Curious.
“Excuse me while I check on the main course.” She pushed her chair back and sprang up, walking briskly to the kitchen.
He ignored the impulse to get up and follow her, feeling not only Matt’s eyes on him but Paul’s and Mark’s too.
He sighed.
Of all the chalets in all the world why did you have to turn up in mine?
Amy opened the freezer door and plunged her face in, welcoming the chilled air.
Tash came into the kitchen behind her. ‘Why on earth did you switch the plates? Are you mad?”
“He’s allergic to chilli.” Amy leant back against the freezer. “I only remembered at the last minute.”
Lying to Tash was much easier than admitting she’d decided it was too childish and she didn’t want to go through with it.
“Hmm, I spose that might’ve been going too far.” Tash shrugged. “But remember, this is the guy who hurt you so much you were thinking of running away from Switzerland. You don’t have to tell me all the details but I can tell he really hurt you. You can’t let that go.”
“I know, you were only trying to help.” Amy smiled weakly and walked to the sink to fill another glass of water. “Just how much chilli did you put in that tartlet? I only had a tiny bit of it and now it feels like my mouth’s on fire.”
“I put a fair bit in.” Tash admitted.
Amelia and Sophie came into the kitchen, carrying the empty starter plates.
Sophie took one look at Amy’s face. “The chilli? I thought I talked you out of that? At least you changed your mind at the last minute I suppose.”
Amy nodded miserably.
“Are you glad you didn’t go through with it?” Sophie stacked the plates in the dishwasher.
“Mmm.” Amy shrugged and leant back against the counter with a sigh.
“My method of revenge is much better.” Amelia said, lips pursed. “Make him see what he’s missing.”
“The guys are staying in this evening. Matt asked if we could show them how to work the Jacuzzi,” Tash said, winking.
“You just press the button, it’s not exactly difficult,” Amy folded her arms across her chest, not liking where this was going one bit.
Amelia stared at her like she was nuts. “You can use this to get the upper hand. Put on that bikini you bought the other day. Flirt with Matt. I think he fancies you. That will wind Josh up and you won’t get into trouble.”
“Maybe.” Amy sipped at her water, the heat in her mouth thankfully subsiding to something resembling a normal temperature. It was tempting; there’d been something close to pity in his eyes when he’d asked her if she was okay with him being here.
Patronising git.
Of course she wasn’t okay but she’d die rather than tell him that.
“Or you could cut out the middle man and flirt with Josh instead?” Tash suggested, raising her eyebrow as she ladled servings of casserole into the dinner plates. “Shag him and dump him, I say.”
Amy snorted.
“I saw something in my magazine about sex with exes you know,” Amelia said. “Scientists have carried out some kind of study about it, proving it helps you come to terms with the end of the relationship.”
Amy wished Tash hadn’t said anything; as if it hadn’t been hard enough to keep the memories of sex with Josh at bay. The spark of desire inside her had flared into flame at the suggestion, as though given permission to do the unthinkable.
“Erm, I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” Amy replied, trying to claw back control over the raging emotions now pressing their case loudly and vociferously, bombarding her with images of Josh on top of her, his hands running all over her body, making love to her in a way that made her bones melt. No one had made love to her like that since.
Her body craved the experience again.
Remember what he did. He cut you off cold and abandoned you when you needed him most. He didn’t care. Maybe if he’d stayed, or asked you to go with him, maybe it could’ve been different…
Amy crushed the hateful ‘what-ifs’. It was pointless to think like that. It didn’t help anything. It certainly wasn’t helping her.
“As long as the ‘L’ word isn’t mentioned and no one drops the GBT bomb it’s supposed to be fine. Positively good for you in fact,” Amelia said.
“The GBT bomb?” Amy briefly wondered if it was some kind of new sexual fad that’d passed her by.
“Getting Back Together.” Amelia took a couple of plates and together they carried the main course in.
Amy glanced at Tash suspiciously. Had she done something to Josh’s main course as well? But the plates were all mixed up, so she couldn’t have done. She couldn’t meet his eye as she dished out the food and took her seat. But she felt his gaze on her, as palpable as if he were stroking her body. Her skin prickled and she grew hot again but this time for an entirely different reason.
She pushed her food around the plate, not remotely hungry. Every muscle felt tense and on high alert. Her thoughts were stuck on a permanent Josh loop, torturing her over and over with memories of making love to him and then the sheer misery of losing him. He’d left her to go through that alone.
I need to remember how much he hurt me. I must remember…
She turned to Matt, forcing a smile to her face. “So, are you guys going out this evening?”
“We thought we’d stay in tonight.” Matt leant closer, his eyes gleaming with sudden interest. “Would you like to show us how to use the Jacuzzi?”
Amy willed herself not to move away. It felt weirdly disloyal to Josh to be flirting with Matt but that was crazy. Anyway, Josh had done the ultimate in disloyalty…
“Sure, why not? We’ll come and join you once we’ve cleared up,” She aimed for breezy but thought her voice sounded squeaky, like a panicked mouse.
Only when it was time to clear the table did she catch Josh’s eye and when she did, she flinched. He glared at her, eyes dark and when she attempted a smile to break the tension he didn’t return the gesture.
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