‘Are you hungry?’ she asked.
‘For what?’
He was staring at her lips, which were still buzzing from his kiss. He lifted her braid away from her shoulder and kissed the crook of her neck, making her shiver. How could kissing him get her more worked up than all those empty one-night stands she’d had, all those desperate attempts to lighten her nights of sadness?
‘So, you closed the hotel for me?’ he asked, his breath hot on her collarbone.
His hands were nowhere near her body, and yet she was struggling to focus.
‘Don’t flatter yourself. My friends and family arrive today.’
‘I know. I’m looking forward to it.’ Did he just say that? He was actually serious about her! ‘By the way, the phone was ringing in reception earlier but there was no one there to answer it. You might want to check your answering machine,’ he said.
‘I don’t have one. It was probably a booking enquiry. They’ll send an email or, if it’s urgent, they’ll call my mobile. Don’t worry about it.’
‘You’re so Spanish. Not a care in the world.’
‘Well, it’s true. I don’t care about work right now.’
‘What do you care about then, birthday girl?’
What did she care about? This. Just this, and him, and the fact that the future was looking a lot more colourful than it had a few days ago.
‘My birthday present. That’s all I care about,’ she said with a grin, pulling away from his embrace. ‘Is that box for me?’
‘Of course not. I carry my big pink box everywhere with me.’
He reached down for the glasses at his feet, handed her one, and popped the champagne.
‘But first, a toast.’
‘It’s a bit early for champagne, isn’t it?’
‘It’s your birthday. It’s totally allowed.’
She giggled as she slurped the froth off the top of the glass, which was now dribbling onto her hand.
‘A toast to what?’
‘To us,’ he said, clinking his glass against hers.
‘There’s an us?’
‘Of course.’ His eyes locked on hers and she held her breath. ‘And it’s going to be amazing.’
She felt the colour rise in her cheeks. Maybe it was the champagne on an empty stomach, or maybe it was the sun heating up the sand between her toes, or maybe it was him. Josh, her apparent destiny, the man she’d never even considered because Zac had always cast his beautiful shadow over him, obscuring everyone else in darkness so he was her only light. Well, there were no more angels left in her life, there was only Josh—and he was very real indeed.
He placed the box at her feet.
‘Happy birthday.’
When was the last time anyone had made a fuss of her? She couldn’t remember. Attempting but failing at hiding her delight, she pulled at the ribbon and peeled the paper off. Inside the box was another box. She opened it and inside was a pair of gold Louboutin heels, which she recognised by their telltale red sole. She didn’t even realise shoes that beautiful existed in Tarifa. Maybe Josh had travelled all the way to Marbella to get them. She slipped them onto her bare feet—they fit her perfectly. How had he known her size?
‘I feel like Cinderella. These are gorgeous.’
Josh’s face was serious. Was he nervous? She wobbled as her feet sank into the sand. He held her steady as she took them back off and handed them to him.
‘Now you have to take me somewhere fancy. I won’t be wasting these amazing shoes at my crappy, local bar.’
‘I’ll take you anywhere you want. There’s more,’ he said, nodding at the large box.
Inside was another box. Ella laughed.
‘More? Is this the box inside a box game? OK, let’s open the next one.’
She pulled the tissue paper out and unwrapped another parcel, revealing a professional make-up kit filled with bottles, brushes, tubes, and little boxes. This man was pure Hollywood.
‘Amazing. I’ve no idea where I’m going to go around here this glammed up. I’ll be the best dressed hotelier in town.’
He gave her a small smile, but the rest of his face was still stony. He nodded at the box again.
The next item was a small, shiny black box. Inside, nestled in white tissue paper, was an ornate hairpiece encrusted in tiny pearls and diamonds. She gathered up her braid, twisted it, and clipped the hairpiece in place.
‘How do I look?’
Josh stared at her, his face void of any expression. Even though the sky was a cobalt blue and the sun had climbed ever higher, the waves still crashed against the rocks in the distance as if a storm was coming. Ella couldn’t tell if the deafening roar was the waves or her heart beating with nerves.
