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I was momentarily stunned. I turned and looked at the crystal water in the pool.

I bet Billy loved it.

I swallowed. “I’m glad they both got to see it. I remember Mum saying how much she loved it,” I whispered.

Dylan blew out a breath as if relieved. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “She did. They both did. She picked out the color schemes for all the bedrooms in the main house. Left to me, it would have been white, you know.” Dylan gave an apologetic shrug. He gazed at me with an uncertain expression as he tried to gauge my reaction.

“I’m okay,” I said to reassure him, but I had the feeling that there was something else. He stood, holding out his hand, and I took it as he helped me to my feet. Abruptly, I realized I was dressed in Lulu’s tiny bikini and felt self-conscious standing beside him. He had his towel rolled and draped around his shoulders, and all he wore were his swimming trunks. He was all sculpted muscle and didn’t seem to have an ounce of fat on him anywhere. He bent down and grabbed my T-shirt from the lounger.

“Here you go,” he murmured.

Madame Gombert had prepared lunch: cold chicken, potato salad, and a green salad. I ate sparingly but managed to eat all that was on my plate. Dylan opened a bottle of rosé, which he and Lulu shared. He offered me some, but I declined. Lulu was once again looking at Dylan with adoration, and he seemed to be paying her more attention than usual. He even went so far as to hold her hand while Madame Gombert cleared the plates, something I’d never seen him do.

“Lulu and I are going to have a nap,” Dylan informed me after lunch.

I bit my lip as I struggled not to laugh. I glanced at Lulu, and she winked at me. It took a superhuman effort on my part to look up at Dylan and say, without guile, “A siesta… Okay.”

He frowned but clasped Lulu’s hand and led her out of the kitchen.

I began to load the plates into the dishwasher with Madame Gombert.

“Non, non, ma petite,” she scolded gently. “You go, have a sieste aussi.” She ushered me out of the kitchen, and I went upstairs to my bedroom.

Lulu’s muffled giggling came from behind their closed door. For a moment, I wondered why I didn’t feel embarrassed. Even a few days ago, I would have been mortified hearing them, but now, it seemed natural. Two young people, doing what young people do.

Lulu and I had somehow achieved an entente cordiale. Maybe the argument she had with Dylan had been necessary—for both of them to air their grievances, for her to air her grievances about me. I knew she cared for him, and maybe she had finally accepted the grim reality that I’d become an intrinsic part of Dylan’s life.

Maybe I should accept it too.

After all, I didn’t really want to live on my own. Not yet. Besides, I’d miss Tristan.

Sitting on my bed, I struggled with the idea of having a siesta. My nap by the pool had chased away my fatigue. What I needed was some exercise. A walk. Perhaps I could explore the surrounding area.

I stared down at my bare legs. I only had on my T-shirt and Lulu’s bikini, and I didn’t want to put my jeans on, as it was too warm—but that’s all I had. I wished I’d paid more attention to clothes like Lulu did. She made clothes look easy. Style came naturally to her. What I wanted were shorts.

Inspiration hit me. I’d brought two pairs of jeans with me. Taking my least favorite, I went down to see Madame Gombert to see if she had any scissors. My jeans would become cut-offs.

Madame Gombert was delighted to help. We decided to go for short shorts—it was so hot.

“They are loose. You have lost much weight, ma petite?” she asked, a small frown marring her brow.

Not Madame Gombert too. She didn’t know me from Adam.

“I have the answer.” She held her index finger up at me and disappeared briefly. She came back with what looked like an old school tie.

“Put this around you, then they will stay in place, ne c’est pas?”

I grinned, and we subjected my T-shirt to the same treatment. We cut off the arms and the neck so it looked more like a tank top and would be much cooler.

Madame Gombert nodded her approval once I’d put it on. “Very chic,” she said with a sweet smile, but I think she was humoring me.

“I’d like to go into the village and explore,” I said.

“It will all be closed now. It is the afternoon. Everyone will be sleeping.”

I shrugged. “I’m not tired. I slept by the pool earlier.”

“Here.” She handed me the sun cream. “For your legs and arms. I shall find you a hat.”