Page 20 of Reckless Kiss

“Do you know you’re not completely invisible in there? I can see the direction of your eyes.”

Erica jumped back like she’d been caught spying. She heard his chuckle as she turned on the shower using the large silver dial. The water shot out of the shower head and down her back. The cold water soaked her.

“I thought you said it was warm water,” she shouted over the shower noise.

“It’ll warm up. Stop being a diva.”

It wasn’t the first time she’d been called a diva, but the water was icy cold and surprised her. His back was turned to the cubicle when she glanced over her shoulder. His arms folded and his feet apart, standing guard. Erica washed her hair and body quickly, so she didn’t impose on his time any longer than necessary, and turned the water off. Once her towel was securely fastened, she pushed the door open and stepped out onto the flagstones. The sunshine shimmering off the pool was inviting.

“I can’t wait to take a dip in the pool. I’m so glad the booking allowed me to access it.”

“Was that a condition of your booking?”

“Yes. I can’t believe the luck I had with a late booking.”

“How long ago did you book?”

“Two weeks ago. To have all the cottages and the use of a swimming pool to myself is perfect for what I need.”

“Do you compete?”

“Swimming? No. I need to increase my synchronised swimming skills. I need to be as perfect as I can be in two months.”

“Did you ask for the exclusivity of the pool?” he asked, looking crestfallen.

“I assumed as I had all the rooms booked. Are there others that use it?”

“Just me, but I can swim in the sea if you need access whenever you need it.”

“We can share, Archer. I’ll need to swim to increase my stamina and lungs, but it’s big enough for both of us.”

She asked it as a question. Erica was now desperate to see Archer in his swimming trunks, soaking wet from the water. Archer tipped his head to the side.

“What are you concentrating on?”

Erica snapped her head up and looked him straight in the eye. “Nothing, nothing at all. Look, I need to get back and put some clothes on. When do you think you can look at the shower in my cottage?”

“I can come now if you like.”

“Great,” she said, taking in a large breath and letting it out with a slump of her shoulders.

Having Archer in her house was going to be a distraction. She’d always liked a man who could fix things. Handsy. But she wasn’t here to hook up with the maintenance guy or whoever he might be. She was here to lick her wounds and learn her lines. Her afternoon’s task was to watch as many Esther Williams films as possible.

They walked to her place, and he looked at her shower once she was dressed. Archer came into the open living room shaking his head in the universal way that told her it would cost her a fortune to fix. Thankfully, it wasn’t her financial problem.

“It looks like the same problem as next door. I will check the other three cottages to see if they are okay. If they are, we can move you into one of those.”

“And if they’re not?”

“I guess I’m on escort duty for a poolside shower.”

“Are you a full-service escort?”

Archer gave her a wide-eyed stare with a gaping mouth. She burst out laughing at his shock.

“Relax,” she said, waving away his reaction. “I’m kidding. I love movie quotes.”

“That’s lost on me. I’ve never seen a movie in my life. Can’t stand the things.”

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