The Love Resort (13 page)

‘Hi, glad you made it.’ He felt stupid.

‘Well, we didn’t have far to come,’ Tim replied, picking up two drinks and draining one before starting on the other.

‘Well, I hope to see you later,’ Ed said pleasantly. He returned to Abigail and handed her a glass of wine. ‘Our first couple are here.’ He gestured to them.

‘Right then, we’d better get to work.’ Abigail looked less than thrilled but they made their way to the drinks table, draining their glasses as cover.

‘Tim, perhaps we should move away from the drinks table,’ Thea suggested. ‘Hello,’ she said.

Ed and Abigail spun round, and Ed noticed Abigail turn red.

‘Oh, hi again. Just getting a drink.’ Ed took Abigail’s arm and moved her away slightly. ‘We don’t want to be too obvious,’ he whispered.

‘Tim, did you hear me? I said we should move away. Perhaps get nearer to the food. When it’s ready we want to be at the front of the queue.’

‘We do? Oh, in that case, let me just get a couple more drinks. Actually, this is silly. I’ll just take the bottle.’ Tim picked up a newly opened bottle of wine, and clutched it to his chest.

Abigail and Ed didn’t move. He started arranging glasses and edging nearer.

‘You can’t do that,’ Thea hissed.

‘Why ever not?’ Tim asked.

‘Ed,’ Abigail said. He put his fingers to his lips; he missed what Thea replied.

‘Who do you think you are? My wife?’ Tim asked loudly.

‘No, Tim, I’m your girlfriend,’ she stated. They moved away.

‘Why did you interrupt that?’ Ed asked.

‘Because, Ed, in case you hadn’t noticed, we’re supposed to be collecting material for your wife’s book and that wasn’t material.’

‘Oh, yes. I guess listening to other people’s conversations is a bit addictive.’

‘Yes, but let’s hope, for both our sakes, that the conversation gets a little more romantic.’

Emily and Jimmy sat down at a table with their food. Ed and Abigail stood fairly near, holding full plates in an attempt to blend in.

‘You can’t possibly eat all that,’ Emily said.

‘I’m going to give it a bloody good go.’ Jimmy rubbed his stomach.

‘Well, don’t blame me if you get indigestion.’

‘Oh, bloody hell,’ Abigail said. ‘What the hell is this?’

‘Shush,’ Ed hissed. ‘Listen, they’re normal couples, we can’t expect them to spout lines of dialogue that can go straight into the novel.’

‘We can’t?’

‘Do you and Philip speak like that to each other?’

‘We barely speak, unless it’s about business.’

Ed was a little surprised by the revelation. ‘Right...well, my point is that we can’t expect them to be romantic all the time. My wife does, but then she doesn’t always live in the real world.’

‘You can say that again.’

Once more, Ed was stunned. He turned his attention back to the couple.

‘Well, this food is almost as delicious as you,’ Jimmy said. Ed and Abigail smiled at each other.

‘Oh, Jimmy, you softy. Blimey, did you have to have that much garlic?’

*

‘So, I’m thinking that we’re not going to get much out of tonight.’

‘Abigail, can I ask you something?’

‘Yes.’

‘Can you write?’

‘What?’

‘Well, it’s just that you know how Anne-Marie is, and although this spying lark has provided us with material we can use, she wants more. So to keep her happy, we sort of...’

‘Embellish?’

‘That’s a good way of putting it.’

‘Oh, isn’t that the last couple over there? Let’s see what they have to say.’

Lee and Carla stood by a gazebo; they looked as if they were surveying the scene.

‘Well, babes, are you sure you want to go to this?’ Lee asked. Ed and Abigail had snuck behind the gazebo.

‘It might be fun. The food smells divine.’

‘So do you.’

‘Thank you. Would you rather have a quiet dinner somewhere?’

‘Well, that band sounds awful.’

‘Who’d have thought that “My Heart Will Go On” could sound like that?’ They laughed.

Ed had to agree. The poor band had to play arrangements that murdered the most popular love songs on a weekly basis.

‘And there’s no bloody talent here.’

‘Lee,’ Carla admonished.

Ed raised his eyebrow at Abigail. When the coast was clear they emerged.

‘Right, so how about I go back and start making shit up?’ Abigail suggested.

