Page 32 of The Love Position

She shook her head. ‘Honestly, this is the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen.’

Isaac’s heart swelled with pride, then it stopped for a beat as he remembered the letter about the compulsory purchase order. If that went through, then all of this would be gone. He blinked as if his eyelids were a camera shutter and he was committing this moment to memory. Sophia was achingly lovely, and the most beautiful creature to have ever been in his garden.

He cleared his throat. ‘Would you like a drink?’

‘Yes, thank you. I’ll have a white wine spritzer, please. Or a mimosa. Whatever you’ve got to hand.’

‘Um—’

She burst out laughing. ‘I’m joking. I’m absolutely parched and would love a glass of water.’

‘Give me a moment.’

Turning, Isaac made his way into the house. He could have invited her in, but when he set out that morning, he’d never intended on Sophia coming back with him.

Casting his gaze around the open-plan living area, he tried to see it through her eyes. Luckily, he had few possessions and was naturally tidy. Would she like it? Does it matter?

This was the first time since he’d taken his vow of chastity that a woman had affected him in this way. He’d been slowly getting to know Sophia over the last few months and each time he’d met her, he liked her even more. He just had to divorce his mind from his body. Liking her as a friend was allowed, but his body needed to learn how to switch off the deep physical attraction.

Exiting the back door, he stopped in the shade of the house and watched her at the edge of the pool. Her shoes were off and she was paddling in the shallows. His cock twitched as he imagined her stripping off and diving in.

Briefly shutting his eyes, he took himself back to the cave in India. If that had been a test, then it was nothing compared to hanging out with Sophia and not craving her touch.

You can do this.

She noticed him and waved. ‘It’s colder than I expected!’

Stepping forward, he handed her the glass, making sure their fingers didn’t touch.

‘Once you’re in, you get used to it.’

She downed the water in one. ‘Thank you. That’s just what I needed. And it tastes lovely.’

‘It’s from the spring.’

She rolled her eyes, but they were sparkling. ‘Of course it is.’

‘Do you want some more?’

‘Actually, yes, thank you.’

He took the glass from her. This time, his fingers made contact with hers and a zap of electricity travelled up his arm.

Sophia took a sharp breath in. ‘I was going to ask… Where did you want to do it?’

Huh?

Her cheeks burst into flames, and she took a step back. ‘The breathing class.’

‘Er, up to you? Maybe the front deck? It’s sheltered from the sun but still outside.’

‘Sounds great.’

He turned abruptly, the back of his neck prickling and she followed him back towards the house.

Inside, he went into the open-plan living space and pulled the glass doors to one side on their runners, opening up the front so the wooden floorboards inside merged into the decking outside.

He didn’t look at Sophia, but her excitement felt like popping candy in his chest.

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