by R L Burgess
For the next thirty minutes Reyna allowed Zoe to deliver her presentation, uninterrupted. Zoe was a natural speaker, friendly, clear and concise in her delivery, and Reyna found herself entirely engaged. The content was flawless, and Reyna quickly abandoned any idea of constructive criticism, allowing herself to be swept up in the one-on- one experience of Zoe’s full attention.
“And so, any questions?” Zoe asked, concluding her mock presentation.
“Wow,” Reyna said, smiling at her appreciatively. “Well done.” She clasped her hands together. “You obviously didn’t need any input from me. You’ve got it in the bag.”
“Thanks.” Zoe dipped her head in acknowledgment, her face serious. “Like I said, not my first time.”
“I didn’t realise you were so experienced.”
“I’m not massively, but I have done it before, and in this case, I designed the program I’m speaking about, so I know my material well. It was fun to put this together.”
“It shows. You’re definitely not in danger of putting anyone to sleep.”
Finally, Zoe smiled and Reyna felt like someone had turned the lights up in the room. “I’m glad of that.”
They sat opposite each other for a moment, neither of them speaking. Reyna knew she should probably make the move to leave but she couldn’t bring herself to. Not just yet.
“Any highlights of the conference so far?” she asked.
“Apart from your talk?” A smile tugged at the side of Zoe’s mouth, in spite of her restraint.
“Nice of you to say, but yes, apart from mine.”
“Well, Jessica’s was pretty inspiring. I took away a lot from her talk. I’d love to see the industry doing more to raise the bar.”
“You’re doing that with your seminar program.”
“In a way, I guess. But I’d like to see more. You know, shake out the people like Thomus, who are just there to make an easy buck and don’t care what they have to do to get it.” Her hand flew to her mouth as if realising too late who she was speaking to. “I shouldn’t have said that…”
“It’s okay. I think I know what you’re saying and let’s just say I have that situation in hand.” Of course she couldn’t reveal anything of Thomus’s circumstances to Zoe, but it was worrying to note that his team clearly had a low regard for him.
Zoe stretched out on the bed, tucking a pillow behind her head.
“You look tired,” Reyna said, easing herself off the desk to leave.
Zoe sat up quickly. “No, I’m fine. Would you like a drink? I have an assortment of interesting looking things in the minibar and I’d love to hear your thoughts on the conference so far.”
Reyna laughed. “You know those aren’t for free, right?”
“I know. But have you seen what’s there? They have Irish coffee cream liqueur.”
“Yeah I saw that. I’m guessing it’s been in the cabinet forever. I don’t think anyone actually drinks that.”
“Are you kidding? It’s delicious. My mum used to let me have sips of hers when I was little. Let’s open it.” Zoe rolled off the bed and made a beeline for the minibar cabinet, securing two glasses and the mini bottle of liqueur. “There’s even ice in my ice tray. I don’t mean to make you jealous or anything,” she continued as she retrieved the ice and snapped it out of the tray into the glasses. “Your room might not be quite so fancy as mine.”
“Hmm, yes you’re right. I might need to have a word with Nikki about this. She really should have requested me a room with an ice tray.”
“Heads will roll.” Zoe twisted the lid off the mini bottle and poured it evenly between the two glasses. “Here you are.”
“A toast?”
“To excellent working relationships?”
Reyna smiled. “To excellent working relationships.”
They touched glasses and Reyna took a sip of her drink, surprised to find she enjoyed the thick, creamy liqueur. “You know it’s actually not that bad.”
“Not that bad?” Zoe sounded outraged as she settled back on the bed. “This is the fancy stuff. Mum would only break this out at Christmastime.”
“Wow, Christmas must have been really fancy at your place.”
Zoe studied her glass. “Actually,” she admitted, “my mum had quite a troublesome relationship with alcohol.” She looked up at Reyna from under her lashes, as if seeking reassurance to continue.
“It happens.”
“It happened to my mum. In a big way.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“I couldn’t get through to her. Neither of us could, my brother or I.”