‘I think that’s a brilliant idea,’ Ed replied.

*

Lily and Anne-Marie sat on the terrace with Todd.

‘I’m sure she’ll be here in a minute, she’s just getting ready,’ Todd said.

Lily kept quiet. They’d been waiting for half an hour and her stomach was threatening to rumble.

‘Oh, Todd darling, don’t worry. When you’re famous, time means nothing.’ Anne-Marie smiled broadly.

‘Tell me, Anne-Marie, where do you get your inspiration from?’ Todd asked.

‘Everywhere. Love is all around.’

Lily tried hard not to laugh.

‘It is. You know your last book,
For
the
Love
of
a
Great
Man
?’

‘You read my last book?’

‘Oh, I’ve read all your books.’ Todd and Anne-Marie smiled at each other. ‘In the last one, I thought that your hero, Brett, was the perfect man.’

Lily gawped.

‘What do you mean?’ Anne-Marie asked.

‘I mean, that when I play a hero, I will use your character as my inspiration,’ Todd gushed.

‘Oh dear Todd, you are so lovely.’

Katie emerged just as Lily thought she couldn’t take any more of the mutual appreciation.

‘You look breathtaking,’ Todd said, as his wife sat down. Lily had to agree. No wonder she was so late. Wearing a long pink dress, she almost resembled Anne-Marie, although she didn’t have any ruffles. She was a tasteful version of her.

‘Thank you, darling.’ She kissed Todd. Lily looked away; Katie was eating him up.

Todd pulled back. ‘Katie, we have company.’

‘Oh, I’m sorry,’ she giggled. ‘I just can’t resist him.’

‘Shall we eat?’ Lily suggested.

13

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*

‘Oh, Lily, of course I don’t expect you to sit in the bushes all day. You’ve got work to do.’ Anne-Marie smiled. ‘We can’t keep an eye on them all the time. I’ve got your information, and with last night, which was wonderful, and the interview, I might even have enough. But, if we need more, we need more. We’ll address it then.’

‘Of course, Anne-Marie.’ Lily sighed. The woman was insane. Lily had woken early to get the Todd and Katie tape typed up. The whole situation was absurd, and Lily wasn’t sure how long she’d be able to go along with it. She also didn’t believe that Anne-Marie would leave it at that. She knew they didn’t have a book’s worth of material, or anywhere near that yet.

‘Also, we don’t need to watch the competition winners today as tonight we have the welcome dinner arranged. That will give us an excellent opportunity to observe. I’ll use my Dictaphone again. And Todd and Katie are going out on a private yacht today. They’re doing a tour of the islands and won’t be back until late. I thought about it, but there’s nowhere to stow you away.’

Lily was lost for words as she busied herself shuffling papers.

*

‘Did you sleep well?’ Lee asked as he sat up.

Carla was pouring herself a cup of coffee. She turned round. Lee’s hair was stuck to his head and his eyes looked as if they were reluctant to open.

‘I think I might have done but I remember being awake quite a lot. This jet lag is a right pain. I’ll probably only start sleeping properly when it’s time to go home.’

‘Oh. I slept like a log.’

‘Must have been all that wine you were knocking back.’

‘Hey, I didn’t drink that much.’ Lee stretched and yawned. He looked so sleepy and sexy.

‘I’m starving, how about you shower and then take me to breakfast?’

‘OK. Give me half an hour, and a cup of that coffee.’ He got out of bed, kissed her and took the coffee cup from her, before disappearing into the bathroom.

Carla went to the wardrobe and opened it. Her clothes were all hung up neatly; Lee hadn’t unpacked yet. She decided to dress and then unpack for him. Enjoying playing the role of ‘wifey’, she picked out a pair of shorts and a T-shirt and lay them on the bed, along with some old trainers. Lee wasn’t a sandal kind of guy, something she was pleased about.

‘What’s all this?’ he asked as he emerged from the shower.

‘I told you I was starving; I’m trying to hurry things up.’

‘Cool, babes.’ Lee dressed as Carla waited for him out on the terrace. She looked at the sea view, still barely able to believe that she was there. The smell of the heat, the sea and the gardens all mixed together was intoxicating. She was ready to begin a new phase of her life; a new phase with Lee. They’d graduated, they were taking their first holiday together and they were in a luxury resort. Everything was perfect.

