her eyes widened as she cottoned on to what he was up to. “Oh yes, that’s right. We do.”

Sam had to work hard to prevent the corner of his mouth quirking up.

Ben shrugged. “Thanks, Sam.”

Maya blessed him with a small smile. “Yeah, thanks, Sam.”

It wasn’t the full-monty, megawatt version, but it was enough.

On approaching the exit, Maya was already waiting, so he picked up the pace. “Sorry. I got engrossed in something.” He’d been looking into how much it’d be to get some breakdown cover for his car, and also checking his schedule for the next butler gig, because he’d need transport when the time came.

“No problem,” Maya said, turning to leave. He followed her out and into the car, where they buckled in. She cleared her throat. “Thanks for before, by the way. Covering for me, I mean. When Ben wanted me to stay behind.”

“That’s okay,” he said, feeling self-conscious all of a sudden. He didn’t want her to read too much into his looking out for her and think that he still had feelings for her. Because he didn’t. Apart from thinking she was gorgeous, loving her smile, and having a misplaced sense of protectiveness toward her, that is.

He opted to change the subject. “Could you drop me off at Nico’s gym?” He had a hankering for a workout, plus it was en route rather than Maya going all the way down to his place and then back again to get home.

“Yeah, that’s fine,” she replied as she pulled out of the car park. “How’s Nico doing?”

“Good, thanks,” Sam said. “Giving up law and opening the gym suited him.”

Maya would likely disapprove of someone making such a career move, from professional to entrepreneur. Especially into fitness rather than a financial- or medical-related business.

Though, strangely, she was nodding with an interested expression. “It’s really impressive that he made that transition. It’s not easy to give up a big career, even if you don’t like it.”

There was a tone to her voice he couldn’t place. As if she empathized with Nico’s choice.

“His family weren’t impressed,” Sam said. “But he’s made a success of it anyway.”

Nico’s dad was a lawyer and had been upset to say the least when his only son abandoned following in his footsteps to do something that he and his wife viewed as frivolous. Never mind that they had two daughters in addition, whose professions they didn’t seem to mind, as long as they had gotten married and provided grandkids for them. Pretty sexist in Sam’s eyes.

As he watched Maya, a cloud seemed to pass over her face as he described Nico’s parents’ reaction.

But then it was gone, replaced by a bright smile. “Ah well. Parents. Can’t live with them, can’t pretend they’ve got early onset dementia and stick them in a home.”

Sam managed a smile in return.

The rest of the drive passed in silence. Maya didn’t seem to have the energy for any further small talk, and neither did he.

Once they arrived at the gym, Sam quickly climbed out. “Thanks. I’ll give you some fuel money for all of this.”

Her face fell. “I don’t want anything.”

A sick feeling swirled in his gut. He was the one accustomed to being leaned on, not the other way around. And he certainly wasn’t used to relying on people who couldn’t stand him and whom he disliked in return. But do I really dislike her? Or do I just wish that I did? His jaw tensed. He didn’t need her pity regarding his lack of funds. “Don’t do me any favors. I can pay my way where this is concerned.”

Maya frowned. “That’s not what I meant.”

His patience sapped by the stress of his day, he shrugged. “I’ll give you some money later in the week.”

He shut the car door and headed into the gym. He’d expected to hear her roaring off behind him, but for some reason she stayed put.

Ignoring the situation, and the seed of guilt that had sown itself into his mind regarding his being short with her, Sam went through the turnstile into the gym and made for the changing rooms.

Working out was another activity that helped clear his mind, and he’d often come here whenever he had a disagreement with Cat. It occurred to him that they were arguing pretty much every week at the moment, and that was a sign that things were gearing along the usual path of her having a massive blowout and dumping him.