“It’s hard. Once you tip over the edge, I understand it’s pretty difficult to clamber back up.”
“She tried, I think. I was young. I didn’t know what was really going on. She hid it all pretty well. Until the end.”
“How did she die?”
“Liver cancer. The doctor said it was from the alcohol. It was quick, thank god.”
“Quick can be painful in its way too.”
“Right, of course. Your sister.”
“Gosh, we’ve gotten morbid,” Reyna said, swirling the ice cubes in her drink and taking another sip. The alcohol burned on its way down, warming her from the inside. “Have you swum in that magical pool yet?”
“I haven’t but I’d like to. My boss was insistent that I be present at all the talks today so I haven’t had a chance yet.” Zoe’s eyes were wide, a hint of a smile hovering around her lips.
“Oh, ouch. Well, what are you waiting for. Get your bathers on. No point hiding away in your room. The pool awaits.”
“What, now?” Zoe made a show of checking her watch. “It’s eight o’clock.”
“Perfect time for a swim if you ask me. Go on, you’ve earned it.”
“Only if you come too.”
Reyna hesitated. She was supposed to be staying away from Zoe, not flitting off to have a midnight dip. “Sure,” she found herself saying, ignoring the little voice clamouring to be heard inside her.
“All right then, I’ll just get changed.”
Zoe put down her drink and went over to her suitcase, rummaging through for her bathers. A knock at the door interrupted her and she looked up in surprise. “Maybe Stacey and Meryl,” she said. “Their room is next door.”
From her position on the desk Reyna could see straight down the short hallway as Zoe opened the door to reveal Jessica, ice bucket tucked under one arm, brandishing a bottle of champagne. Reyna’s heart sank. “I brought supplies,” Jessica said in a husky tone, sliding past Zoe into the room. She pulled up short seeing Reyna leaning on the desk.
“Well, hello there.” Jessica raised a perfectly manicured eyebrow. She set the champagne and ice bucket on the bedside table and perched on the edge of the bed. “And where did you disappear to last night?”
“Oh, I just went back to the hotel,” Reyna said, trying to sound casual. “I had some work to catch up on.”
“Work, work, work, Reyna.” Jessica grimaced at Zoe who was still hovering in the doorway. “How dull. Luckily you’re not quite there yet.”
“Thanks, I think,” Reyna replied, irritated by the smug look on Jessica’s face.
“So, you started the party without me?” Jessica pouted.
“There’s no party,” Zoe jumped in. “Reyna stopped by to check on my presentation. Actually, we were just about to go for a swim.”
“A swim! Well I can get with that program. Not exactly what I had planned,” Jessica winked at Zoe, “but we can swing past my cabin on the way down to the pool and grab my bathers.”
They had plans to spend the evening together, Reyna realised, feeling awkward. She didn’t need to spend another night watching these two flirting with each other, that was for sure.
“Actually, at the risk of sounding dull again, I really should get back to my room to send some emails. I’ve asked the Canberra office to prepare a report for me and they can’t go any further until I send through some more da
ta. Well done on your presentation, Zoe.” She knew her tone was stiff but she couldn’t help herself. She was mad with herself for even being in Zoe’s room. If she was honest, she couldn’t hand-on-heart say she had come here for purely professional reasons. And how ridiculous to suggest a late-night swim. At this rate, Zoe would have every right to question her professionalism. On top of that, clearly there was something going on between Jessica and Zoe, and she was not in the mood to stick around and watch it unfold. “I’m sure you’ll be great tomorrow.”
“You’re not coming swimming now?” Zoe’s brow wrinkled with confusion.
“No, I really shouldn’t. Enjoy your evening, ladies. See you in the morning.” She nodded at Zoe and left the room.
Chapter Fifteen
Zoe (Wednesday, p.m.)