He stepped forward and took out the final gift, a small, dark blue velvet box, so small she hadn’t noticed it among the tissue paper. He opened it slowly and dropped to one knee, the box in one hand and the other holding hers.
Ella’s eyes widened. What the…? Surely he wasn’t…
‘Ella, I meant what I said yesterday. I want you in my life forever. I know this is crazy. You probably think I’m mad for even doing this, but you said it yourself…we’re meant to be together.’
‘Yes.’
‘If fate is real and life is only going to keep throwing us at one another, then why fight it? I know this is impulsive and you probably think I’m mad, but it feels right. I want you to think about how good this could be.’
‘Yes.’
‘Will you do me the honour of being my…?’
‘Yes. Yes, Josh. Yes!’
‘Really?’
‘Definitely!’
‘You don’t think this is a crazy idea?’
‘Of course it is! It’s totally ridiculous and we hardly know each other—but let’s do it anyway. For such a long time, I’ve been waiting for things to start feeling right, and I’ve been waiting to feel happy again. Then you suddenly appeared out of nowhere, and we had that kiss and…This might just be the least absurd decision I’ve ever made.’
Josh’s hand shook as he took out a pink diamond ring with tiny stones encrusted around its sides. He placed it on her wedding finger. Like the shoes, it fit perfectly. She pulled him back up to his feet; his smile was as shaky as his trembling hands. He kissed her lightly and then stepped back to look at her.
‘OK. Wow. So now what?’
‘I don’t know,’ she said, grinning, wondering what the bloody hell she’d just done. Had she really agreed to marry Josh after spending just a few days with him and sharing nothing but a few heated kisses?
‘Your father’s a priest, right?’ he said. ‘Your friends and family arrive today. You have an empty hotel with its own chapel and everything a girl needs for her special day, except a dress. How about we get married tomorrow, and then we can live happily ever after?’
He was even more insane than she was. It was a stupid idea, an impulsive, crazy, irresponsible, wild idea. She loved it. Throwing herself in his arms again, she kissed him hard. With that kiss, she gave him everything she had; every last drop of hope, trust, and belief she’d been harbouring. In that kiss, Ella handed Josh her fragile glass heart, knowing it would never crack again, knowing that with him it would always remain whole and protected. He wouldn’t hurt her; he couldn’t—he was her destiny.
This was exactly what she needed to draw a line beneath her past. She and Zac were over. This was going to be her new future, and it was going to be a wonderful one.
GIBRALTAR AIRPORT WAS an hour’s drive from Ella’s hotel, and Josh had insisted he accompany her to meet her friends.
‘I’ve booked that restaurant you mentioned for after the ceremony,’ he said, squeezing her knee as she drove around the winding mountain roads. The sky was clear, and sailing boats glimmered like tiny, triangular specks of white in the distance. The world felt good. Too good.
Ella pushed away the feeling of apprehension that always loomed as soon as life appeared to be going well. So what if thi
ngs were finally amazing? It didn’t mean anything. Disaster was not imminent.
‘Oh my God, this time tomorrow I’ll be Mrs de Silva, and we haven’t even told anyone yet! I’m warning you, my friends are going to flip when I tell them we’re getting married in twenty-four hours.’
‘Do you think they’ll like me?’ he asked.
She tried not to laugh. He had no idea how much her friends used to fancy him back in uni.
‘I doubt it. What’s there to like?’
‘I can show you, if you like,’ he whispered into her hair. His hand travelled further up her thigh and he nuzzled her neck, planting light kisses on her collarbone. His touch was maddening. She wanted him with an intensity that shocked her, but they would have to wait. They’d decided, for the sake of just one measly day, it was worth waiting until the night of their wedding day.
His hand was on the inside of her thigh now.
‘Stop it, I’m driving!’ she said, giggling.
‘But I want you.’
‘I mean it! This is hard for me, too, Josh. You’re driving me crazy, but I’m sure you can wait until tomorrow.’
‘I don’t think I can. You might have to pull over.’
She swatted his hand away, and he pretended to be mortally wounded. She laughed and he revelled in it—he really did love an audience.
