4. Theo
4
THEO
I t’s been one hell of a day. The kind of day that makes me want to lock myself in a room and forget the world exists for a while.
Instead, I pull on a pair of swim trunks and head out to the pool. Swimming usually clears my head, helps me sort through the chaos.
As soon as I step outside, I’m hit with the twang of a country song blaring through the speakers. My jaw tightens at once.
I hate country music.
It grates on me like nails on a chalkboard, but apparently, Grace has decided it’s exactly what the afternoon calls for.
And there she is, lying on one of the chaise lounges by the pool, wearing next to nothing. Literally. Her bikini—if you can even call it that—is practically nonexistent, more string than fabric.
She’s sipping some kind of fruity drink, a magazine open on her lap, her lips moving as she sings along to the song.
I stop dead in my tracks, my irritation flaring, but not because of the music anymore.
I can’t take my eyes off her.
She’s sprawled out like she owns the place, the sun glinting off her olive skin, her long legs stretched out, one foot lazily bouncing to the beat.
Her hair’s piled up in a messy bun, a few loose strands framing her face, and that bikini… damn it.
I know I should say something. Get her to turn the music down at the very least.
But instead, I just stand there for a second, watching her. I can’t help it. The way her body moves to the rhythm, the way her fingers tap against the magazine, t’s infuriating how effortlessly hot she is.
Finally, I clear my throat, loud enough to get her attention. She startles a bit, glancing over at me with wide eyes before a smirk pulls at her lips.
“Well, look who decided to join the party,” she says, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she reaches for her drink. “Want one? I make a mean margarita.”
I scowl, crossing my arms over my chest. “Turn the music down.”
She arches an eyebrow at me, her smirk widening. “You don’t like country?”
“No, I don’t,” I reply, my voice clipped. “And I didn’t realize the pool was now a public beach.”
She laughs softly, a sound that’s both infuriating and… something else. She takes a slow sip of her drink, not even bothering to move.
“Oh, lighten up, Theo. You could use some relaxation.”
She gestures toward the empty lounge chair next to her.
“Come on, sit. Enjoy the sun for once.
Your skin is so white that I’m wondering if you’re a vampire.”
Is she serious right now?
I clench my jaw, my eyes flicking down to her body again despite myself. The way that bikini clings to her, the way her skin glows under the sunlight.
Damn it, I need to get a grip.
“I came out here to swim,” I say, my tone harsher than I intended. “Not to listen to bad music.”
“Bad music?” she gasps, feigning offense. “Excuse you, this is a classic. You obviously have no taste in music.”
“I have great taste.”
“I’m finding that hard to believe.”
I roll my eyes. “Just turn it down.”
“Make me,” she teases, leaning back in the chair and stretching out like a cat, the movement drawing my eyes to her body.
I’m trying to stay annoyed. I am. But every time she shifts, my frustration morphs into something else entirely, something more dangerous.
My pants tighten and my body is thrumming with the need to show her why you don’t tease, unless you’re prepared for the consequences.
“I’m not someone you can toy with,” I growl.
She giggles as she catches me staring. Her smirk turns into a full-blown grin, and she props herself up on her elbows, her gaze locked on mine.
“What’s the matter, Theo? Never seen a woman in a bikini before?”
My scowl deepens. “Not one that insists on acting like a spoiled teenager.”
She snorts and sets her magazine aside. “Please. Don’t pretend like you’re not enjoying the view.”
I grit my teeth, refusing to take the bait. “I asked you to turn the music down. You do not want to see this side of me.”
“What side of you is that?”
I blow out a breath and pinch the bridge of my nose.
“This is my home, Grace. I expect some level of respect. I’m not being playful right now. I can’t be.”
“Oh, so I’m supposed to cover up because you’ve suddenly become a Puritan?” she retorts, sitting up and swinging her legs over the side of the lounge.
“You’re being unreasonable right now with the music.
I didn’t realize my existence was such a problem for you.”
Spoiled teenager.
She’s the one pushing buttons and she clearly cannot take it when someone doesn’t fall at her feet.
“It’s not your existence,” I snap. “It’s your complete disregard for…”
“For what?” she interrupts, standing up and walking toward me. “For your precious rules? For your need to control everything around you?”
She’s close now, too close, and I can feel the heat rolling off her skin. Her eyes are challenging, daring me to say something, but all I can focus on is the way her body moves, the way her chest rises and falls with every breath.
