Page 46 of The Heartbreak Hotel

“I can fix it. I have some tools at my cabin.”

His face lit up, and he crushed Riley in a hug. “Yes! Obrigado. Thank you. So lucky it was you.” His gaze moved between the two of them, lingering on Ella. “What—”

“We were orange picking,” Riley blurted out before he could say anything further.

“Ah.” He brushed a hand over his sad moustache. “Okay.”

“Come on, before anyone sees what you did to the bike. Push it up here.” Riley cast a glance towards Ella, but it was distant. Empty. Making the fuzzy feeling in her chest sink like stones into the soles of her feet.

They made their way back up the path. Romeo pushed his squeaking bike and cart, with Riley leading at the front and Ella trailing at the back, like a scolded child. When they reached Riley’s cabin, Romeo wheeled the bike into the garden, leaving the two of them alone on the path.

“I’m sorry to cut this short,” Riley said, her voice low.

“Me too.”

“But I had a great time.”

“Me too.”

They lingered for a moment, their gazes moving over one another.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Riley said.

“Yep. See you.” Ella gave her the best smile she could muster, then headed down the trail.

She should be walking among the clouds right now. Riley was into her. They’d slept in the same bed, had the best first date—if they could call it that—she’d ever had, and shared kisses that lit her whole body on fire, and yet…her heart quivered like a deflating balloon.

The crashing cart had knocked the wind out of her sails. The fear and panic in Riley’s voice rang clear in her ears, and Ella didn’t like the way she’d snapped back from her like an elastic band.

This was going to be harder than she’d originally thought. She kept her eyes down on the path, moving towards her own cabin at a glacial pace. Her head and heart were arguing with one another. So much so, she didn’t notice Pauline until she let out a curdling coo in her direction.

“Ella! Where’ve you been?” Her attention fell on Ella’s outfit, her eyes widening. “And what the dickens are you wearing?”

Chapter Thirteen

Ella

To Ella’s surprise, the morning’s yoga class helped clear her brain fog. Doubts about whatever was going on with her and Riley fell to the back of her mind, despite the gorgeous woman’s voice calling out breathing timings for the group. Maybe whatever was developing between them had come at the wrong time. Ella needed to want change for herself, not for Riley, and she needed to focus on that.

Maybe it’s perfect timing, her heart called back at her. Maybe they were meant to meet here. Even now, sparks crackled in the air between them, dancing, waiting for that moment for their eyes to connect and the feeling to swarm around her like butterflies.

Regardless, Ella needed to focus on herself first. Beautiful blondes after. That was the deal.

And for god’s sake, she had to enjoy her time here. A week had already passed, and before she knew it, she’d be back traipsing the rainy English streets with only memories of the sunshine to keep her warm.

That was why she’d agreed to attend Riley’s surfing class this afternoon, even though the thought terrified her. Her body wasn’t made for exercise, especially not “trying to stay balanced on a moving board hurtling over the waves” type of exercise.

Riley called the class to a close, and Ella opened her eyes, catching her watching from the front of the courtyard. Riley grinned, and the electric sizzles spread through Ella’s veins, giving her wings. Really, she couldn’t believe her luck that Riley was into her at all. She needed to remember that.

She rolled up her mat and stored it in the cubby, Pauline following close behind her and breathing down her neck like a wildebeest.

“That was a great class. Don’t you think?” She wedged her purple mat next to Ella’s. “I can feel my mind settling more and more with every session.” She brought her hands together in front of her face. “Namaste.”

“That’s great, Pauline.”

She puffed out her bosom. “And I only had twenty-six thoughts about Albert.”

“Nice. That’s fifty better than last time.”