Startled by her own outburst, she pushed roughly past Natalie to get through the doorway. "Don't miss your flight!"
As she walked back to Daniel, she fought to contain her temper and slow down her breathing. Where on earth had that speech come from? Since when had she been such a staunch advocate of love and relationships?
Laura rolled her eyes. This holiday was getting weirder by the minute. For once, she would be glad to be back at school.
Chapter Sixteen
As Laura and Daniel strolled back to the car, they reached an open grass slope where the wall had crumbled away to leave a fantastic view over the river. Daniel sat down, pulling Laura with him. He leaned back on his elbows and Laura followed suit. Everything was so peaceful and calm, and there was a pleasantly cool breeze. Daniel had been suitably gratified when she'd informed him Natalie would soon be out of his hair and back in Ben's. And they had cleared up any misunderstandings and agreed to be friends.
Without the worry he might take it the wrong way, it seemed natural for Laura to allow her head to rest against him as she closed her eyes against the bright sun.
"Laura, I've been thinking," he murmured, his deep voice reverberating in his chest next to her ear.
She groaned. "Don't. Life's a lot easier when you don't."
"Very funny," Daniel said drily. "I have a proposition for you."
"Even worse!" But Laura's stomach flipped a somersault as her mind dreamt up a number of propositions her body would struggle to say no to.
"Don't you want to hear what it is?"
"Do I get a choice?"
"I have a week of sightseeing and meetings ahead," he said. "And the truth is, I don't want to do it on my own."
Another somersault. "Get Natalie to delay her flight. I'm sure she'd be happy to tag along."
"Again, very funny," Daniel said. "I'm serious. I'll get so much more out of it if you're with me. You could recommend where to go for the sightseeing and help with my meetings at hotels."
Laura harrumphed. "I wouldn't know where to start with business meetings!"
"A pretty face and a fluent Portuguese tongue won't go amiss though, will they?"
When she glared at him, he laughed, and she closed her eyes again. He was so handsome, it made her heart ache. Ruffling her hair in an affectionate way, he loosened her ribbon, then pulled it off completely so the waves tumbled loosely against his shirt. His hand remained, resting in her hair.
Laura's pulse raced. Friendship, she told herself sternly. That's all.
"I have my duties at the Quinta," she reminded him.
"I know. But most days I could adjust things so we get everything done between your stints in reception."
Laura thought about it. Spending more time with Daniel was such a dangerous game. She'd already told him to put aside their attraction for each other. Wouldn't spending their days together simply be tempting temptation?
"Please." The one word held a world of weariness and longing, and Laura was lost. If he wanted her company that much, how could she say no? It was no hardship being with him. And of course she had that whole keeping-him-sweet-for-Paulo thing still going on.
"Okay."
"Okay, you will?"
She nodded drowsily against his chest. "Okay, I will."
She felt him relax beneath her. "Great! Thanks. Okay, so, I did Braga, Guimarães, and Póvoa de Varzim last week. Tomorrow, I have a meeting in Ponte de Lima at eleven, so we'd need to get our skates on as soon as you finish in reception. Then in the afternoon . . ."
"Mmmm," Laura murmured. Exhausted at the thought of him zooming around like that, her mind drifted in the warmth of the sun. She felt so sleepy. The grass was soft underneath her, she could hear the strong, steady beat of Daniel's heart at her ear, and his hand had started to stroke her hair, soothing and rhythmic. Laura drifted into a much-needed sleep.
****
A loud shout from a passing group of children startled her awake. She struggled to sit up, but Daniel's arm was clamped around her like a vice. Reluctantly he let go, and Laura stood and stretched. Daniel watched her lazily from where he sat on the grass, his long legs extended in front of him.
"Did you have to move?" he protested groggily, and Laura realised he must have been asleep as well.
"We've been here an hour!" she exclaimed as she glanced at her watch.
"But it's done us good." He grinned. "And you're lucky I don't take offence easily."
"Why's that?"
"Many men would take it personally if an attractive woman fell asleep when they were in the middle of what they thought was a scintillating conversation."
"I didn't, did I?"
He chuckled. "Afraid so. Mid-sentence, actually."
"I'm sorry."
Daniel stood and stretched too. "That's alright. You needed your beauty sleep." He reached out and tousled her hair. "Time's getting on. We should go."
Laura nodded and reluctantly trailed behind him to the car. After all the fuss she'd made about coming, now she was sad to be leaving. The day was ending so differently from how it had started.
On the drive back, Daniel told her more about his itinerary for the week. It made her tired just thinking about it, but at least she managed to stay awake this time.
When they arrived back at the Quinta, he didn't even switch the engine off. "I have a meeting in town at six," he explained.
With a jolt, Laura remembered her own duties. "And I need to open up reception soon."
Daniel reached across, putting a hand on her cheek. "Thank you for coming. It was a nice day."
"That's okay. I enjoyed it, too, in the end." She climbed out and walked down the path, throwing a wave behind her when she heard his car move away.
He'd said it had been a nice day. Nice was such an indifferent word. Was that all
