I’m joking, of course. I can’t tolerate cheating. Ethan taught me what it feels like to be cheated on and I’d never do that to anyone.
‘Don’t make me get on the next plane out there.’
I down the rest of the margarita before hopping into the water with a splash. ‘Is there a reason you’re interrupting my Friday afternoon? You know I’m absolutely submerged here.’
A groan sounds across the miles. ‘Tell me you’re not topless by your pool.’
‘I’m actually at the Aura Skypool.’
‘Topless?’
‘No!’ I shake my head at Ruby, who’s straining so hard to eavesdrop that a vein is bulging in her neck. If she leans any closer, she’ll fall off her sunlounger, face first into the water.
Jayden sighs, seemingly placated that I’m covered up.
‘But my bikini is really tiny.’ It’s too tempting to wind him up.
‘Chloe, that’s really not helping my raging hard on right now.’
‘So it’s probably not a good time to run through that list you had me compile? I made a few new additions since the last time we discussed it.’ I sing-song sweetly, examining my freshly polished nails.
‘Seriously, Chloe, you’re killing me.’
‘You should be in bed. What time is it there?’ I squint at my silver wristwatch, but between the blinding sun and the cocktails I can’t make out the time.
‘It’s late. Or early.’ Traffic rushes in the background. ‘I’m just heading home now.’
‘Alone? Careful you don’t get papped. Thatwouldmake front page news. I can just see the tabloids now.Jayden Cooper, no longer super.’
‘Don’t believe everything you read in those trashy things.’
‘Oh, I don’t, but they are kind of addictive. Reading trash about you has been one of my guilty pleasures.’ Oops, the cocktails have loosened my tongue again. Though the papers have been oddly quiet about Jayden since Christmas. Has he been behaving? Or just gotten better at being discreet about his endeavours?
‘Chloe Sexton, have you been stalking me all these years?’ His voice is low, seductive, as if he kind of likes the idea.
Ruby’s practically hanging off her lounger, trying to listen. I shoo her away and scoot across the pool, out of earshot. ‘I’ve thought of you more than I’d care to admit.’
A hiss slips over the phone line. ‘And now you’re finally admitting it, what did these thoughts entail exactly?’
‘Honestly? Mostly carving you up into tiny pieces and feeding you to piranhas.’ Old habits die hard.
‘Huh. We’ll see how funny you are when I’m fucking you with my tongue next week…’ Even from halfway across the world, he turns my legs to jelly. Excited butterflies soar and swirl in my stomach. And lower.
‘See you in Singapore.’ My lips smack into a kissing sound before hanging up.
‘Oh. My. Fucking. God.’ Ruby stares accusatorially at me. A red talon reaches out to poke my shoulder. ‘You’ve got it bad!’
‘Me?’ I shriek. ‘Didn’t you witness me hang up on him?’
‘You might havehung upon him, but you’re alsohung upon his every word. Look at your face! You’re literally beaming.’
‘That’s because the man’shunglike a goddamn fucking donkey.’
Ruby’s answering snort is distinctly donkey-like, too.
The waiter chooses this second to arrive with our cocktails. ‘You’re infatuated with your brother-in-law.’
‘Technically, he’s Sasha’s brother-in-law, but I am not!’ Hauling myself out the pool, face down onto my sunlounger, I bury my grin in my towel. ‘It’s just a bit of fun.’
