Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 98345 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 492(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98345 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 492(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
Fortunately, they’re back mere moments later with a cool wrap to drape across my shoulders and a glass of citrus-infused water from the spa.
“Would you like us to pop the champagne now or wait for Mr. Woodmont to join you?”
I smile. “We’ll wait.”
I don’t want to seem rude. He’s being incredibly generous, and also, after last night, I’m not dying to get going on more alcohol. The citrus water is perfect, though, hydrating and refreshing.
I’ve just finished my first glass, and they’re pouring me a second when I see Phillip out of the corner of my eye. I turn as he rounds the edge of the pool. I don’t know why it shocks me to see him wearing gray swimming trunks and a T-shirt. I guess I sort of thought he’d come out here to sunbathe in a suit. Hilarious mental image aside, I’m glad I have my sunglasses on so I can admire him at my leisure and still have plausible deniability.
I’m tempted to rearrange myself. I am sitting here, comfortable with one leg stretched out and one leg bent, people-watching and chatting with Elise and Danielle. Knowing that Phillip could be here at any moment, maybe I should have casually draped myself like an Aphrodite portrait or something. All seductive hips and curves. Alas, it’s too late.
The moment he reaches me, he bends down to press a kiss on my cheek. With his lips near my ear, before he stands, he whispers, “Hi, gorgeous.”
Damn all the butterflies fluttering in my stomach.
“Hi,” I chirp like an excited tween.
He sits down on the lounger beside mine. I’m not surprised to see he has his laptop with him. It’s Sunday, but I doubt work ever truly stops for him. But he said he would meet me at the pool, and he was right on time, so he gets kudos for that. I don’t mind if he needs to get some things done. I want to read my book anyway.
“Have you eaten lunch?” he asks, tugging off his sunglasses so I get full access to those baby blues. Ugh. Does everything about him have to be both noteworthy and devastating?
I point to the table behind our lounge chairs where Elise and Danielle have laid out all the food.
“I told them I wasn’t very hungry, but it’s like they have a quota to meet or something.”
He laughs. “It’s my fault. I wanted to be sure you had everything you need.”
I smile. “The breakfast spread was . . . decadent. I’ll say that. I shared it with Sienna and Javier.”
“Are they together officially?”
“I think the same way we are. Officially . . . for the time being.”
He studies me as I say this, his eyes narrowing a bit when he nods.
“I’m starved. Let me get a plate, and then you can tell me about your morning. Would you like anything?”
He stands up to get his food, and in doing so, he drapes a hand casually on my shoulder. It’s nothing. And yet the brush of his fingers serves as yet another reminder of how casually he pulls my strings.
“I’m okay.”
We settle in over the next half hour, reading and working and talking. I get the absolute pleasure of watching him take off his shirt and recline back in his chair. He works on his phone and his laptop—his concentration never wavering. He takes a call, and I close my eyes and listen to him. He has a way of speaking on the phone with a commanding, firm tone that sends tendrils of heat through my body.
Or maybe that’s just the blazing sun.
Yes, that’s it.
Phillip is busy, busy, busy, and that’s okay. I’m hot, and I’ve just finished a chapter of my book. I want to go for a dip. I wish I could be in the ocean today, but this pool is a close second.
I push off my lounger and walk over to the pool so I can test the water. It’s chilly, but I was hoping it would be. With the sun sitting straight overhead and temperatures rising by the second, I need to cool off. I walk down the stairs until my hips slip beneath the cool surface, and then I plunge under all at once, swimming the length of the pool before coming up on the other side. I take a breath and then do it again, swimming back and forth, carefully maneuvering around the other guests. Once, when I come up, Elise catches my attention and asks me if I need a drink.
“Could you send two piña coladas over to our lounge chairs, please?”
“Right away.”
Phillip sees me pointing in his direction. He’s not working anymore. His laptop is shut, and he’s leaning back on his lounge chair, his knee propped up. Apparently, he’s been watching me, though I’m not sure for how long. A funny little feeling trickles through me. I like his attention. It’s intoxicating to know he can’t take his eyes off me, and I’m not even trying to be sexy or seductive; I’m just swimming, just enjoying the water lapping over my body. I could stay in the water all day, but eventually, I see our drinks getting delivered, and I’m anxious to try mine.