Free Wanderlust by Natalie K. Martin

the porch, Selina stepped out of the front door.
    ‘I’m ready.’
    She was putting in a dangly earring and all Alex could do was stare at her. She was wearing a short, cream playsuit with a brown belt tight around her waist. It accentuated her curves perfectly, as well as doing a great job of showing off her long legs. Paired with dainty flat sandals and a tiny bag, she looked perfect.
    He swallowed and nodded, holding up the keys in his hand. ‘Let’s go.’
    She closed the front door and stepped down from the porch, and Alex led the way to the truck. What would happen if he were to loosen up on the promise he’d made to himself and make a move? They’d got closer over the last couple of days, or at least he thought they had. It was probably just his imagination. Besides, she’d told him she’d left London because of a cruel and mean break-up, and he’d used the same words to describe why he’d left Berlin.
    He swung open the passenger door and she climbed up into the truck. He only had two days left, and it would be a lot easier if he kept his intentions to himself.
     

Day Five
     

Chapter Nine
     
    Selina headed back down the brightly lit hallway holding two glasses of champagne. After Alex had told her it would only be a house party, she hadn’t expected much, but this was something else.
    When they’d driven up through the hills, it had become obvious that this would be no ordinary birthday party. The few houses they’d passed were nothing less than mansions, and she’d craned her neck to look at the fleeting glimpses of them through the trees. When they’d pulled up outside Erin’s house, she’d sat in the truck with her jaws hanging open. It was three storeys high, almost completely made of glass and surrounded by fragrant orange trees, and exuded understated glamour.
    She stepped out onto the terrace, if she could call it that. It was enormous, with plants, sleek sculptures and stylish uplighting from the terracotta-tiled floor. There must have been a hundred people packed onto it and there was still more than enough space. It was her first night out in what felt like forever, and she was enjoying every second of it. With mid-tempo techno music wafting through the air and the pool full of people, it almost felt like she was an extra on a movie set. Alex had told her that Erin had inherited the house, along with a huge amount of money when her dad, an investment banker, had died. It made sense. What other twenty-seven year old could afford a house like this and throw a party with an apparently endless supply of food and alcohol, not to mention the DJ and fire-dancers.
    She spotted Alex standing alone by the wrought iron railing, looking at the pool below and walked over to him.
    ‘This is such a great party,’ she said, handing him his glass. ‘Thanks for inviting me.’
    Alex downed the glass in one go and grimaced. ‘Actually, I was just thinking the opposite. In fact, I was considering heading back.’
    Selina pulled a face. ‘Why?’
    ‘This isn’t my scene.’
    ‘Penny told me you used to be quite the raver. I’d have thought this would be right up your street.’
    ‘What did she tell you?’ he asked.
    Was it her imagination, or had he suddenly just got really defensive?
    ‘Just that you used to go out a lot. I was pretty surprised, what with you being a barefoot crusty hippy and everything.’ Selina grinned and nudged his shoulder, but he didn’t return it.
    ‘The me that Penny told you about doesn’t exist anymore. I don’t like this kind of stuff anymore and I really don’t want to stay any longer than I have to.’
    She wanted to stay, to have some more champagne, talk to him some more, and yes, flirt with him too. If she’d have known he’d want to leave after only an hour, she’d have made a move already. It was only her nerves holding her back.
    From the moment she’d started getting ready back in Colinas Verde, she’d been trying to hold them at bay. She’d spent