Page 24 of The One That Got Away

I’d just flashed my boobs to Max.

And the entire hotel.

My heart raced and my stomach churned. I was mortified.

Yes, Max had seen my breasts before, but that was years ago. My body had changed since then and I had no intention of exposing myself to him or to a group of strangers.

I was tempted to stay under the water indefinitely, but I needed air so quickly pushed my head above the surface, just as Max did the same.

‘Wait there,’ he said. ‘Don’t move!’

That wasn’t likely. There was no way I could get out of the pool like this. I’d need my hands to hold on to the stairs and it was impossible to do that and cover my chest at the same time.

Max dived back below the water as I clutched my boobstighter and looked around me. The couple we were playing against were still staring.

Seconds later, Max appeared.

‘I’ve got your bikini top, but it’s probably too complicated to put on in the pool, so hold on.’ He jumped out, raced to his daybed, grabbed his vest then dived back in again. ‘Put this on. Because it’s dark, it won’t be see-through when it’s wet. I’ll put my back to you to act as a shield so no one will see, okay?’

‘Okay,’ I nodded, my heart rate stabilising.

‘I’m gonna count and when I get to three, let’s go back under the water. Ready?’

I nodded again.

‘One, two,three.’

We both ducked beneath the surface and Max put his back to me, just like he’d promised. I quickly slid his vest over my head. Although it was now sodden, I could still smell Max’s woody scent.

As I pulled the fabric down over my breasts, I exhaled then tapped him on his shoulder. It was just as firm as I’d imagined.

Max turned his head slowly, keeping his eyes firmly fixed to my face. I pointed upwards, signalling that I was about to go up for air.

We both pushed our heads above water and then stood up.

Jasmine was now at the edge of the pool.

‘Are you okay?’ Her face creased with concern.

‘Yeah. I am now. Sorry, I didn’t mean to put on an X-rated show!’ I squeezed my eyes shut with embarrassment, wishing I could escape down the pool drain and never resurface.

‘Maybe we could take a break?’ Max said. ‘Give Stella a chance to get changed into something more comfortable?’

My heart swelled a little. It was sweet of Max to suggest that.

‘Of course!’ Jasmine confirmed.

Now I wished I’d had the foresight to bring a towel. Even though my bikini bottoms were still firmly intact, knowing everyone was still staring made me feel self-conscious so I wanted to cover up as much as possible.

‘Let me get you a towel.’ Max climbed out of the pool.

The man was a mind reader.

He strode over to a little wooden hut I hadn’t noticed before. After speaking to the hotel worker standing inside it, Max walked away with a towel and returned to the pool.

‘Come over by the stairs,’ he commanded. I did what he asked and Max stood at the top holding open the towel for me to step into.

As he wrapped the soft, fluffy fabric around my body, relief washed over me.

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