Confused, Zoe watched Reyna leave her room. The woman was impossible to understand. Just when Zoe thought she had a handle on her, she whisked around and blew in a completely different direction. Hot and cold didn’t even begin to cover it. She had been sure Reyna would chew her out after the kiss, but she had been almost pleasant in her response. Definitely friendly. She had been distant and cold Reyna at the bar, and then, the next thing she knew she was being blasted by irate Reyna on the hotel pathway before breakfast. Zoe had been convinced she would be facing some kind of disciplinary action until friendly Reyna had reappeared at her door to help her with her presentation. Who the hell was this woman?
“So shall we stop by my room to get my bathers,” Jessica asked, fluttering her eyelashes suggestively.
Zoe sighed. She should have been over the moon with the attention Jessica was giving her. She was drop-dead gorgeous and an internationally recognised intellectual powerhouse, but for some reason, Zoe was not feeling the spark. Still pining after the ever-complicated Reyna, she thought with irritation. Her friends were right. She was beginning to look like a hopeless case. Even amongst all the confusion, her heart still refused to get with the program. Damn her heart. There was no reason her body couldn’t enjoy the attention. Last night had definitely been fun, even if there wasn’t exactly a spark.
She forced herself to smile.
“How about I meet you down at the pool in fifteen minutes? I need to get changed too.”
“How about I stay here and help you get changed?”
Jessica eased off the bed and pulled Zoe toward her, covering her lips with her own. The kiss was soft and warm and Jessica’s hands ranged over her body. Zoe moved in closer, willing her body to come alive, to ignite under the touch of Jessica’s hands.
“Mmm, yes baby,” Jessica murmured against her mouth. “Let’s ditch the pool. Who needs swimming. I can think of lots of other ways to get wet.”
Zoe broke the embrace, laughing at Jessica’s outrageous lewdness. “I can’t be up late, Jessica. I want to be fresh for my presentation. I actually really wanted a swim.”
“Oh, you’re not fun.” Jessica reached for her but Zoe sidestepped neatly, ducking out of the way.
“Meet you at the pool in fifteen,” Zoe said firmly, turning Jessica around and ushering her toward the door.
“Don’t leave me waiting,” Jessica said as Zoe gently pushed her out into the corridor. “I don’t like to wait.”
“I won’t,” she promised, closing the door.
Stripping off her clothes, she retrieved her bathers from her suitcase and suited up. There must be something wrong with me, she worried, adjusting the strap of her bikini. Last night with Jessica had been fun. The combination of the music, the dancing and the alcohol had made Zoe feel loose and easy, enjoying some playful flirtation with Jessica. If it hadn’t been for the problem with her key, she probably would have left it there—flattered to have the attention, but no real interest in anything further. But Jessica had insisted on walking her to her room, and when Zoe’s room key failed to work, she had been adamant that Zoe should sleep in her room.
“Honestly, Zoe, what else are you going to do? Sleep in the hallway?”
“I’ll just go down to reception and get another key.”
“It’s three a.m. Reception is closed.”
“I’m sure they’ve got a night person.”
Jessica had tucked Zoe’s arm through her own and led her over to the elevator. “I promise I won’t bite. Come and get some sleep.”
“We’ve only just met. I—”
“I have two beds in my room.”
“Oh. Okay.”
Zoe had allowed Jessica to lead her back to her room, where thankfully, she really did have two beds.
“You are welcome to climb in with me if you get scared in the night,” Jessica had said softly, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind Zoe’s ear. They had kissed then, Zoe surrendering to the moment, wishing she felt more. It had been nice. Soft, sexy in a way, but there was no spark, no elevation of her heartbeat, just, well, nice. She knew Jessica would be madly insulted to have her kiss described as “nice.”
When Jessica had suggested they retire to her bed Zoe had declined gently.
“I really need to get some sleep, Jessica. Sorry to be boring but I really want to get the most out of this conference and I need to be on top of my game.”
“You’re turning me down for a conference?”
She laughed nervously. “I’m not turning you down, I’m just… suggesting we reschedule?”
“Fine. One more nightcap then.”
“Honestly, not for me. I’ve had enough tonight. If you don’t mind I’m ready to crash.”
