This was supposed to be seven whole, luxurious days and nights seeing the sights, hitting the clubs, forgetting all about work and patients, having an amazing time with Luke. Instead she was here alone, dumped a fortnight ago. He apparently was now headed for Paris instead of Croatia as they’d planned. Her stomach squeezed painfully. Paris where he was hooking up with another woman he’d met at an accountants’ conference last month.
‘Hope it rains every day in Paris.’
‘Pardon?’ The proprietor, who’d introduced herself as Karolina, looked concerned. As if she’d let her apartment to a madwoman.
‘Sorry. I was meant to be here with a man, only he changed his mind.’ Should’ve seen it coming. It wasn’t as though she was a stranger to men cooling towards her just when she finally relaxed into a relationship and Luke hadn’t exactly been rushing to spend time with her every night lately.
Karolina’s face fell. ‘That’s terrible. You still want to stay?’
She was here, wasn’t she? If she went home she wouldn’t be able to face her girlfriends after all their nagging for her to go to Dubrovnik and have a great time despite Luke. Cherry had even had the audacity to suggest she have a sizzling fling, burn out the angst in her veins. Her? Sex with another man other than Luke? She wasn’t ready. That’d make her seem fickle, and fickle she wasn’t. Desperate for love, yes. She was all of that, and once again had tried too hard and set herself up to be dumped. And now here she was. Alone. Might as well soak up the sun lazing by that beautiful pool beckoning from metres away on the vast deck the apartment opened onto. Throw in some sightseeing. Alone.
‘Yes. I do.’ If right this moment she wanted to run for the hills she could see in the distance, common sense would soon prevail and she’d make the most of this opportunity to learn something about another country she’d always wanted to visit. Finding a smile for Karolina wasn’t easy, but slowly her lips tipped upward. None of this was her hostess’s fault. ‘You have a beautiful spot here.’
‘Glad you’re happy with it.’ The tension that had started racking up in the other woman backed off and she pointed to an expensive bottle of champagne on the table. ‘There’s wine for you to drink.’
Alesha’s smile widened. There were some things on her side, then. Luke was so tight he must’ve forgotten to cancel that. If she knew where he was staying in Paris she’d send him a bottle of lemon juice, no sugar added. This wouldn’t have been a gesture brought on by guilt. He’d been in a hurry to get rid of her, saying the accountant he’d hooked up with was the one. At least he hadn’t demanded she reimburse him for his share of this accommodation. Was it possible it was a consolation prize in his mind? It hadn’t worked, but, yes, ‘I’m going to enjoy it.’ Mouthful by delicious mouthful, swallowing the anger and disappointment that was her latest ex, she would enjoy it as a precursor to having a wonderful holiday.
A holiday alone. Pain blurred her sight, removed her smile. What was wrong with her that men didn’t stay around for ever? Not only men. Her parents hadn’t either.
‘There are plastic glasses in that cupboard if you want to enjoy a drink by the pool.’
Alesha snatched up the bottle, ready for a glass now. ‘It should be in the fridge.’ And she should be acting outwardly strong, if broken on the inside. After all, it wasn’t as though this had never happened to her before. Not a cancelled romantic holiday. That was new, but broken relationships were becoming her speciality.
‘I want you to have a lovely stay. There is a lot to do in and around Dubrovnik.’ Karolina handed her a card. ‘If there’s anything you need, call me. I recommend you put my number on your phone. I don’t live on the premises but I’m available any time.’
‘Will do.’ Alesha slid the card into her shorts’ pocket. She’d deal with that shortly. First she’d go stick her toes in that sparkling, crystal-clear water.
Karolina removed a metal ring from the door, and waved keys at her. ‘Front door, laundry, and the gate off the street, which must be kept locked at all times for everyone’s security.’
‘No problem.’ They also went into her pocket. ‘Do you have a map of the town?’
‘All the information you’ll need is on that shelf above the table. Restaurants and grocery shops are highlighted. Bus stops, the way to the Old City if you want to walk. Anything else just ask around. Most locals are very friendly.’
‘I will, and thanks. I am going to have a wonderful time.’ She really was, as soon as she’d banished Luke’s haughty face from behind her eyelids. Haughty? Yes, he had been, especially as he’d said she’d got too serious too soon. Hello? Hadn’t he also said he’d fallen for the accountant woman instantly? Alesha’s stomach tightened. He could’ve just said it wasn’t working for him, not layer in how wonderful this other woman was—at everything.
A bird tweet in her pocket had her tugging her phone out fast. He’d changed his mind.
He hadn’t.
‘Hi, Cherry. You on break?’ She wandered out to the pool’s edge as she listened to her friend back in London.
‘No, but I wanted to give you the heads up. There’s a six-month position coming up on the paediatric ward starting in four weeks. One of the nurses is taking maternity leave, but she’s told me it’s unlikely she’ll come back at all. This’d be the ideal job for you. I’ve flicked the application form through to your email.’
A couple of weeks ago she’d have jumped at the opportunity. Probably still would once her head and bruised heart settled back into the ‘being single’ groove. But right now? Alesha didn’t want to make any plans for the future other than getting out of bed every morning to go discover this wonderland. ‘Thanks for letting me know. I’ll think about it over the next few days.’
‘Don’t take too long. Rumour has it nurses from all over London will be queuing up for the chance to join our team. It’d be cool to work together. So, how’s Dubrovnik?’
Alesha hadn’t really taken much in yet—she had been too busy feeling sorry for herself on the drive from the airport, instead thinking Luke should’ve been with her. Wandering over to the wall at the front of the deck, she stared out and around. ‘It’s beautiful,’ she gasped. ‘There’s an awesome bridge in the background, and hills, and almost right beneath where I’m standing is the harbour where the cruise ships tie up.’
‘There’ll be nightclubs and the like there, surely? You can be out all night, and lounging by the pool during the day.’ Cherry sounded excited for her.
Down, girl. ‘Yeah, well, I’m sure there’ll be some dancing and drinking going on. Not so sure about having that fling though. I do know there’re lots of places I want to visit during the day.’
‘You Kiwis and your sightseeing. Can’t you visit a town without spending the days walking for miles, taking photos and making yourself too tired to go out at night?’ Cherry laughed. ‘Oh-oh, dragon on the warpath. Got to go. Put your CV in for that job. Bye.’
Click. Gone.
Alesha sank onto a lounger. The heat was softening her muscles, moistening her skin, draining what little energy she had left. The temptation to fall into the water fully clothed was strong. There’s a phone in my pocket. Could remove it, but if she was going to do that she might as well get into her bikini. The tiny red creation made to cover the essentials and cause havoc in a man’s brain. In his shorts. Instead she’d wear it for a swim on her own. She’d also pour a glass of bubbles as soon as they were remotely chilled. Right about now.
Dressed, make that just decent, in her new bikini and with a glass of lukewarm champagne, Alesha tossed her