Trouble in Paradise (Romantic Suspense, Completed)

Chapter 15

For four hours, I stayed in the bathroom, sitting on a towel with the fluffy white hotel bathrobe wrapped around me. I'd only spoken once—to ask Adam to leave—but I hadn't heard the door. Mind you, I'd been sobbing so hard a volcano could have erupted without me noticing.

This was worse than after Bryce. When Bryce left me, my heart had been shattered. Right now, it had been torn out of my chest, stomped on by an elephant, barbecued for a couple of hours, and then frozen into a block of ice.

Eventually, when I'd run out of both tears and toilet paper to blot them with, I struggled to my feet. Pins and needles stabbed at my legs. Had Adam gone? I peeped through the tiny gap, and the light on the bedside table cast a dim glow over the room. Everything was still.

Of course he'd gone.

I climbed into bed and pulled the covers over my head, which might have insulated me from the world outside, but it couldn't save me from my thoughts.

Over and over again, the mess I'd made ran through my head. Why couldn't I have gone along with things? It might have been okay. Might, might, might. The devil on my shoulder spoke in Persephone's voice. Because you're just not good enough.

Of course I wasn't. I couldn't even manage to have a rebound fling properly.

At eight thirty, a knock on the door disturbed my misery. Oh, hurrah. Breakfast was here. Sent by Adam. More tears formed from somewhere and leaked out onto the pillow, leaving a streak of black as they mixed with what was left of my mascara.

The waiter didn't knock again for a whole hour. Were the catering team on Egyptian time too?

"I don't want any breakfast, thank you." My voice cracked on every word.

What was that metallic scraping sound? And how did Gabe get into my room?

He held up a bunch of keys, answering my unasked question. "I have a friend who works in hotel security, and I told him I was concerned about your welfare. Now, what's going on?"

"Nothing. I'm fine."

He burst out laughing. "Missy, you're crying in bed wearing yesterday's clothes when you should be at the dive centre. Adam's turned up, but he looks as pissed as a cobra in a frying pan. 'Nothing'..." Gabe made little air quotes. "Is not the answer I'm looking for."

I didn't know Gabe well enough to go into the sorry details of my sex life, or rather my lack of one. I'd save that for Kat later. Mental note: ask her to bring more tissues.

"Adam and I had a difference of opinion last night."

"That sounds like the understatement of the year."

"Well, it's as much as you're getting, so if you wouldn't mind leaving, I need to get some rest."

Why was I so much braver when I was upset and sleep-deprived?

"No can do. You've paid for the course, and you're damn well going to finish it. You've got thirty seconds to get out of bed and into the bathroom before I carry you to the dive centre as you are."

He stared down at me, biceps flexing as he folded his arms. I didn't doubt he could make good on his threat.

Or that he would.

Fine. Fine, fine, fine. I got up and stomped over to the bathroom.

"And don't even think about locking the door," he shouted through the wood. "I've got a screwdriver, and I'll take the hinge pins out."

Dammit! How did he know that was my plan?

I showered and brushed my teeth as slowly as I possibly could. Flossing was very important, so my dentist always told me. She'd have been proud of me that morning. I got dressed in the plainest one-piece I owned and covered it up with a shapeless black kaftan, then went back out to Gabe.