He’d spent a month telling himself she was too young for him, but this was the body of a full-grown woman. When had this happened?
She tossed the cover-up on the lounge chair. Before she could turn around, he slipped inside the hot tub, desperate to hide her effect on his body. “Not long,” he said belatedly.
He thanked God he’d gotten inside when she walked toward him. Her heavy breasts were secured, but as well constructed as her swimsuit was, there was no way to still all the jiggle that was going on. He looked while pretending not to look, every tremble searing itself into his brain.
Her hair was in its usual soft waves, but a little tousled, like she’d run her hands through it. Her breasts lifted as she tied her hair up into a ponytail. Even with the modern hair and swimsuit, she looked like one of those angels from an old master’s painting, her cheeks plump, lips full, the top one slightly larger than the bottom.
She slipped into the hot tub opposite him, and finally, thankfully, she was buried in the water, the bubbles from the jets hiding both of their bodies from view.
Which was good, because he was definitely more than a little erect. He grimaced internally. He’d been right. Seeing more than her bare arms was far too much for him.
Pervert.It wasn’t like she’d stripped to entice him. She was living her life. He had to get himself under control.
She gave a deep groan, which didn’t help. “This is heaven.”
“For an old man like me, it’s necessary.” Yes, he would remind them both of his age. Old. Fun. Relaxed. Friendly.
She peered at him. The steam had already curled the tendrils of hair at her temples. “I suppose you know by now Sadia and Jackson have been delayed as well.”
He nodded. “Everyone’s dropping like flies. I half-expected to be rattling around this big house by myself for the full week.”
“They should be here soon. The new oven at the café is acting up, Sadia said.”
“You talked to her? I didn’t know until I showed up.”
Eve shifted. “She called me last night.”
“Oh.”
“I’m sorry. Should I have texted you...?”
“No. Wouldn’t have changed things for me.” Wouldn’t it have? Maybe he would have thought twice about coming here if he’d known it would be the object of his lust and him, all alone. “I guess bad omens can be oven shaped, too.”
“It’s not a bad omen. I mean, none of them are bad omens. Just... unfortunate timing.”
He hummed. “Right. Anyway, you can’t expect Jackson to leave his baby. I’ve never seen someone treat their appliances like children.”
Eve’s eyes warmed. She might not be given to grinning, this girl, but he’d gotten good at reading her eyes and lips. “Jackson does love his kitchen.”
“He does.” Jackson was so different from Paul, despite physical similarities. Paul’s extroversion had matched Gabe’s. It had been easy to be friends with him.
It wasn’t easy to be friends with Jackson. The man didn’t trust easily, and he was wary of everyone except for his immediate family.
You should tell him.
He stretched his legs out, part of him hoping she’d do the same. “I’m sure we can find things to occupy us while we’re up here. I had to tune out the butler’s list of activities, there were so many.”
“Yes, there—excuse me, this jet is bugging me.” She got up, and he pretended to get something in his eye, scrubbing them so he wouldn’t watch the water cascade off her breasts.
When she sat down again, it was closer to him. The temperature felt hotter, but he knew that was his imagination. She was sitting on her knees now, so the tops of her breasts cleared the water.
Fuck. When hadthatall happened? Why did she have to have the most enticing breasts he’d ever seen?
He swiped his hand over his face. He was sweating. “Better?” he asked. The view was better for him, for sure.
“Very much so.”
Scrambling out of the hot tub and running back to the room would be suspicious, right? “So you ran into traffic, huh?” His voice came out harsher than he’d intended.
