6. Princesses and Pools
PRINCESSES AND POOLS
ROSALIND
“ A h, you’re alive!” Ingrid said.
I plopped down on a lounger next to Betty. “Yes, alive. I have the outlines of our boat decorations together. It was fun.”
“Really? You’re going to do up the schooner?” Ingrid asked.
“Yeah, why not. If I’m exiled there, I might as well pretty it up. Niall and Mac made fun of me, but you know I love Christmas.”
Betty grinned, “I like it.”
“I am forcing Lars to help me. Don’t tell anyone,” I said.
“Why is my brother helping you? And why is it a secret?”
“They’re dating,” Ingrid said.
Betty cocked her head. “How the fuck are you dating my brother? You barely know him!”
“He saved me from Callan, but he’s not my real boyfriend. It’s a ruse always to keep Callan fifty feet away.”
“Men are pigs,” Betty said.
“Yeah, they are. But damn if some of them aren’t fit as hell,” Ingrid sighed.
We cast our eyes on a golden god of a fit man diving into the pool. He made eye contact with Ingrid, popped in, and gave her a cute little wave.
She waved back.
I snickered. “Not a chance in hell.
Through her smile, Ingrid agreed. “No chance, but damn, he’s gorgeous. It’s too bad that my equally fit fiancé is in the picture. Too little, too late.”
“But I’m single,” Betty said. “Also, if you bring up my brother being fit again, I will vom, Ingy.”
Betty and Ingrid were bonded. They shared an equestrian coach and went everywhere together. I figured it was sometimes a little awkward, given that Ingrid and Keir were the type to participate in PDA quite often. They were that couple. You loved to hate them, but their love was real.
“I’m going to go take a dip,” Betty said.
We watched her wade into the pool. She swam over to the hunky man, and they talked.
“I wish I had that confidence,” I sighed. “Now, I’ve lost her for the rest of the week.”
“Meh. You’ve got a boyfriend.”
I chuckled. “Yeah. Well, he’s helping me with this project. I cannot complain too much. We’re meeting up later to get started.”
Ingrid pulled her sunglasses down, one eyebrow raised. “Oh really?”
“Yes,” I said. “God, Ingrid, I don’t need you insinuating it, too. It’s bad enough with Mac and Niall giving me shit.”
“Hello, hello. What is up?”
I looked over to see Amara, Nate’s wife. Heavily pregnant, she lowered herself on the nearby lounger. Even bursting, she looked adorable. She was the glowy type of pregnant woman I hated.
“Betty is chatting up some fitty,” I answered. “And you’re cute. How is the baby?”
“Moving loads,” Amara said. “Kept me up all night. How is the fake boyfriend?”
“Is this all anyone can talk about?” I rolled my eyes. “I don’t want to talk about it anymore. Lars is a nice guy.”
“Well, hello, hello, my love.” Keir sat at his fiancee’s feet.
Ingrid leaned to kiss him—an inappropriately long snog. “How was the course?”
I spotted Lars following his stepbrother.
“It was fine,” Keir answered.
Lars stopped.
I smiled at him. “Does that time work?”
“Works great. I want to change and shower.”
“Why bother?” I laughed. “You’re only going to toil under my gaze.”
Lars blushed.
Okay, I had to admit I was flirting a little . But he wasn’t exactly bad to look at. I didn’t hate bossing him around. It was nice to have a man willing to help, even if that was where it ended—especially a cute, tall one.
“Well, I’m going to do it anyway,” Lars said. “But I will meet you back at the schooner?”
“Yes,” I answered. “Be ready to work.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he joked, saluting me. “I’ll see you all later.”
He left. Ingrid and Amara shot looks of disbelief. I rolled my eyes.
“Guys, I swear, nothing is going on.”