Chapter Ten #2
‘No, down there.’ Ethan pointed to the other end of the forty-foot pool.
‘It’s hard to see underneath all the algae and leaves, but there’s a few steps down.
And to the side you can see the foundations of a changing hut, gone long before I arrived.
According to the contractor, both the pool and hut were built at the same time as WillowGlen and were common features in Victorian manors. ’
Talking about the pool was why they were there, and she couldn’t get distracted by Ethan and her relentless attraction to him.
She had to stay focused on the retreat and the work they had to do over the next three weeks, because what other option was there?
There was no future ever for the feelings he was stirring up in her.
‘I can’t believe I didn’t know it existed, nor ever discovered it on my ramblings,’ Ivy said.
‘It would have been overgrown again by the time you started coming here.’
There was a gap of about five years between Ethan starting university and her first visit, long enough for the pool to fall back into disrepair. It was only when they were discussing the grounds and outbuildings and Ethan mentioned the pool, that Ivy had learnt of its existence.
‘Did Ruby ever use it?’ Ivy asked, trying to work out how she could have missed such a feature.
‘She said she had parties here when she was growing up, but it all stopped after My Don died. And as far as I know, even after the pool had been fixed, she never came to see it. Not even when it was being used by us.’
‘That’s…that’s heartbreaking.’ Ivy’s heart squeezed at more evidence of Ruby’s loss.
Being here in this spot where she must have had so many good times as a child and young adult, which had stopped so abruptly when her fiancé had died, hit Ivy hard.
So much loss, so much longing. Ivy couldn’t imagine what it would feel like to be loved like that. So totally and fully.
Until it hit her; she had been, by her parents. Dread and guilt swirled in her belly.
Ethan toed a weed in the paving stones by the side of the pool.
‘I could kick myself now for being so insensitive, but at the time I was completely oblivious. As I got older and heard more about My Don and the impact his death had on her, I realised even decades later she was still grieving for him.’
‘No wonder she understood grief so well,’ she said. ‘I can’t believe I didn’t piece it together earlier when we were deciding what to focus on. Ruby got it, because she’d lived with it for years.’ Just like Ivy had, but without the added horrific guilt.
He turned to face her, regret and pain marring his handsome face. ‘That’s it, isn’t it? She was always one step ahead.’ He ran a hand over his hair, then jammed it back into his jacket pocket.
‘Yeah,’ Ivy nodded sadly. ‘She was. That makes me even more determined to make WillowGlen the best possible place it can be, including this pool. When was the last time you swam here?’ she asked.
‘I can’t remember, but probably the last year of school. Once Cam, Luc and I started uni and stopped coming as regularly, it slowly reverted back to what it is now. I offered, more than once, to get it fixed and maintained, but she wasn’t interested, said there was no need for it.’
‘Thanks for showing me. As often as I’ve wandered through the grounds, I can see now why I never found it.’
Despite the bushes overgrowing and covering the entrance, Ethan had known exactly where it was, and they’d found it without a problem.
‘Despite the small path, it was purposely built to be hidden. Although I don’t think that was a Victorian feature but a quirk of the original owner. Like a hidden oasis, not that you’d need one with the English weather.’
She laughed and imagined the pool and surrounding area restored to its former glory and filled with people again, a true oasis rather than the neglected and discarded spot it was on this gloomy day.
‘I can see what you mean about it being a quiet space, but it would definitely need easier access to be fully utilised.’ She glanced up at the grey sky.
‘Is a roof to make it suitable for all weather a possibility?’
Ethan looked around the grounds and back at her with a gleam she was beginning to recognise as the one when he was assessing something that resonated with him.
‘Yes, that could absolutely work. It would definitely give it more scope for usage rather than a few months during the year. Unless there are some guests who are hardy souls and like swimming in arctic-like conditions.’
As if on cue, light rain began to fall.
‘So much for the rain holding off for a few hours,’ she mused.
The weather had cleared at the end of their morning session when the topic of the pool had been brought up, so they’d decided to visit it immediately, not bothering to bring umbrellas, only puffer jackets.
‘I’ve seen all I need, thanks for showing me. ’
‘Let’s get inside before it gets any heavier,’ Ethan said, leading the way back through the overgrown passageway and onto the main gravel path.
