Page 45 of The Heartbreak Hotel

The finishing touches and white highlights on the leaves and sky elevated it to a whole other level—one that Ella couldn’t even put into sensical words.

The two of them packed away their things and headed back up the path towards Riley’s cabin. The sun warmed her neck as it dipped in the sky, the soft pad of their footsteps blending with the chatter of the birds in the treetops.

Riley was a little quiet once they started walking, pushing Ella’s mind into overdrive. Had she said something to upset her? Or was she itching to get back and get this date over with? Maeve sometimes ended their time prematurely, claiming an early start, only for Ella to see she’d been active on Facebook hours later.

She brushed her hand against Riley’s, making her turn around. “Everything alright?”

“Yeah, sorry.” Riley observed the view over Ella’s shoulder before giving her a small smile that didn’t touch her eyes.

“You sure? You sound like you just dropped your ice-cream cone on the floor.”

Riley sighed and glanced behind them before hooking her hand behind Ella’s neck, beckoning her closer. The corner of her mouth ticked upwards. “You’re not the only one this island makes reconsider their life choices.”

In Riley’s strong hold, Ella’s body was no longer her own. She felt herself leaning closer, losing herself in the woman’s orbit. She couldn’t look anywhere else apart from those blue eyes, their flecks of green and brown visible in the sunshine. “How so?” she said in a breathless whisper.

Riley shook her head, dimples forming in her cheeks that made Ella want to kiss her all over. “You’re very direct, do you know that?”

“Sorry.”

Riley’s other hand cupped her chin when Ella’s head dipped. “No. It’s a good thing. You’re making me realise how much I’ve been hiding away. Sharing this with you…has been the best day I’ve had in ages.” She grinned, the dimples sinking deeper. “Which is not something I would usually admit on a first date.”

Ella’s belly flip-flopped. “Nothing about us is usual, anyway.”

“That’s true—”

Ella leaned in, melting against her soft lips. Her whole body hummed at the sensation when Riley kissed her back, warmth radiating over her skin. Riley’s fingers threaded into her hair, kissing her deeper, and when they parted for air, Ella’s lungs emptied completely.

Those kisses should carry warning labels.

“Atenção!” a voice shouted from the path above them. Screeching brakes kicked up dust into spirals in the blue sky. “Watch out!”

A bike hauling a wooden cart was speeding down the hill, heading straight towards them. Riley pulled Ella out of the way, tripping over a boulder and landing in a bush. Ella collapsed on top of her with a grunt.

A loud crash cut through the air, followed by groans and the whir of spinning tyres. A murky cloud bloomed into the sky where the cart had tipped over, narrowly avoiding a tree.

Riley opened her eyes, grimacing. “Are you okay?” she asked Ella.

“I’m fine. Are you?” Ella stood up, offering her a hand and tugging her to her feet.

“Oh, no. No, no. Merda.” A tall boy was sprawled across the path, his long dark hair flopping across his face. He scrambled up, dirt covering his legs and shorts, and put his head in his hands. Remembering the two of them, he spun round and ran over, slipping over the gravel in his clunky sandals.

“Sorry. Peço imensas desculpas. So sorry.” His face fell in relief when he spotted Riley. “Ah, Riley. Graças a Deus.”

Riley dropped Ella’s hand like a hot potato. “Romeo! What are you doing coming down the path like that? You could’ve killed someone.”

This is the famous Romeo?

Ella’s eyes narrowed, softening when she took in the boy’s round, chubby cheeks and fluffy facial hair. He couldn’t have been more than a teenager.

“I’m sorry. Sorry. The brakes are a little stiff, and I was late collecting the oranges.” His chocolate-brown eyes flicked to Ella. “Miss. I’m so sorry. Are you good?”

Good wouldn’t necessarily be Ella’s choice of word, but she nodded anyway, and the boy bowed his head in apology.

He turned his attention back to his dusty bike and wooden cart and let out a groan. “My bike. What am I going to do?”

Riley inspected the damage, eyebrows pinching. “It’s just the tyre, Romeo. You’ve bust it.”

“Oh, no. Senhor Arenoso is going to kill me. Estou feito.”