Chapter 47
JOSIE
I’m sitting by the hotel’s indoor pool when Victor strolls in like the self-possessed man he is - all six-plus-feet of him with those broad shoulders and perfect full lips.
This space for the pool underneath the fancy hotel is huge, and it’s exclusive only to the patrons who are staying here. The sign on the front door to the pool calls this place a rejuvenating experience, and it’s pretty damn accurate. Like the rest of the hotel, it’s all done in a classical style - marble and smooth edges and that cool feeling we have stepped back in time to Roman antiquity.
It’s just been me alone here, relaxing. Well, that was the case until Victor arrives.
The pool itself stretches before me – still, unspoiled water that sparkles under the lights.
But the water doesn’t remain pristine for long... not when Victor Penmayne walks in with eyes set on disturbing my peace.
He’s wearing nothing but racing briefs. It’s tight on him. You can definitely see a bulge as he strolls in with that confidence.
He stretches his arms just as he reaches the other end of the pool from me. We’re too far away to chat, but he still finds a moment to wink cheekily at me.
And then he dives in.
The water ripples with the entry of his beautiful body into the blue surface.
Yeah, he really wants to disturb my peace.
The man can swim, that’s for sure. And not just basic survival stuff – he has the skill of an athlete. He makes it look effortless as he powers through the water with his strong, muscular arms. He shoots down the length of the pool until he’s at the edge next to me. He launches to the surface and holds onto the edge to look at me with all that annoying cheekiness of his.
“I thought you’d be filming all today,” I tell him, trying my best not to appear as if I’ve just been ogling him and his tight racing briefs as he swam.
“I got to leave early today,” he replies. “They needed to pick up some shots that I’m not in. I wasn’t needed. I thought I’d come here and surprise you.”
I nod.
“Well, you surprised me,” I say.
“You reckon I’m a good swimmer?” he asks me, very unserious.
“What do you think, Victor? What do you want me to say?”
“That I am amazing.”
“Well, you’re not going to get that from me, actor man.”
“And that’s why I like you, Josie.”
“Grape?” I ask him, gesturing at the bowl beside me.
“I don’t want to get out and make you wet,” Victor replies in a low voice.
Oh, damn.
“Then how are you going to have it?” I ask.
“Feed it to me.”
I stare, open-mouthed, at him.
“What?”
“Pick up a grape, Josie, come here, and feed it to me.”
“No way.”
“Come on, do it.”
“No, Victor.”
“Fine, I’ll get out and make you wet, then,” he says.
I roll my eyes and sigh.
“Okay, sure. I’ll do what you want.”
I reach over and take a grape from the bowl. Then I tentatively stand up, head over to the actor, and place the grape in his waiting and willing mouth.
He bites down hard and smiles at me.
“That wasn’t too hard, was it?” he asks with a mischievous eyebrow raised.
I stroll back to my chair.
“Shut up, Victor.”
“I’ve got good news,” he announces once I’ve sat back down.
“Yes? What is it?”
“Andrew has changed plans to the filming schedule,” he explains. “They’re going to film additional scenes next week. Some more scenes that don’t include me, so I have the next week off.”
“Oh?”
“How about we go on a little vacation together?” Victor asks.
“Just the two of us?”
“Yes, Josie. Just the two of us.”