Page 41 of Love Lessons
“Am I interrupting something?” another voice calls out.
Vera whirls around and trots out of my line of sight. “Hey, Charli!”
“Ready to go biking?”
“Sure,” Vera answers. “So long as we can sit in the hot tub afterwards. Wait—I need my sunglasses.” She reappears in the bathroom and grabs her shades off the counter.
“Have fun, gorgeous,” I say. “I’ll be looking for you later.”
She gives me a bashful smile before departing.
And just like that I’m in a good mood again. Because there are at least one or two things in this life that I do well. And I intend to show one to Vera later.
THIRTEEN
I Hope That Means Something Dirty
VERA
Biking is easy—untilyou do it with professional athletes. The scenery is beautiful, but the sun is hot, and my legs are like noodles by the time we head back to the villa.
“So are mine,” Heidi Jo pants when I whine about it. “I’m going to need a nap after this.”
“Same.”
“How’s your room?” she asks. “I hear they’re all different. Ours has a window seat that overlooks the terrace.”
“Mine is so pretty,” I admit. “Like a Disney princess’s. It has an old-fashioned dressing table. Although I share a bathroom with Ian, so I have to remember to knock on the door before I open it. Otherwise, I might get an eyeful as he steps out of the shower.”
As if you don’t wantallthe eyefuls, my inner voice snorts.Both eyes.
She’s not wrong.
“Mr. Macho probably looks pretty good in a towel,” Heidi Jo says. “He’s such a cinnamon roll, am I right? Spicy on the outside, gooey on the inside. You should think about jumping on that.”
“Now, there’s a fun idea.” I say it lightly, as if the thought would never occur to me. But heck, if I thought about it any more than I already have, I’d probably fall off this bike.
Last night I was ready to throw myself at him. I thought it was happening. But then he said goodnight and sent me on my way. I was confused.
I still am.
The villa comes into view, and I almost cheer. “There it is! We survived.”
“Heck yes.” Heidi Jo pedals faster. “Uh-oh—we’re not the first ones to hit the hot tub. The men have beaten us to it.”
She’s right. When we park our rented bicycles beside the terrace, I see all four of them in there, sipping sodas and splashing each other.
“Get over here!” Castro calls. “There’s room on my lap for you, baby.”
“Five minutes!” Heidi Jo replies. “It’s bikini time.”
We run upstairs, where I choose my skimpiest bathing suit. I saw Ian in that tub, and I want a reaction out of him. Something that tells me our agreement is still in force.
It works, too. I swear his eyes darken when I slip into the hot tub a few minutes later. I choose the seat directly across from Ian, and he gives me a slow, appreciative smile that practically announces the things we’re going to do later.
At least I think we are.
If I don’t chicken out.
