Page 7 of The Trip of a Lifetime

‘Stanley Park is just the thing, sir.’

‘Great, that then, please.’

Erin turned her head to see a man with the softest-looking shirt on. It was pale blue and made of a fabric that Erin had a sudden wish to run her hand over. She didn’t, of course, but the man glanced at her with a bemused smile that made her wonder if he knew what she was thinking.

‘Hi,’ he said.

British, Erin thought. She’d hoped he’d be Canadian and she could gather some information without really trying.

‘Hello,’ she said.

‘Are you here on holiday?’ he asked.

She wavered for a moment but then remembered she didn’t really want to get in trouble with Cally, so she decided on a half-lie.

‘Yes,’ she said. ‘I’ve never been to Canada before, have you?’

He had such a lovely face, Erin decided as she waited for him to answer. There was an angular shape to his jawline but it was softened by his nose and a mop of dark chestnut waves on his head. He was taller than her but not intimidatingly so. And he was slim with that hint of muscularity across his chest and upper arms. A mad thought crossed her mind for a moment. If she had to choose genes for her future children, it would be his.

‘I’ve never been to Canada, no. A bit of America, but…’ He trailed off and she wondered what he saw on her face. Not lust, surely?

Erin took a long sip of her drink while she reorganised her thoughts.

‘Do you play rugby?’

‘No,’ he said, and then narrowed his eyes. ‘Is this a trick question? Are you a huge fan and I’ve failed the test?’

Erin laughed. ‘God, no. It wasn’t a test at all but if it had been, you just passed.’

He smiled and it did something to her insides to see his face so warm and open.

‘Can I buy you a drink?’ he asked and she found herself saying yes, and that this time adding a vodka would be great.

They found seats outside on the terrace with a view of the city and for a few minutes Erin forgot why she was here at all. She was just a woman enjoying the company of a nice man. She was halfway down her vodka, lime and soda when he asked her name.

‘Erin,’ she said, and thought she detected a flicker of something on his face.

‘Nice name. I’m Samuel.’ And the flicker was gone. ‘So, how long are you here for on holiday? Who are you with? Surely not travelling alone?’

Erin thought about continuing the lie but then what was the point. She’d never see this man again and if she did, she’d like to at least start with the truth.

‘I’m actually here with my grandmother. We’re contestants on a TV show called The Trip of a Lifetime. Have you seen it?’

‘A TV show, really? That’s so cool. What’s it about?’

‘Well, we basically race other teams to be the first to reach a destination. We have limited cash, we’re not allowed to fly, and no phones or credit cards.’

‘Sounds challenging. So, where’s your destination?’

‘We won’t know until tomorrow, just before we set off. I’m really nervous, to be honest. My grandmother’s the adventurous one… well, she used to be. But still, I’ll be relying on her 100 per cent.’

‘I bet you’ll be amazing,’ he said, and offered up another of his dazzling smiles.

‘Thank you,’ she replied and wondered if it would be too forward to ask him for his number. They’d be off tomorrow to goodness knows where and the chances of finding him again were slim to non-existent.

‘Is it not too challenging for your grandmother, though?’ he asked.

‘No, Martha is amazing. She did the race before when it was on TV the first time, fifty years back. Then, a couple of months ago, Nana – Martha – got an invitation along with all the original contestants to race again. A half-century revival. Bit mad, really.’