Page 8 of Here Comes Trouble
Looking up at the magnificence of the building, she felt another sting of insignificance.
Get it together, Jess, you have nothing to feel humbled about.
The door to the villa opened and a handsome, middle-aged woman in a beautifully cut shift dress appeared. Her long swathe of dark hair swung across her back as she walked down the steps towards where Jess was standing.
‘Ms LaFayette?’ she asked, holding out a welcoming hand.
Jess shook it. ‘Call me Jess,’ she said, giving the woman a friendly smile back.
‘I’m Rosa, I’m the housekeeper here. If you need anything during your stay, please let me know.’
Jess stared at her, confused. ‘Oh, I’m not staying here. I’ve booked a room in a hotel down the road. The Royal, I think it’s called.’
Rosa frowned, looking flustered. ‘Oh, my mistake. Well, I hope they give you a good room there.’ The uncertainty in Rosa’s voice made Jess nervous. Did The Royal have a bad reputation?
Ah, whatever. She was only going to be staying for two nights, so it wouldn’t matter, and it was all she could afford anyway. This wasn’t a holiday, she reminded herself, it was an assignment. The first of many more, she hoped – once she’d blown Pamela away with her fun, but insightful, piece on Xander.
Another thought struck her. Had Xander given the impression she was here for more than just business? Or had Rosa just assumed she was because of his track record?
Shaking off the unnerving tingle deep in her pelvis at the thought of getting up close and personal with Xander, she smoothed down a wrinkle in the sleeve of her jacket with shaking fingers. She should really take the thing off, it was already making her hot in the intense heat of the afternoon, but she wanted to stay formal and professional to remind him she was here as a serious journalist and not someone to be toyed with. There would be no flirting and manipulation of the situation.
Stay in control, Jess. Cool, calm control.
‘Is Xander around?’ Jess asked, determined to get this interview under way as soon as possible. Pamela had only given her a week to get the article written. They were going with a ‘Great Artists of the Twenty-First Century’ theme and Xander’s interview was going to be the showcase piece, so it had to be good. If she didn’t manage to produce something whizz-bang enough Pam had suggested she’d have to pass on Jess’s notes to Maggie and have her write the article instead.
No way was Jess going to let that happen. This was her big opportunity to prove to Pamela she was the perfect fit forSpark.
She just needed to get Xander to trust her enough to open up and talk.
Rosa nodded. ‘He’s down at the villa’s private beach, just follow the path over there to the lake.’ She pointed in the direction she meant.
Jess thanked her and set off to the beach, tugging the hem of her blouse down where it had ridden up over her middle, and swiping a rather damp hand over her hair.
The path took her through a small grove of sweet-smelling olive trees and opened up onto a small, sandy cove with spectacular views across to the other side of the lake.
There was no sign of Xander at first, but as she looked around, she noticed a movement in the clear, still water of the lake.
Jess came to an abrupt halt as Xander stood up from where he’d been swimming; gleaming rivulets of water running down from his hair and cascading over his naked chest. She watched, mesmerised, as he waded towards her, his movements agile and smooth as he powered through the water.
He glanced up and saw her standing there. ‘Hey,’ he called, giving her a welcoming salute. He quickly covered the ground between them, his golden skin gleaming in the bright afternoon light. As he pushed his wet hair back from his angular face, making the muscles of his chest twist and flex, she had to suppress a squeak of pure delight.
Digging her toes into the sand, she gave herself a lecture on the evils of letting her overactive imagination get the better of her.
‘Jess, good to see you,’ Xander said, flashing her a grin that made her stomach lurch with lust. Drops of water clung to his eyelashes, making them look obscenely long and lush as they framed those incredible eyes of his.
Jess swallowed, trying to loosen up her throat. Shaking her nerves off before they took too firm a hold, she reminded herself that she was here to work, and that was what she was damn well going to do.
‘He-hello. This place is b-beautiful,’ she managed to stutter out, cursing the shake in her voice. She was having immense trouble keeping her gaze on his face and not allowing it to drop to the incredible physique of his chest.
‘It’s a friend’s holiday home. Pretty impressive, huh?’
‘Yup. Impressive.’ It seemed she was totally out of intelligent conversation. Not a great start for someone who was supposed to be a wordsmith for a living.
‘I’m heading back up to the villa for tea and cake. Rosa makes the best Summer Panettone. Come and join me.’ It wasn’t a question, and she bristled a little at his bossy tone.
‘I’m not hungry. I had a late lunch.’
He gave her a slow smile that made her stomach swoop alarmingly. ‘Well, I’m hungry.’
