Page 10 of So in Love
She gave him an enigmatic half smile.“Never have I ever met Russell Crowe.”
When she didn’t drink, he wanted to call foul again.“How can that be?”
“You think that because I’m Alaina’s assistant, I’ve met everyone working in movies?They’ve never done a project together, and we’ve never run into him at an awards show or industry event.Bummer too, becauseGladiatoris one of my all-time favorite movies.”
“Me too.But damn, that ending guts me every time.”He cocked his head to the side.“You keep saying things you haven’t actually done.Are you trying to avoid drinking?If you want to stop, we can.”If she truly had a record of no New Year’s Day hangovers, he didn’t want her to break her streak.
“Nah, I’m good.I’ll drink next time.”She winked at him.“Your turn.”
“Never have I ever been to a party with Prince Harry.”He drank.
She pulled her feet down and sat straight up, leaning forward, in one fluid, whiplash movement.“Shut.Up.”
“Well, notwithhim, but I met him.Nice bloke.”
“Okay, that is way better thananyfamous person I’ve met.”Her gaze softened.“Is he as tall and gorgeous as I think?”
Jamie chuckled.“I have no idea.How tall and gorgeous do you think he is?”
“Super gorgeous.”She slid him a glance that clearly said,duh.Propping her feet back up, she settled into the couch once more.“And he’s six inches taller than me.And nine months older.In other words, we’d be perfect for each other.”She sent him another look, this one full of self-mockery.“I’ve been planning our wedding since I was ten.Just ask Alaina.”
“Well, it seems you ought to meet him, then.”
She bolted upright again.“You could make that happen?”
“Probably not.Sorry.Anyway, I think he has a girlfriend now.”
She slouched back with a dejected sigh.“I know.”
“I’m six-one,” Jamie said, recalling the prince was maybe the same height or just slightly taller.“Not nearly as good looking, though.”
Crystal tipped her head to the side and studied him.“You’re no Prince Harry, but you’re cute.”
“I’ll take that.Your turn.”
“Let’s see… Never have I ever made out with a celebrity.”This time, she took a drink.
“You going to kiss and tell?”When she shook her head, he prodded for more information.“Just making out?”
She peered at him over the top of her glass.“How naughty do you want to take this game?”
Her sultry look heated his body once more.“If you recall, I was all for the stripping part.In fact, there’s been a disappointing lack of that.”
A smile teased her lips.“I see.Honestly, if it wasn’t so cold out, I’d suggest a dip in the hot tub.I think that’s uncovered at least.”
“Can it be too cold if the water is over a hundred degrees?”
“Good point.But I don’t have a suit.”
“Neither do I.Never have I ever gone skinny dipping.”He sipped his beer.“In a hot tub.”He drank again.“With a hot blonde.”This time he didn’t drink but simply stared at her in open invitation.
She pulled her feet from the table and rose from the couch.“There are towels in the locker room.Give me a head start.”She turned and padded toward the gym.
Jamie was familiar with the layout of the Archers’ party-central lower floor: full bar, pool table, state-of-the-art movie theater, world-class wine cellar, Rob Archer’s home brewery, gym, and locker room that led out to the pool and hot tub.He’d spent many a day and night here from the time he’d been in elementary school.His body thrummed with anticipation as he forced himself to be patient.After about three minutes—he couldn’t stand to wait any longer—he stood and went to the gym, passing through to the locker room where he saw her clothing neatly folded on the bench that was fixed to the wall.He stripped off his shirt, nearly popping a button in his haste, and tossed it toward the bench.It missed and fluttered to the floor as he pulled his jeans off and threw them, along with his boxer briefs, in the vicinity of his shirt.
He pulled a towel from the cupboard and wrapped it around his waist before making his way outside.The frigid air hardened his nipples and summoned goose bumps along his flesh.
The hot tub was under the patio that led off the great room upstairs.Crystal had left the lights off, unfortunately.
