“I thought they were twenty minutes away?” I’m sun kissed and salty, my hair hasn’t seen a brush this side of midnight and my bikini is nothing to photograph.
But I don’t care because Ben saw me when I was younger and didn’t wear make-up and didn’t have curves and I shouldn’t care anyway.
It was just a kiss.
Nothing more.
It wasn’t everything.
I haven’t thought about it every single night.
I’m a liar.
“Blairarina!”
The urge to dump my brother in the pool is strong.
“Lennox. You’re here to disturb my peace.” I take my sunglasses off and try not to squint.
He smiles, that radiant smile that my brother was blessed with and uses to light up conference rooms and set old ladies’ hearts on fire.
“Don’t lie. You were missing me. And I know Ben hasn’t had any chance to keep you company.” He sits on the sun lounger next to me, wearing tan slacks and a shirt that make him look like he should be in the editorial pages of a fashion magazine.
Ben stands near the doors to the main house, wearing sunglasses and a white shirt. He’s already tanned and his hair’s lightened by the sun. His phone is pressed to his ear and he’s talking rapidly.
This isn’t about us being here. The island is exclusive and only accessible via boat, the shores are studied to ensure the media don’t land to grab photos of any of the holidaymakers. This is a threat from somewhere and I know that these threats are becoming more frequent, more intense, partly because Lennox is becoming more vocal with his vision for the country and there are people who wish for our divide from England to be more hostile.
“I’m glad you’re here.” Because I am. “Can we not talk politics? Maybe remember this is a holiday?”
Lennox smiles, runs a hand through his hair. “Only if you come to a party at one of the estates tomorrow.”
I eyeball him. “Whose party?”
“Genevieve Lamont.”
She’s an heiress, her father another oil tycoon, but she stays out of the public eye and doesn’t court the press. I’ve met her twice before, but Lennox has been linked to her at least triple that.
“If I have to.” A party there would be easy. Security a given. Her guests would be select and everything would be discreet. Parties like that were the perfect place to find someone to fuck for a night and scratch an itch that was burning.
But there was no guarantee I’d find that pleasure. Unless it was with Ben.
“It’ll be fun. You can let your hair down without having to worry about being kind to politicians.” He put his feet up and stretched out.
“Have you heard from William Goldsmith?” I’d told Lennox about that night in the hotel. He’d said very little and I’d figured he felt guilty about it. And concerned.
“Every day. He’s mentioned about coming here to visit. Apparently he knows Genevieve too.” My brother doesn’t flinch at the explanation. As far as he’s concerned any events are over and done with.
“Has he mentioned me?”
“Do you want him to have mentioned you?”
I roll my eyes. “Absolutely not. I’m hoping he’s got the hint that I’m not interested.”
“According to him, you had a wonderful evening and you’re looking to repeat it. Isaac said the same when I spoke to him.”
“Isaac?” I know who Isaac is. Tall, dark, the kingmaker. Someone who no one knew much about.
“Isaac. He is coming out here. I need to speak with him about a trade deal concerning…”
