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Javier didn’t know what the existential crisis was all about, but he remembered the expression on Hope’s face, that look of quiet sympathy for his brother mixed with a plea for him to be open to whatever Carlos had to say…

For the first time in his life, he had found it difficult to focus on his work and as he sat there at nine-fifteen, having wasted three hours trying to deal with emails and correspondence, he was drinking his fourth black coffee and contemplating the rest of the morning sitting at a desk with little enthusiasm.

There had been no sign of Hope yet.

Of course she would still be asleep.

Her suite of rooms was miles away from his, so when he’d padded towards his offices at the crack of dawn, he hadn’t been anywhere near where she was located.

He wasn’t about to go and check on her now. He drained his cup and eyed the dishes, which were still there waiting to have something constructive done with them. He frowned because somewhere inside he had to acknowledge that his lack of focus was in part due to the fact that Hope had been in his head.

He’d been thinking of her.

Yes, thinking of what she’d said but also, disturbingly, thinking of her. The tumble of auburn hair, the clear green eyes, the graceful way she had of moving like a ballet dancer, the whiplash sting of some of the things she’d said…

He grinned just thinking about that particular aspect of her and without second-guessing himself any further, he dumped all thoughts of work and headed out of the villa.

It truly was magnificent. Nature at its finest blending the curated perfection of landscaped grounds and the stunning, modernist architecture of his house, a dramatic backdrop as he began walking towards the sea. The sky was ridiculously blue and the ocean a deeper shade of cobalt. He felt his whole body relax as he breathed in the salty tang of sea air.

The villa was one of a handful in this sprawling gated area and, unlike most, had its own private cove.

Javier headed there now. The cove was accessed where the land began to slope down, with broad stone steps cut into the face of the cliff and handrails that had been weathered by the salty air over the years.

I should come here more often.

The thought went through his head as he briefly paused and turned around to appreciate the splendour of his villa, the opulence of the gardens that were meticulously tended by a fleet of gardeners, the desert backdrop in the far, far distance and, out of sight but shimmering in the sun, a vast infinity pool that was far too rarely used.

With a pang, he thought that time had never been his friend.

Maybe he’d sell the place. There would be other people, with extensive families, who would make better use of all its stunning attributes.

It was a thought.

He started down, sure-footed enough not to need the rails. Then he spotted her and stopped dead in his tracks.

She was at the edge of the water and had kicked off her shoes so that she could submerge her feet in the sea.

She was wearing some baggy, faded jeans and had cuffed them so that they didn’t get wet. Her linen shirt was long and her sleeves were rolled up to the elbows.

She should have looked nondescript in the shapeless outfit but she didn’t. She looked impossibly sexy and he felt himself stiffen in an immediate, punchy, physical response.

For a second, he debated turning around and leaving her to it while he sorted himself and his unruly body out but instead, he headed slowly down towards her.

‘Hope!’

* * *

Lost in her thoughts, Hope started and then spun round, shading her eyes from the glare.

Javier was standing at the bottom of the stone steps, half leaning against the railing.

He couldn’t have looked more sinfully handsome in off-white linen trousers and a black polo shirt.

Cool, handsome, sophisticated and…unwelcome.

‘I thought you said that you’d be working.’ Hope reluctantly strolled towards him. With every step she made she became more aware of the simmering attraction she had done her best to squash the night before. ‘Are we leaving earlier than expected? I’ll have to have a shower…change…’

‘What are you doing down here? I thought you’d still be asleep, recovering from jet lag.’