Cleo had been planning to catch up on some sleep by the pool, but was easily persuaded.
‘Good idea. It might put me in a better mood. The strict regime’s beginning to get me down.’
The two women took their swimming things with them and when they reached the village and spied the turquoise sea, sparkling like diamonds in the sunshine, they decided to have a dip.
The beach was relatively empty and they chose a spot about halfway down before modestly wrapping themselves in their towels, removing their clothes underneath and struggling into their bikinis.
Cleo felt a bit self-conscious about her white, winter skin, but told herself not to be silly. No one cared what she looked like, or was even watching. Besides, Tash was super-pale, too.
She bent down to spread her towel out on the sand and when she rose, her stomach flipped and started performing a series of sick-making somersaults.
Whom should she spot coming out of the water but Achilles, in a pair of pale blue swimming shorts that clung to his body and left little to the imagination?
Droplets of water shimmered on his broad shoulders and lean, brown torso. He shook his head vigorously and sent water spraying in all directions, like a garden sprinkler.
Cleo was mesmerised and aghast in equal measure. If she’d known he’d be here, she’d have kept her clothes on so he wouldn’t see her white body.
Her first thought was to run away but there was nowhere to hide and besides, he soon spotted the two women and his handsome face broke into a big smile.
‘Hey!’ he said, when he was close enough for them to hear. ‘The water’s beautiful. Are you going in?’
Cleo, lost for words, crossed and uncrossed her arms and shuffled from one foot to another.
Luckily, Tash didn’t seem to notice her friend’s sudden awkwardness.
‘We came down here for a glass of wine,’ Tash said. ‘But when we saw the sea, we couldn’t resist a swim.’
Achilles smiled again. ‘I’m not surprised. I go in pretty much every day from April through to the end of October. I call it my cold water therapy. I miss it if I don’t do it.’
He was dazzlingly gorgeous, Cleo thought, and he didn’t seem to realise, which somehow made him even more attractive.
‘I-I’ve heard cold water’s really good for you,’ she stuttered, finding her voice at last. ‘It’s supposed to boost your immune system, isn’t it? And-and reduce inflammation.’
She tried to swallow but her mouth felt dry. She was convinced he’d notice her embarrassment and realise she fancied the pants off him.
After she’d spoken, he fixed on her with dark brown eyes. Her legs wobbled and goosebumps ran up and down her spine.
‘Yes, cold water’s really beneficial,’ he replied, but his words sounded perfunctory and mechanical, as if his only real focus was on her.
‘Shall we have that drink?’ he asked, continuing to gaze at her, and her eyes widened.
Had she heard right? ‘What?’
‘I owe you one, remember,’ he explained, suddenly sounding a little nervous, too. ‘To prove there are no hard feelings after last night.’
He put his hands on his hips and grinned, and her whole body seemed to liquefy into a kind of gloopy mess.
‘That would be great, yes. Thank you,’ she managed to say, before giving Tash a pleading look:Help!
Tash gave a mischievous smile. ‘Well?’ she said, playfully pushing Cleo’s arm. ‘Give him your number, then.’
Cleo started. ‘Oh yes, of course.’
Realising he didn’t have a phone with him, she reached into her bag for a pen and scrap of paper and scribbled the number down.
‘Here,’ she said, passing it to him.
He glanced at the number before folding up the paper, placing it in his palm and wrapping his fingers tightly round it.