They passed a sign for the airport, and Ella turned off the main road.
‘Is that the queue into Gibraltar?’ he asked.
‘Yes, but I won’t bother driving in. There’s no point. I told Mai Li and Kerry I’d park on the Spanish side and meet them at the border. It’s much quicker. You can wait in the car. I can’t be dealing with all your fans today.’
He looked smug, and she laughed to herself. He really did love being famous. She had no idea what he’d said to Billy or anyone else from the film studio the day before, but he hadn’t mentioned work once, so she was making the most of his undivided attention.
After ten minutes of circling the back streets, Ella finally found a parking space even though it was nowhere near the border control. She was running a bit late and it would take a few minutes to get there, but there were always crowds of people crossing into Spain, so she figured her friends would still be queuing.
As she went to open the car door, Josh pulled her toward him. ‘Hey, wait up.’
She climbed over to his side and sat astride him, her arms around his neck.
‘Can I help you, fiancé?’
He gave her a half smile and ran his tongue over the tiny chip in his tooth. God, he was so hot. She was even beginning to like his cockiness.
‘I’m crazy about you, Ella,’ he said, his hands on her behind pulling her closer. ‘I’m so madly in love that I just can’t stop smiling. I’m so happy. I just wanted to tell you.’
It was the first time he’d told her that he loved her—it was all too unreal. She could feel him hard against her, and she used all her willpower to open the car door and clamber out. She leant over, kissed her fingers, and placed them on his lips.
‘Cool yourself down, de Silva. I’m locking you in my car in case you change your mind and run away.’
He pulled her arm again, and she kissed him for a long time.
‘I love you, too,’ she said quickly, shutting the door.
She hadn’t said those words to a man since Zac. But it was OK; it felt right. She grinned all the way to the border crossing.
• • • • •
‘Look, there she is! There she is!’
Mai Li and Kerry were waving at her from the queue. Kerry was holding a giant helium balloon with the words ‘Birthday Girl’ stamped on it in neon writing. It was bobbing in people’s faces as she jumped up and down, completely oblivious to the havoc she was causing. Ella held up her hand to show she’d seen them and tried to keep a straight face as Kerry tottered over to the border guard with her passport. Her friend was built like a Barbie doll, and she dressed like one, too. The guard waved her through, checking out her round bottom and tight skirt as she ran over to Ella. Mai Li struggled to keep up behind her, the balloon bouncing between them.
‘Oh. My. God! Look at you. You’re so, like, mega gorgeous. Happy birthday, girlfriend!’ Kerry said, squealing and hugging Ella, preventing Mai Li from getting closer.
‘Get that balloon out of my way, Kerry. I told you at the airport not to buy it. Ella! It’s so lovely to see you. Happy birthday!’
The three girls embraced, and her friends chattered excitedly about how great she looked, asking about her birthday plans and commenting on how hot it was for April. Ella wanted to wait until they’d calmed down before mentioning Josh, but it looked like it was going to be easier said than done.
‘The car’s this way.’
They followed behind, talking nonstop. She had to say something before they saw Josh. She took a deep breath. ‘Mai Li? Kerry? Girls!’ They finally stopped talking. ‘Um, I’ve got something I need to tell you. Some good news.’
Shit! This was harder than she’d imagined. It had seemed so natural and exciting talking about it in the car with Josh, but now that she was saying it out loud, she realised how crazy the idea sounded. She was marrying a famous Hollywood actor tomorrow after being with him for just a few days. There was no easy way of making that sound sane.
OK, short and sharp—like ripping off a plaster. She could do this.
‘Well? What is it?’ Kerry asked. ‘Spit it out.’
‘I’m getting married.’
‘What?’ They both screeched and stopped in their tracks.
‘I’m getting married. Tomorrow.’
‘But I didn’t even know you had a boyfriend,’ Mai Li said.
‘Well, I don’t. I have a fiancé.’
She held out her hand, and they screamed at her light pink diamond ring. Ella continued walking. She could see the car already, and the idea of them meeting Josh any moment was making her feel dizzy. Her friends followed—three girls, two suitcases, and a balloon took up the entire pavement, forcing people to walk around them. Ella stopped as they neared her car, her friends still clustering around her and the ring.
