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“A problem,” I say. “And why is that?”
“Well, my impression is that she’s here to get away from men,” he says. “She’s also great company.”
The compliment magnifies in my mind, mixing with his previous words. I curl my toes into the groove between two stone plates. “Maybe sheishere to get over a man,” I say, my words slow but my breathing quick. “But what if she was open to getting some help with that? What would you do about it?”
Phillip keeps his gaze one mine. And then, he reaches for his brandy and slowly, deliberately, takes a long pull of his drink.
Something tightens in my stomach. It’s the possibility and nerves, and I hear Becky’s voice in my head as clearly as if she’s standing next to me.The rest of your life starts now, she’d said after Caleb and Cindy’s grand revelation.
“Oh,” I breathe.
His eyes burn. “I think it’s pretty clear what I’m willing to do.”
“Yeah.”
“Eden,” he says, and there’s a murmured warmth in the words. My heart is pounding a rapid beat against my ribs; pulse thumping in my fingertips, down to the very soles of my bare feet. I haven’t done this in so long.
And then I reach for the hem of my dress with hands that only shake a little.
Phillip watches the movement. “Eden?”
“I’m going for a swim,” I say, “in this lovely, conveniently located little pool of yours.”
I let my dress drop to the chair. I’ve started wearing bikinis all day round here, and I’m grateful for that now. I’m also grateful for the shadows as I stand before him. “Want to join me?”
Phillip starts to undo the buttons on his shirt, one at a time. “You want to swim laps,” he says. “Now?”
“I think laps would be pretty difficult here.” I slip my legs beneath the lukewarm surface of the water. “But maybe cooling down is a good idea.”
He looks at me. “Yeah. All right.”
I slip into the water and swim across the pool. It only takes three strokes to cross the distance. The water is like a warm embrace, and I lean against the pool's edge, watching as he gets in at the other end. The muscles of his shoulders ripple with his motions across his tanned skin.
“Well,” he says. Across the water, his voice sounds deeper. “You didn’t drink once. I should’ve asked harder questions.”
“Did you have any harder ones to ask?”
“There’s more I want to know, yeah.”
“Ask me now, then.”
He leans against the side of the pool and rests his arms on the edge. “I’ll ask the one you avoided earlier. Tell me the plot of one of your books.”
I swim toward him. His hair is pushed back off his forehead. I know what it feels like now, from running it between my fingers while we kissed. Thick strands that are surprisingly soft. “I’ll have to drink,” I say, “for that question. When I get out of the pool.”
“Eden,” he murmurs. “Tell me.”
I shake my head. “My turn. I want you to tell me the answer to the question you avoided by taking a drink.”
“What I’d do,” he says slowly, “if you were interested in me, too? Hypothetically.”
“Yes.”
“Eden, you told us to cool off.”
“Well, we’re doing it together.” I reach through the water and put my hands on his shoulders. His skin is warm above the surface, and firm, and my fingers curve over the slope of his muscles.
“Thanks for kissing me yesterday. In front of Kaelie.”
