Page 32 of The Heartbreak Hotel

Ella combed the scene, thinking of something to use. “I’ve got an idea. You ring the yoga gong and get everyone to meet at the yoga cubbies.”

“I don’t think breathing exercises are going to calm the goats.”

Ella nudged her in the ribs. “Not for bloody breathing exercises. Just do it and meet me there.”

Riley sounded the gong, gathered the locals’ attention, and then instructed everybody over to Ella. The locals resisted, looking on at the destruction the goats had caused in horror. They muttered in Portuguese, giving Ella uncertain looks.

“You’ll have to translate for me,” Ella said to Riley, then cleared her throat. “Okay, everyone. Grab a yoga mat, and let’s round these goats up. We’ve got to work together to form barriers, and then we can guide the goats back to their pen.”

The people looked on while Riley translated, and understanding dawned on their faces. A few gave Ella nods of approval, but she was trying not to melt at Riley speaking in Portuguese. Is there anything this woman can’t do?

Ella and Riley handed out yoga mats from the cubbies, and they started organising themselves into groups to pin the goats into one place. Thankfully, apart from one particularly naughty goat that could ascend the walls, the mats held strong. With a quiet focus descending on the group, and a dedicated team sent to rescue the escapee from the roof, the goats were rounded into submission and guided back up the path to their pen through the wide-open gate.

Once the last goat was inside, everyone cheered, offering Ella hugs and kisses on the cheek. Under usual circumstances, Ella would rather eat rusty nails than touch a stranger, but their genuine appreciation for her struck a chord, lighting a small flame in her chest.

They headed back to the courtyard to start the clean-up, but Riley lingered at the back, a huge grin on her face.

“Well done,” she said, securing the lock on the gate and giving it a tug. “That was a clever idea.”

“Thank you.” The praise fanned the glow in Ella’s centre, but she tried to brush it off. “The free-thinking voodoo of the course must be rubbing off on me.”

Riley chuckled, glancing down at her feet. “Then Senhor Arenoso will be pleased.”

“And you?”

“Me too.”

Their eyes locked, and the air around them buzzed. Ella could almost sense Riley’s hands on her back, feel the dusting of breath at her neck. She wanted more.

“I want to thank you again for yesterday. I really appreciated making a phone call.” She swallowed. “And the aloe vera.”

“You’re welcome.” A blush coated Riley’s cheeks, but she wouldn’t look at her. Instead, she cast her attention to the courtyard behind them. An unsettling feeling gripped Ella’s insides. Being around Riley was like riding a loop-the-loop rollercoaster; she never knew which way was up.

“Shall we go help clean up?” Ella asked.

Riley looked over the fence at the goats grazing the pasture like they hadn’t just wreaked havoc on Sandy Springs. “Oh…uh, I think you’ve done your part. There’s no need for that.”

The comment stung, dropping Ella back to Earth abruptly. “Don’t you want me there or something?”

“Ella…” Riley scratched at the back of her neck, and the sinking feeling enveloped Ella’s whole body. “I just… You… There’s no easy way to say this—”

“Here we go.” Bile crept up her throat. This might be a new record for Ella rejection. What would the reason be this time? Too loud, too fat, too emotional, too much? How had she got this so wrong?

“It’s not like that,” Riley said, but she still wouldn’t look at her, and that made anger twist in her gut.

“Riley, if you’ve got something to say, just say it. I’m a big girl. I can take it.” Ella gritted her teeth. She didn’t really want to have this conversation now, to shoot the possibility of exploring her relationship with Riley in the foot, but the feeling steered her, and the words tumbled out. “Why are you fighting this? I know you feel something here.” She took a step towards her. “Tell me I’m wrong.”

The goats bleated in the background. Riley shuffled her feet.

“Ella, I just…can’t.” Her gaze finally met Ella’s, and the sadness there struck her. “I can’t do this with you.”

The rejection stung, slapping Ella across the face and pouring salt in old wounds. Tears threatened her eyes, and she suddenly felt very, very stupid. How many times was she going to put herself in this position? Just to get torn down by a beautiful woman?

“Tell me I’m wrong,” she said again, a quiver in her voice. When she was met with silence, she scoffed, shaking her head. “You’re a coward, Riley.”

And she spun on her heels, putting as much distance between them as possible. Horrible, ugly sobs crept up her throat, but she held them in until she was out of sight.

No more women. Ella vowed never to let someone hurt her like this again. This was stupid, so stupid.