‘It’s so pretty,’ Mai Li cooed.
‘It’s so big!’ exclaimed Kerry.
Mai Li peered closer. ‘Is it Tiffany’s?’
‘Yeah,’ Kerry said. ‘Who is this guy?’
‘Me.’ Josh took off his sunglasses. ‘I’m the lucky man.’
He was leaning against Ella’s car and her heart flipped as she saw him through the eyes of her friends. T-shirt tight over his muscular shoulders, strong jaw with two-day-old stubble, designer shades—he was 100 percent teen pin-up material.
Nobody moved. Mai Li’s suitcase fell to the ground, but she didn’t pick it up. Josh walked over to Ella and put his arm around her waist.
‘Hi, I think we met a few years back at Indigo.’ He held out his hand for them to shake, but they remained frozen still.
‘Right, let’s get back to the hotel then,’ Ella said as cheerfully as she could. ‘I bet you’re both starving.’
Her friends still hadn’t moved. She looked at Josh and widened her eyes in a silent plea. Were they really that shocked? She would have to do something drastic to snap them out of it.
‘Errr, girls, would you both like to be my bridesmaids? You can help me choose a dress this afternoon. I rang up ahead, and the shop is opening late just for us. I’ll also buy you both a new dress and shoes, and we’ll need to choose flowers of course. Hello! What do you think?’
Kerry turned to her, her mouth still agape.
‘Is that Josh? Like, Josh de Silva?’
Ella nodded.
‘You’re marrying Josh de Silva? Like, for real?’
‘Yes.’
‘Tomorrow?’
‘Yes.’
‘And we’re going to be your bridesmaids?’
‘Yes.’
‘Oh my fricking God!’
Kerry let out a high-pitched squeal that snapped Mai Li
out of her reverie. They both ran at Ella and hugged her, jumping up and down, before turning to Josh and smiling shyly.
‘Hi,’ Mai Li said, shaking his hand. ‘I’m sorry about that. We’re a bit surprised. We thought Ella was still madly in love with Zac and…ow!’
Kerry had hit her arm and stepped in front of her.
‘Hi, we’ve met before. I’m a huge fan. I have a photo of you in my purse, look!’ she rummaged in her handbag and showed him a picture she’d cut out of a magazine. It was Josh wearing nothing but swimming trunks. ‘I guess that’s a bit weird now, what with you marrying my best friend who never tells me anything!’ She shot Ella a dark look and put the picture back in her bag. Then she took it back out and handed it to Ella. ‘I suppose you better have this, seeing as you’ve just made everything really awkward.’
Ella glanced over at Josh, who was doing a great impression of finding the entire interaction totally normal.
‘Shall we go?’ he said, opening the car doors.
The girls clambered into the back, battling with the helium balloon that kept trying to escape. Ella had only been driving a few minutes when Kerry’s head appeared in the space between her and her new fiancé.
‘So, Josh, you got any brothers?’ she asked. ‘Seeing as you’re off the market now?’
‘Yeah, I have a brother,’ he said. ‘But you might have to wait a while. He’s only two years old.’
Kerry’s smile faded and she sat back down, the balloon bobbing around where her head had been.
‘I can’t see out the back window, Kerry,’ Ella said. ‘Do you mind just…’
Kerry stabbed her long nails into the balloon, making it explode with a loud bang. Ella and Josh both jumped and looked at one another with a grimace.
‘Well, that didn’t go too badly,’ Ella mouthed at him. ‘My parents next.’
JOSH SAT IN the hotel library and sipped at a whisky. Ella had told him to help himself to whatever he wanted, so he’d headed straight to the bar. He needed all the liquid courage he could find.
Just over a week ago Tarifa had been just another work trip in another country, following creepy Billy around some cool locations. A few days ago he’d simply planned on getting some sunshine and rest; he’d wanted to take his time looking at film scripts he’d been sent. Yet here he now was, madly in love and marrying a girl he hardly knew. About to meet her parents. On his own.
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