Page 11 of A Taste of Paradise

‘We’re in a tropical location though, it’s kind of part and parcel,’ Naomi pointed out. ‘Do you want to head down to the restaurant?’ she suggested, deciding to change the subject.

Their luggage had already been brought up, but she had no interest in unpacking. What she really wanted was to go straight down to the beach, even if it was only to feel the sand between her toes, but conceded that, first, a bite to eat would probably be a good idea.

‘I was actually thinking of ordering room service,’ he replied, dropping his laptop bag on a sideboard and unzipping it.

‘You can’t seriously be thinking of working – now?’ Naomi admonished. ‘We haven’t even had a chance to explore the resort, and I’d really hoped we’d be able to catch our first sunset …’

‘I told you I was going to have to work on this trip, babe,’ he responded with some aggravation. She folded her arms over her chest and stared at him until, finally, he conceded. ‘Fine, we’ll get something to eat, take a look around a bit, and then I’ll get back to work. Happier?’

‘Much.’

Greg approached her. ‘I’m sorry. I know what this trip means to you. Really, I do. I’m especially busy right now and I have to get certain things done. It’s the only reason the firm allowed me the time off. You know this is our busiest time.’

When he put things in such a way, Naomi couldn’t help but feel like a spoilt brat. He had indeed done a lot to ensure this trip because he knew how long she’d been planning to visit. Though fingers crossed it was because he had plans of his own in store too.

Still, just because he had to work didn’t mean he had to do it right now. There had to be a balance. He’d already spent the entire flight hovering over his laptop.

‘I’m sorry,’ she conceded. ‘I really want this trip to be special for us,’ she stated, fidgeting with the collar of his navy button-down shirt.

‘Trust me, it will be.’ Greg pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her waist, as hers wound around his neck. ‘I promise I’ll make it up to you but I need you to cut me a little slack now and again. OK?’

‘OK.’

‘That’s my girl.’ He stole a quick kiss before moving past her to retrieve his laptop. ‘I’ll just get properly set up with Wi-Fi, then we can head down to the restaurant. Hopefully that at least is decent. Why don’t you snap a few quick pics for your followers while you’re waiting? Share that amazing view outside.’

She made a face. ‘Ugh, no one likes a show-off. And I’m a bit too tired to post at the moment. Maybe I’ll go to check on the others.’

‘Make sure the Ugly Sisters don’t kill each other?’

‘Not funny.’

Greg shrugged. ‘I thought it was actually.’

Naomi couldn’t understand why he thought her siblings’ bickering was something to laugh about – it certainly wasn’t to her. As the middle child of three, she’d often been the one to try to stop the quarrelling between the eldest Judy and younger Karen, but lately things seemed to have risen to a level that not even she could control. The mystery was why. Over the years, they’d always had their differences, but recently something had changed between them that neither would speak about and only seemed to be tearing their already shaky relationship even further apart.

‘Knock, knock,’ Naomi echoed as she rapped at the girls’ door a little way down the hall. Probably not the best idea to have them bunking together, but the plans were made long before the two had begun their current war of attrition.

There was also no way she was going to ask Sam to give up the comfort of her single room to bunk in with one of her sisters. Mother to a toddler son, Naomi wanted her best friend to relax and enjoy a well-earned break away from mum duties.

‘Enter at your own risk,’ her sister Karen’s voice called out from within.

‘Hey,’ Naomi sang as she entered. ‘Settling in all right?’ She inspected the room to ensure nothing had been broken yet. So far, so good.

‘If you call sipping a bottle of water settling in,’ Judy commented from her position on the couch. She too seemed completely disinterested in the beauty around her and was absently flicking through the pages of one of the magazines left on the coffee table.

‘Everything all right?’ she asked, though Naomi was sure she knew the answer to that question. Just looking at the aggravated stances of both siblings was answer enough.

‘Fine,’ Karen replied, casting a glare in her older sister’s direction. She was the sensible one, the more efficient, and always tactful. ‘This place is stunning, thanks, Naomi.’

She shrugged. ‘Thank Greg. And it is stunning, isn’t it? We just saw a hummingbird on our balcony, can you believe it? Judy, everything OK for you?’

Her elder sister was the more spoilt and high maintenance, to which her nearby four suitcases could attest. Despite her online fashionista persona, Naomi had brought only one case. She planned to spend the majority of the trip wearing bikinis and sundresses, intending to post the odd outfit pic here and there, basically as little as she could (or Greg with all his algorithm talk would let her get away with).

‘Wonderful,’ Judy retorted with more sarcasm than necessary. ‘I’m dead tired after all the travelling.’

OK, not a promising beginning, but Naomi knew miracles could happen. She needed to do something to rectify whatever was going on between them, but now was not the time.

‘Well, if you two are all right, I think I’ll go check on Mum and Dad and then we should maybe get something to eat or a drink even. Meet you downstairs in half an hour?’ she suggested, as she made her retreat.