Page 64 of Notorious Park Avenue Prince

“I can work with the pool,” East said. “That way we can avoid sand in unwanted places should anything come…up.”

“I mean, only if you want to. I’m happy to hang up here while?—”

“It’s cool—right, King?” East looked back to King for permission, and I didn’t even think he realized he’d done it.

“Of course. I don’t want you to do anything you’re uncomfortable with.”

“Thanks, I appreciate that,” I said. “I just never got into the whole salt and sand thing.”

East shook his head and started up the path toward the pool as King fell into step beside me.

“How long did you say you two have been together?”

I glanced over at King, who was watching East from behind his sunglasses.

“We aren’ttogethertogether.”

“Ah, that’s right. Yet he’s very…mindful of your wants when it comes to certain things.”

East mindful of anything other than himself? Now that was a laugh.

“When it comes to sex, maybe, but that’s about it.”

“That’s not true. Take now, for example. He was the first to mention the pool. He didn’t make fun of you, and he made sure I would go along with his plan.” King grinned. “He was taking care of you.”

I snorted, the idea so ridiculous I didn’t even know how to respond.

“You think I’m wrong?”

“Yes. You’re absolutely wrong. East doesn’t take care of anyone but himself.”

“You know,” East called out as he tossed his towel over a lounger and moved to the end of the pool. “This pool might just outdo the one at the Waldorf.” Then he executed a perfect dive into the deep end.

“God, he’s such a snob.” I chuckled. “You think someone who lives at place like the Waldorf and only travels by private jet can really care about anything other than how to keep all of that?”

“I can.”

My feet faltered a little at that. My brain was still not connecting the man who owned this private island to the professor I’d worked so closely with over the years.

“Okay, so maybe I’m the one that needs to be a little more open-minded.”

“Ormaybe just be open to someone surprising you every now and then.”

“Yeah, I’m learning that,professor.”

He chuckled and headed toward the pool to join East. After taking off his sunglasses, he dove into the deep end and cut through the water with clean, smooth strokes, swimming to where East was lounging on the tanning shelf.

“You’ve got a nice stroke,” East said as King moved up to a spot beside him.

“A pun?”

“That too, but I actually mean it. One of my only requests when deciding where I’d be living out my college years was that the place have a spectacular lap pool.”

I laid my towel over the back of a lounger, choosing to sit on the edge of the pool first and get a bit of sun. I let my legs slip into the cool water and leaned back on my hands. “I didn’t know you were a swimmer.”

East shrugged. “It’s not really a group activity.”

“How come you’re not on the swim team?”

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