She suspected Jessica was unused to being turned down. She had pouted and made a show of pouring herself a large tumbler of scotch, keeping the lights on until well after Zoe had crawled into the bed and pretended to fall asleep. Just get into her bed, her brain kept repeating. But she had resisted and eventually Jessica had switched off the light and gotten into bed herself. Zoe had listened to her breathing gradually slow until a soft snore indicated Jessica was asleep. Then she had tried to relax herself, taking deep slow breaths, trying to imagine her limbs sinking into the pillowy mattress. But sleep had eluded her. Her mind kept flashing back to the moment she had kissed Reyna. It had been over so quickly she could almost believe it hadn’t happened.
But it had. And now, with Reyna acting like a spin-off of Jekyll and Hyde, Zoe was struggling to know how to act. She had tried humble and apologetic, but Reyna hadn’t seemed to want that; she had tried friendly and professional, acting like nothing had happened, but Reyna had met that with anger. When Reyna had arrived at her door this evening, Zoe had still been furious from their encounter that morning. How dare Reyna make assumptions about her professionalism based on a chance meeting.
It had looked bad, she admitted to herself, as she grabbed a towel and headed for the stairs. And Jessica turning up in her room just now would only have added fuel to the fire. Was there a fire? Was she having a thing with Jessica? Did it matter what Reyna thought? Her mind buzzed with questions. Reyna had made it clear she wasn’t interested, so she supposed it didn’t really matter what Reyna thought. Except that it did.
Because for a moment, back there in her room, she had thought Reyna might have changed her mind. “Wishful thinking, Zoe,” she heard her friends say as she unhooked the pool gate and threw her towel on a banana lounge. There were a few small groups of people dotted around the tables, but Jessica wasn’t there. Zoe stood at the edge of the pool and dipped in a toe, relieved to find the temperature was bearable. She wasn’t really one for arctic swimming.
Zoe dove in to the water and resurfaced in the middle of the pool. She flipped onto her back and floated, gazing up at the moon. Venus, in all its mystical glory, was glowing brightly just underneath it.
Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight…
Her brother had always told her there was no point wishing for something you knew you’d never get. That was just a waste of a wish. But even as a kid she had been unable to heed his advice. As a child she had wished hard for her dad to come back.
He hadn’t. As she had gotten older she had wished at every birthday for her mum to get happier. She hadn’t. And as a teenager she had wished fervently for a computer, desperate to keep up with her schoolwork and her peers, struggling to manage the workload at the library, until she had realised all the wishing in the world wouldn’t help her, but an afterschool job would. She had gotten a job at the local newsagency, stacking the shelves after school, and then she had graduated to a before school paper round, and eventually she had saved enough money to purchase a bottom of the range computer, but her very own computer nonetheless. But when it had come time to purchase it, she hadn’t been able to bring herself to do it, knowing their mum was struggling just to get food on the table. Instead she had handed over her envelope full of cash and watched as her mother had cried with relief.
I wish I may, I wish I might…
It hadn’t cured her of wishing, though. Perhaps if she just wished hard enough tonight, Reyna would walk through the pool gates and dive into the pool next to her. They would hold hands in the water, heads close, looking up at the moon. Reyna would cup her chin in her hands and kiss her, her tongue gently probing Zoe’s mouth.
Have this wish I wish tonight.
“Yoo hoo, Zoe.”
Zoe righted herself looking over at the pool gate. Jessica waved at her.
“What’s the water like?”
“It’s fine,” Zoe replied. Danny was right. There was no point wishing for something that wouldn’t come true. Better to make the most of what was right there in front of you. “Just fine. Come on in.”
Before she went to bed that evening she rang Mel.
“Jessica Myers wants to sleep with you and you’re calling me?” Mel’s voice was a shriek down the phone. Zoe held the receiver away from her ear, wincing dramatically, even though she knew Mel couldn’t see her.
“Yes, that’s about the sum of it.”
“Let me get this straight. It’s what, ten thirty there?”
“Yeah.”
“And you’ve come back to your room, after what basically constitutes a midnight swim with one of Australia’s hottest women, to telephone me?”
