Page 167 of Never Tell Secrets
He was smiling from ear to ear, a lock of wet hair falling onto his forehead. He was so fucking beautiful. I stared at him, at the man that two years ago was reluctant to eat on the floor in private and now was ducking out of a meeting to swim with me in our underwear.
“What?” he asked.
“Sometimes it’s like you haven’t changed a bit and other times I can’t believe you’re the same man I met.”
He grinned, treading water easily. “I’m a work in progress, Lo. I’m finding the balance.”
So was I, but the difference between him and I was that I did significantly less damage when my balance was off.
“Want to see if we can spot a fish?” Alfie held out his hand. I hesitated then took it. We took a deep breath and dove back under the water. I followed his lead to the wall of the pool. Ihad no idea where the bottom was and we had to return to the surface for air.
We took another breath and dove back down. I was beginning to think that an oxygen tank might have been a good idea when a flash of white caught my eye as a fish swam right past me. I squeezed Alfie’s hand and he squeezed back. I saw another and then another. I almost squealed in excitement.
Reluctantly, I kicked my way back to the top, gasping for air as we hit the surface.
“Did you see them?” I rested my arms on the wall separating us from the ocean. “Alfie, that was incredible!” My stomach turned as we gazed at one another. I shouldn’t be sharing romantic moments with the man that had been stalking me for two years.
Sparing me the burden of shutting the moment down, a cough interrupted us and I turned to see a man in a sharp suit. Ali stood behind him, a pile of towels in his hands.
“Mr Tell, would you like to reschedule our meeting?” The man flitted his gaze between us, staring at me curiously the way many in Alfie’s world seemed to.
“No,” Alfie answered. “Dex, this is Lola O’Connell. Lo, this is Dexter Jonas, the architect on this build.”
“Hi.” I waved, hoping he couldn’t see my underwear through the water. “I’m an admirer of your work.”
“Thank you.”
“Do you want to sit in on our meeting?” Alfie asked me.
“I’d like to but I kind of want to stay out here. Also, I’m hungry.”
Alfie bit his lip as he tried not to laugh. “Ali, can you make arrangements for us to have our meeting out here. We’ll eat in an hour.” He touched a gentle hand to my waist. “Join us if you like.”
He swam out of the pool, taking a towel he dried himself off and secured it around his waist. He shook Dexter's hand and took a seat at the table. I couldn’t hear their conversation but that didn’t stop me from watching Alfie. His relaxed pose, his easy expressions. He was different and not just with me.
I watched the architect, his faint surprise at this new side of Mr Tell. He wasn’t more surprised than me.
For the first time since I’d known Alfie, I felt like I had a place in his world.
Fifty-Two
Iawoke to a high sun and the sound of seagulls. I stirred and stretched, my head thick from a night of disturbed sleep.
I wished I could say that sleep had come easily to me but that wasn’t true. I’d lain awake, staring at the ceiling, unable to shake the feeling that I was being watched, that secret cameras were planted around the room.
Alfie being mere metres away didn’t help either. His presence taunted me. It drove me crazy to toss and turn when I knew that all I had to do was go to his room, crawl into bed next to him and I’d be asleep within seconds. Sometime during the night I heard him get up and head in the direction of the gym. Yeah, he was definitely thinking of me too.
The presidential suite was stunning of course. Ali had given me the tour and I was surprised how much it reminded me of our suite at The Carlton. I’d chosen the bedroom farthest from Alfie’s and hours later when I was tossing and turning, unable to sleep from him being so close, I was glad of the extra distance.
I strained my ears, searching for any sign of life but I couldn’t hear Alfie moving around. No doubt he’d been at work for hours by now.
I stretched and grabbed my phone. I texted Keira and Natalie to check in before forcing myself out of bed. Damned jet lag had got me sleeping in till midday.
First stop, a shower. I took my time, letting the water wash away the memories of yesterday, good and bad. Today was a new day.
With the chlorine washed out of my hair and the cobwebs rinsed from my mind, I opened up my suitcase to unpack. I started to empty out my clothes when I found something I didn’t remember putting in my case. A cardboard box with Keira's familiar scrawl along the side.
Better safe than sorry.
