Chapter Twenty-One #2
But as I glared at the wonky hem on the dress I was attempting, I was forced to admit I’d bitten off more than I could chew.
After tearing out the thread, I tossed the fabric to the side and went to our room.
There’s only one thing that can help me relax right now.
But he’s gone, so I’ll settle for a swim.
I stripped down and slathered on sunblock before getting dressed in my swimsuit, coverup, and flip-flops. I grabbed my iPad and headed outside.
After dumping my stuff on the table, I slipped off my shoes and coverup before diving into the warm water. I swam a few laps before coming up to see Ash sitting on the patio couch.
“Hey,” I said.
“Did you put on sunblock?”
“Yeah.”
“Enough?”
“I could’ve slid down here on my belly like a penguin, I’m so greased up.”
He gave me a dimpled smile. “Got a Diet Coke and water for you.”
“Thanks.”
I swam for a while longer, my mind working at the hem issue while the water worked at my tight muscles.
When my arms began to ache, I pulled myself out of the pool to chug my Diet Coke before it got warm.
“You headed in?” Ash asked.
“It’s so nice, I think I’m going to stay out and read.” I scanned his black tee and black slacks. Even though it was only in the low seventies, he had to be roasting in the sun. “You don’t have to stay out, though.”
He gave me his version of the look .
I rolled my eyes. “I don’t know if you know this, but I’ve been staying home alone since I was four.”
That had clearly been the wrong thing to say because his expression went hard.
I’d long ago forgiven Ash for pointing a gun at me. First of all, it wasn’t like it’d been the first time someone had aimed a gun my way. At least he hadn’t pressed it to my head—that hurt far worse than people assumed.
Beyond that, he hadn’t done anything to make me feel unsafe since. He hadn’t so much as raised his voice, even when we’d worked on math—and I was sure that experience had made him want to die a slow death in the desert.
But the anger that hardened his eyes and clenched his jaw reminded me that he wasn’t just Ash with the chill vibe and dimpled smile.
Unconsciously, I took a step back.
His eyes lowered to take in the movement, his jaw clenching tighter even as his eyes softened. “Not mad at you, Juliet.”
“But you are mad?”
“But not at you. And even if I was, you don’t have to be afraid of me.”
“I know,” I said honestly, and not just because I was pretty sure Maximo would break his kneecaps if he so much as raised his voice at me. “Just instinct.”
Again, that didn’t seem to be the correct thing to say, but Ash locked his expression down. “Go read.”
I nodded, snatching up my iPad and Diet Coke. Going to one of the loungers, I glanced back to see Ash typing something on his phone, his face set in an angry glare.
Stretching out, I opened one of the highlander romances Ms. Vera recommended.
I got so sucked into the world of grumpy warriors, stone castles, and sexy kilts, I didn’t notice anyone approaching until they said, “Juliet.”
Jumping, I nearly dropped the iPad. I raised my hand to block out the sun and looked at Cole.
“Call for you,” he said, handing me a cell.
I put it to my ear. “Hello?”
“Good, it works.”
At Maximo’s deep voice, my body heated in a way that had nothing to do with the sun. “What works?”
Not answering my question, he said, “I’m sorry, little dove, something came up and I won’t make it for dinner.”
I worked to keep the disappointment from my voice, though I was sure I failed. “That’s okay.”
“It’s fucking not, but it will be as soon as I get home to you. Hold on.” His words were muffled as he talked to someone else before he came back. “Gotta run.”
When the phone beeped to signal the call had been ended, I handed it to Cole.
“It’s yours.”
“What?”
Giving me a phone was yet another show of trust. Maximo wanted my trust, and he was extending the same to me.
Unbuttoning his suit jacket, he crouched next to the lounger.
He swiped the blackened screen. Rapid firing off words as he flicked across the screens, he gave me the tour.
“Browser. App store. Books. Music. YouTube. Texts. It’s synced with your MacBook and your iPad, so your settings, books, music, everything transferred.
Swipe from the bottom to unlock and you’re good to go. ”
Only soaking in ten percent of what he’d said, my gaze went from him back to the phone.
My old cell hadn’t been able to run games, apps, or anything else. It’d worked with prepaid cards, so more often than not, I only carried it in case I needed to call 911—the only thing I could do for free.
The phone in my hands was the antithesis of that.
One thing caught my attention most. “I can text?”
He lifted his chin and touched the speech bubble icon. Loading a new message, he began typing Maximo before selecting his number. “Easy as that.”
This could be fun.
“Any other questions?” he asked.
I flipped through the screens. “How do I get to the contacts?”
Explaining tech to me was probably as frustrating for Cole as explaining math had been for Ash. But like Ash, he was calm and patient as he touched the screen a few times and brought me to the contact list.
Maximo, Ash, Cole, Marco, and Freddy were all on the list, along with someone named Miles. “Who’s that?”
“Head of security for Black Resorts. If you can’t get ahold of one of us in an emergency, call him.”
Okkkaayyyy.
Let’s hope that never happens.
“No number for Ms. Vera?” I asked.
“She hates technology. Won’t even upgrade to a Kindle. Let me know if you have any issues.” He went to talk to Ash before going into the pool house.
Why does he always crash in the pool house?
I brought back up the texts and typed in Maximo’s name.
Me: Thank you.
I hadn’t been expecting a message back, but it came instantly.
Maximo: It was selfish on my part. Now I can text you when I’m stuck in these boring as shit meetings. What’re you doing?
I grinned, the flutter of giddiness settling in my belly like butterflies throwing a rager.
Me: Reading by the pool.
Maximo: Send me a pic.
I glanced over my shoulder to see Ash’s face was still buried in his phone.
Feeling awkward, I opened the camera and switched it to front facing. I moved my arm around until I found a good angle and took a million pictures before getting a sendable one.
My phone vibrated a minute later.
Maximo: Christ, you’re gorgeous.
Emboldened by his words, I brought the camera back up and took a picture aimed down my body. And then I took twenty more until I got a good one.
Holding my breath, I sent it before I lost my nerve.
The reply came within seconds.
Maximo: Fuck, are you trying to make me come home?
Maximo: Or just trying to make me come?
Yup, I was right.
This could be fun.