‘My God, look at this!’ Lee exclaimed as they surveyed the breakfast buffet in front of them.

‘I have never seen such a feast,’ Carla replied, delighted. ‘If I’d known it was this good I’d have got up yesterday.’

‘I tell you what, I’ll go and order eggs and you get juice. Then we’ll meet by the bacon in five minutes.’ He winked and squeezed her bottom.

‘Deal.’ She felt like a child in a toy shop. Carla loved breakfast, always had, it was her favourite meal of the day and here she had a breakfast fit for a king. She piled a plate full of pastries, and took it back to their table where a silver pot of coffee sat waiting for them. She then went to her rendezvous with Lee and the bacon.

‘I think I’ve just committed a deadly sin,’ Carla announced as she sat back in her chair.

‘What?’

‘Gluttony. I’ve stuffed myself silly.’

‘Well, in that case we need to repent. I know we’re on holiday but how about we go to the gym?’ Lee was big on exercise, but Carla was still aching from windsurfing the previous day.

‘Um, lying in the sun, or going to the gym. What about swimming? I’ll do lengths.’

‘I guess that’s OK. Shall we go?’

‘Yes, if I can still walk.’

Carla took his hand as they made their way to the pool. The first pool they passed had a game of volleyball in it, music blaring from a sound system. Carla screwed up her nose, and marched straight past. Lee was staring, open-mouthed.

‘What are you staring at?’

‘This place, it’s weird.’

‘It is a bit, but I read in the information that there’s another pool. Let’s hope it’s a bit more normal than this one.’

The second pool was smaller and quieter. It was almost abandoned. Lee went to collect some towels and Carla went to select the sun-loungers. She was spoilt for choice. They arranged the towels and covered themselves in sun cream. Lee had peeled his T-shirt off; Carla was in her tiniest bikini.

‘Looking good,’ Lee said, raising his eyebrows at her.

‘Thanks. Race you.’ Carla dived into the pool with Lee hot on her heels.

Carla felt as if she’d been in the pool forever, and she was sure that she’d only burnt a fraction of the calories that she’d consumed, but then she wasn’t normally neurotic about her more-than-healthy appetite. She climbed out of the pool and shook herself over Lee.

‘Ughh, Carla, you bitch.’

‘Sorry, it was an accident.’ She laughed as Lee tried to look angry, and she lay down on the sun-lounger. This was the life.

Carla put her book down after fanning herself with it. They’d swum, Lee had fallen asleep and Carla had read a quarter of her novel. Now she was hungry.

‘What time is it?’ she asked.

‘God, it’s four.’

‘I’m hungry.’

‘We’ve missed lunch.’

‘I know, but there’s the beach bar, which serves burgers and things all day.’

‘My God, you really did read all the information, didn’t you?’

‘Jet lag.’ Carla laughed, and wrapped her sarong around her.

*

‘Well, I think that it’s good to be early,’ Emily said as they lay by the pool after breakfast. ‘Especially as we wasted most of yesterday.’

‘You woke me at half past six,’ Jimmy pointed out.

‘But that meant that we were able to have breakfast, go to the gift shop and get the pick of the sunbeds.’

‘Em, we’re on holiday.’

‘I know, but I wanted to send my postcards so they arrive before we get back. I should have thought of it yesterday.’ To illustrate her point, Emily began writing.

‘But we haven’t got much to tell them yet.’

‘Jimmy, we’ve got enough. It’s sunny, romantic, beautiful. That’s all you put on postcards, anyway.’

‘I guess. I just don’t really see the point in them.’

‘You wouldn’t. But I know my parents and friends want to hear all about the luxurious holiday we’re enjoying.’ Jimmy shrugged indulgently. She wanted to boast a bit, but so what? The holiday was going to be amazing and if Emily wanted to send postcards, then she should be allowed to. He was learning a lot about his girlfriend this holiday.

At breakfast she had been wearing her ‘breakfast outfit’. The white terry tracksuit bottoms and skinny pink T-shirt (which Jimmy thought was more a gym outfit, but what did he know?) was apparently the best attire for breakfast as her day outfit (tiny sexy bikini and sarong) wasn’t suitable.