Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 69621 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 348(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69621 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 348(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
“And we thank you for that, so much.” I reach over the breakfast bar to grip his hand. “But honestly, we’d rather spend it with you.”
He smiles. “Thank you, that’s a lovely sentiment.”
“It’s true,” Josh says. “Come on, Heathy baby, take a risk for once, will you? Are we not worth it? Stick on a cap, and we’ll play it down. You’ll just be a guy out with a regular couple. No big deal.”
My stunning idol laughs at that.
“Josh baby, have you seen your girlfriend lately? You may be able to play down your incredible physique, and tone down your hair a little, but Ella? She’s never going to be able to shield her beauty from the public. The tour guide was eyeing her up all the way through the vineyard yesterday.”
I blush at his words. The way he looks at me with such adoration gives me a fresh lurch.
He raises my hand to his lips and kisses it.
“You two go. Have a wonderful evening.”
He grabs his orange juice and wanders out towards the terrace in his swim shorts, but I hold Josh back before he has chance to accompany him.
“We’re not going,” I say, with a shake of my head. “No way, Josh. I’m not going out and leaving Heath here, not while the clock is ticking so fast.”
His eyes lock on mine, and he ruffles my hair.
“Don’t worry, baby. I’m not intending to. We have plenty of hours left before the booking, just let me lead, ok?”
I don’t know what plan Josh has up his sleeve, but I’m prepared to trust him on it. He knows Heath far better than I do.
We all relax together with pastries and banter, like usual, and I take a dip in the pool as the guys sunbathe. Wow. This place truly is fucking amazing.
I fold my arms on the side of the infinity pool, and look out onto the sea, and the gorgeous sandy beach down below. Bright blues, and creamy whites. Such beauty with the full beam of the sun overhead.
I’d love to feel the sand between my toes, but more than that, I’d love to have Heath’s feet walking along beside me. His toes in the sand along with mine.
If only we could break him out of his reservations, just for a while. I suspect there’s more to Heath’s fears than I know about, and Josh will never share that information with me. It will come from Heath, and Heath alone, when the time is right. If it ever is.
I get a horrible, horrible pang at a fresh realisation that nothing whatsoever is concrete with Heath Mason. He’s a client. No matter how much I crave him, and want him, and adore him, he’s just a client.
I try to push that thought aside as best I can.
We haven’t been down through the gate to the beach yet, at the bottom of the villa grounds. It’s been on my mind for a few days now, but the desire has been surpassed by a whole host of other activities. Maybe now could be the time?
I swim back to the other side of the pool to suggest a saunter, surprised to see both guys sitting upright on their loungers, their hands expressive as they engage in some kind of serious conversation. I almost turn around and swim away again, but they see me coming.
“Come on out for a second, Ella,” Josh says, and I do as I’m told, scooting up the pool steps and grabbing my towel from the floor on the way.
“What is it?” I ask, and sit down beside him.
“Josh is on my case,” Heath says. “He’s trying to tempt me with the wonders of hitting the town with you tonight. Appealing to my more… rational side, as he calls it.”
“One night isn’t going to hurt,” Josh tells him. “Seriously, will you just trust me? You’re simply a guy from the TV, heading out with a couple of friends. A couple of friends. We won’t even touch you. We’ll be all over each other.”
I don’t know what to say, so I don’t say anything at all.
“How long is it since you’ve been out in town?” Josh asks. “You used to enjoy it. I remember your tales.”
“They were a long time ago.”
“Yes, exactly! So let’s make some new ones. Just for a night or so.”
“Two,” I butt in. “We have two nights.”
Heath rolls his eyes. “Two now? So you’re not just trying to wrestle me out of the villa for one night in the public eye, it’s now doubled.”
“Fine,” Josh holds his hands up. “We’ll be thinking of you.”
I go to speak again, but Josh flashes me a glance. I know that glance. It means stay quiet.
I move to my own lounger and towel myself off, soaking in the tension between the two guys. It’s burning hotter than the sun – like magma under the surface – even though Josh reaches over to pat Heath’s thigh with a grin on his face.