She closed her eyes again as the breeze came in and tickled her face. Blair said something, but Eden didn’t hear her – she was too busy pushing away the intrusive thoughts that told her all the ways it was dangerous to fall in love with his kind of life.The high-end escort life.Because she was under no delusions. That’s what she was, and going back to the city to continue this was not possible.But they could invite me back next season…Assuming Eden hadn’t found a great day job or,gasp, a boyfriend.
That would probably put a stick in things…
“Why doesn’t your partner work something like this?” Eden asked before Blair could leave. “I’m sure a lot of the guests here have dominatrix fantasies.”
Blair could hardly contain her amused laughter. “Oh, Mira doesnotlike men. She’s not that desperate for money anymore, thank goodness for her.”
“But she doesn’t mind you working here? I mean, as support staff.”
“Nice save, hon.” Blair took a few steps away. “Of course she doesn’t. We trust the people running this place to keep the rules strict, and every dollar we make goes straight to the nest egg. Mira got her childhood home back, you know. The property taxes on it are insane!”
She said it with such a sweet tone that Eden couldn’t help but laugh as she waved Blair out of the room. Alone again, Eden contemplated the view some more before picking up one of the coffee table books in front of her.
“I shoulda known there were well-read girls who love travel here.”
Eden’s head jerked up. A man stood beside her.
Not just any man…
“Oh…” Neal, the man from the shower, stood in dark wash jeans and a breezy long-sleeve shirt. “Hello, again.”
Eden instinctively held the book against her cleavage before remembering her job. She promptly put it in her lap, instead, and greeted him. “Hello, sir. Neal, was it?”
“What an awful name. But yes.” He held out a hand to stop her from immediately responding. “Apologies if there’s a Neal in your life that you love. I’m justreallynot a Neal.”
“No offense taken. But since it’s the only name I know you by, it’s what I’ve got.” She grinned. “Do you think I look like a Brim?”
“I like your fake name a lot more than mine.” He passed the small bottle of water he had from one hand to the other. “Anyway, hope you’re doing well. I was just about to head to the…” He paused, gazing out the open doors. “Well, nowhere. I’m just wandering around for some exercise. Seeing what they changed up in this place.”
A frequent flyer, indeed.At least this meant he was comfortable with the format. “Would you care to sit with me and…” She checked the book in her lap. “Look at pictures of Spain? It’s dreadfully boring over here by myself.”
Was that good? Was she good at this?
“Tell you what.” Neal joined her on the adjacent sofa. They were close enough to touch, but not to cuddle.Almost a shame.A cuddle at one in the afternoon sounded nice. “Since we already have a rapport with one another, and this man knows that nobody around here is really chatty… sure.”
Eden closed the photobook and placed it back on the table. “I hope you slept well last night,” she said as he adjusted himself in his chair. “Since you got in so late after a long day.”
He almost looked surprised that she remembered those details. “I did sleep well, thank you.” The slight blush to his cheeks only made him more handsome.A little color never hurts anybody, right?It also made him more human. Something Eden truly appreciated as she was constantly surrounded by other definitions of raw humanity. “I mean, let’s be real, you helped a lot with that.”
“Did I?”
“You’re acting like a beautiful woman spending time with me like that doesn’t put me right to sleep afterward.” His face slightly turned. “I mean that in the most complimentary way, I assure you.Notthat you’re boring.”
She giggled. “Don’t worry. I knew you didn’t mean it that way.”
“Naturally.”
Eden glanced back at the board games on the other table. “The day is young,” she said. “How about a round ofMonopoly?”
“Surely, you jest.”
“About the specific game? Sure. About the day being young?” She shrugged. “Nope. Tell me your poison, and I promise I won’t just let you win.”
Neal laughed the whole way to the table, where the two of them sorted through the board games that ran the gamut from childhood favorites to more sophisticated tabletop fare. When Neal held up a copy of the originalBarbieboard game, Eden nearly lost it and insisted that they play it if he was willing.
Unfortunately, it was missing some cards. But Eden discoveredBattleshipand immediately made a quip about him sinking into her submarine.
It had the desired effect, as proven when he initiated a game of footsie with her as they sat across from each other at thetable. With every double entendre riling them up more, Eden concluded that the only reason he wasn’t wrapped around her right now was because it would make playing a game like thatverydifficult.