The rain had grown steadier and she pulled up her hood and quickened her pace until it started teeming, and then they broke into a run. Ivy was glad she’d taken Ethan’s advice and worn something sturdier than her usual heeled boots.
At the entrance to the mudroom, drenched and panting, Ethan held open the heavy door as Ivy raced inside, before he closed it behind them.
‘Thank goodness,’ she exclaimed.
Pulling off her gloves she pushed back her hood and shook herself like a dog, water spraying everywhere, but it was like the chill from her jacket had seeped through to her bones.
Trying to get it off, she tugged at the zip lodged under her chin and yanked it down to her chest, where it jammed.
Her fingers, cold and clumsy, despite being in gloves for the past hour, fumbled with the tab.
Sucking in a breath, she tried again before yelping in frustration when it remained stuck.
Ethan turned towards her; he’d already discarded his jacket revealing a thick black cable-knit jumper.
Momentarily distracted, she clocked his sexy fisherman look. Her mouth dried. Was there nothing that didn’t look good on him?
Wearing nothing would look extremely good on him.
She froze, certain that lust was written all over her face. She gulped and gave herself a mental shake, before tugging frantically at her zipper again, but it wouldn’t budge.
‘Need a hand?’ he asked.
She stilled, considering her options. She could hunt down a pair of scissors and cut the thing off, or she could let Ethan help.
Surely the latter was better than the former? He’d only take a second and then she’d flee the room until sanity returned. Because she couldn’t afford to let her guard slip; too much was at stake. There was never going to be a happily ever after for her.
‘Yes, please,’ she squeaked.
He moved forward and stepped close enough that she could see the bristles on his jaw, the flush along his cheekbones and droplets of rain on his inky black lashes.
Her teeth chattered, and she almost convinced herself it was from the cold, not the forcefield of emotions that rocked her at his proximity.
Desire.
Attraction.
Want.
Even though she knew it was wrong to have those feelings.
Her hands fell to her sides as he slowly raised his and carefully tugged on the tab, without touching her and without success.
‘I’m putting this up here to give some traction.’ He raised his other hand and pointed to her upper chest before placing it there.
It was an innocent gesture, one she’d invited, but still her treacherous body trembled, and her breath hitched.
He froze and she glanced up, something at her height she rarely had to do, to hold his hooded gaze.
‘Okay?’ he murmured.
She nodded, speech beyond her.
Again, he tugged the tab, and she held her breath as it came free inch by inch. His eyes followed the zip, and so did hers, revealing her black silk shirt, the outline of her lacy black bra and nipples.
He swallowed and glanced away. ‘Are you freezing?’ he asked, his voice low. She leant closer to hear him and caught another intoxicating hint of mint and him.
She nodded again.
‘I better get this off you then.’ Gently he peeled the jacket off her shoulders, over her wrists and dropped it to the ground before rubbing her arms in slow steady strokes.
As though she were hypnotised, she couldn’t have moved if her life depended on it while he continued the sweet torture. For a second? An age? She had no way of telling.
‘Still cold?’ he murmured, his breath warm against her face.
An inferno of desire scorched tracks along her skin, but it wasn’t enough; he’d ignited a fire that she didn’t want to quelch.
‘Very,’ she lied.
His eyes flared. ‘I’ll have to try harder then.’
Her pulse jumped at the delicious promise of his words. ‘Please,’ she whispered.
He drew her into his embrace, chest against chest, hip against hip, and began the same tantalising dance up and down her back.
Her hands, clenched at her sides, refused to stay dormant any longer and wrapped around his waist.
He jolted, and her pulse leapt, yet he didn’t stop the gentle movements.
‘Better?’ he muttered against her ear.
She should put an end to this delicious madness, but she couldn’t bring herself to form the words why she couldn’t have him, ever.
That she didn’t deserve him or the feelings he evoked.
She was a murderer. Yet the strength to keep fighting the endless battle of her out-of-control attraction to him eluded her with every passing second.
She hungered for the warmth and comfort only he could provide.
Just for a little bit longer.
Just a little bit more.
She reared back slightly and shook her head, unable to deny what she wanted. With no attempt to hide her longing she focused on his lips, firm and full. She wanted, needed, them all over her body. Heat pooled between her legs and she bit down on her lip.