Those breasts are beautiful. Are they hers or did she buy them to be that perfect?
Shit, Theo. Get those thoughts out of your head. Your eyes are drifting and…
“I don’t have time for this,” I mutter, trying to sidestep her and head to the pool. But she moves, blocking my path.
“Of course you don’t,” she says, her voice quieter now, more serious. “Because God forbid you do anything that doesn’t fit neatly into your perfect little world.”
Why is she poking the bear?
I meet her gaze, my chest tightening. She’s not wrong. I do like control. I need it. But right now, staring at her, feeling the pull of something I can’t quite name, I realize I’m dangerously close to losing it.
And by losing it, I mean grabbing her by her hair and kissing her until she becomes puddy in my hands.
“This isn’t about control.”
“Isn’t it?” she asks, tilting her head. “You want everything exactly the way you like it. No surprises. No disruptions. Well, guess what, Theo? Life doesn’t work that way.”
I clench my fists, trying to rein in the frustration, but it’s no use. “I don’t need a lecture from you.”
“I’m not trying to give you one,” she snaps, folding her arms across her chest. “I’m just saying maybe you should try letting go for once. You might actually enjoy yourself.”
Did she have to cross her arms in front of her chest? Is she purposely doing that so that her tits are even more in my face? She has to know what she’s doing, right?
Focus.
I let out a bitter laugh. “Enjoy myself? With you constantly in my space, making noise, leaving a mess everywhere you go?”
Walking around in a barely there bikini showing off your body and reminding me of what else I lost because of Alexia.
“God, you’re impossible.”
“And you’re...”
I let out a loud groan before I shake my head.
“Look, I get that you hate being here, and believe me, I didn’t exactly sign up for this either.
But we’re stuck in this situation for the time being.”
“You think I don’t know that? I’m trying here, but you’ve made it clear I’m nothing more than a nuisance in your perfect life.”
I let out a dry laugh, shaking my head. “Perfect? You think my life is perfect?”
She tilts her head, her gaze narrowing in challenge. “Isn’t it? You’ve got the mansion, the business, the power. What could possibly be missing?”
You.
I can feel the bitterness rising in my throat, a taste I haven’t allowed myself to acknowledge in a long time. I know I should just let it go, brush off her words and keep my walls up.
But something about the way she says it, like she’s got me all figured out, pushes me to the edge.
“You don’t know anything about me,” I say, my voice low and controlled. “You think because I have all of this”—I gesture around the pool—“that I haven’t been through hell?”
She doesn’t back down. She crosses her arms, leaning back in her chair as if daring me to keep going. “Try me.”
There’s a moment where I consider staying quiet, swallowing the anger like I always do. But I can’t focus on anything except for how amazing she would feel against me right now.
“No thanks,” I shrug.
I move past her quickly and dive into the pool before she can say anything else. I only come up for air for a quick breath before I duck right back under and begin my laps.
I need to let the water work its magic. I have to feel my muscles and lungs burning to get over whatever urges this woman is forcing in me right now.
I cannot go there with her. Not ever. She is off-limits.
I will not ever trust a woman again in my life, especially not this one. I’ve already seen how she acts.
When I finish my laps and come back up for air it’s quiet. The sad country music is no longer playing and she’s no longer lounging by the pool.
Damn, I didn’t expect to be upset that she’s no longer out here.
It’s for the best.
I dry off before going back inside the house. Swimming helped clear my head, but I need a double shot of whiskey to clear all the thoughts of Grace out of my mind now.
And an ice bath, probably.
The set of the film I’m directing and starring in has been an absolute disaster. Nothing is going as planned, and I’m mostly working with idiots.
Long days. Barely any sleep. It makes for a very irritable me.
I take my wet shorts off outside and throw them on a drying rack for one of my staff to get later. I wrap the towel around my waist and make my way inside the house.
Once I’m in the kitchen, I go to the bar in the corner of the living room and pour myself a tumbler of whiskey. I throw the amber liquid back without hesitation.
I hear Grace clear her throat behind me.
“I…uh…I…didn’t…” she stammers, her eyes going down to the towel wrapped around my waist.
Her cheeks flush when she realizes that I’ve caught her staring at me. My body reacts and there’s no hiding the bulge under the towel.
Shit.