“In us,” he says, serious.
“I don’t think thereisan us, Nick. There’s dinner tonight, which you’ve dragged me to.”
“You seemed to have a very different idea yesterday when you kissed me in the middle of the park.”
“Actually,youkissedme.”
“But you didn’t pull away.”
I turn to him. “You know this is crazy, right? You just turning up again after eight years, trying to…what? What are you really trying to do? Apart from get me into bed, obviously.”
Nick gives me a small smile. “I’m trying to do the right thing.”
“Mmm?”
“To act like the good guy. To do the right things, to convince you that we were made for each other. And sure, my bed is involved in the plan a little – but so is my sofa, my dining table, my shower, my jacuzzi…”
“I knew you had one of those,” I accuse him.
Nick laughs without flinching.
“So you have a plan, then?”
“You bet I do.”
“And what happens, according to this plan?”
“You’re about to find out,” he says, his eyes fixed firmly on the road in front of us.
This was such a bad idea. I should never have accepted that stupid bet – and, more importantly, how the hell did I lose? Okay, so the O’Connors are rugby champions, but we really gave it our all, exploited every ounce of our femininity. I really thought we could beat them. I’d have loved to see Nick defeated. But, instead, here I am: sitting in his car, heading for God-knows-where, swept up in his charm, his aftershave. His breathing is suffocating, my body fighting against my desire with everything it’s got.
We drive across the whole city, heading towards South Dublin. I gaze out the window, trying to work out where Nick is taking me; when I see him cross through Dublin 4, I realise where we’re going. And it’s not a good thing.
Nick parks at the shore. We get out of the car and I’m immediately hit by a wave of salty air, wafted by a light breeze that muffles the strength of the sun on your skin.
I feel him step closer and place his hands on my shoulders, and I close my eyes, breathing in the mix of scents that surround me. They’re light and pleasant – but they’re too much to bear.
“Do you like it?” he whispers into my ear.
“You know I love the sea.”
Even though I can’t see it, I know he has a satisfied smile on his face.
“I’ll go and get us something to eat. Go find your favourite spot – the beach is all ours.”
I turn to face him. “The beach?”
“Did you think I was going to take you to one of those touristy restaurants where you have to shout to hear each other?”
I look at him, curious.
“Tonight, it’s just you, me and the sea,” he says, with that voice that knows just how to nestle itself under my skin.
My God. I’ve gone right back to being that girl in the pool.
And he’smyNick again.
* * *
