Fletcher burst out laughing, while Adira blushed pink. Jasper found it rather endearing.
Her eyes flew to his face. Were his lips twitching? Well, she’d show him.
‘Would that be the Swedish massage, or the Aroma massage?’ she asked with a sweet smile.
He looked lazily at her. ‘Whatever you recommend,’ he calmly answered.
‘OK. Let’s go for the Swedish massage. It’ll ease muscular tension and stimulate blood circulation.’ She stared back innocently.
‘Let’s.’
‘That’s what he’s short of,’ remarked Fletcher with a wink, making Cassie laugh again.
‘Come tomorrow, Jasper, you can be the first to christen the massage bed,’ Cassie said, trying desperately to keep a straight face.
Meanwhile, Adira refused to show any embarrassment. ‘Two o’clock suit you?’ she asked, trying to sound as professional as possible.
‘Suits me fine,’ he smiled, then watched her leave rather abruptly.
Towards the end of the afternoon, after Adira had given the last visit of The Bath House, Cassie caught up with her.
‘Smo-king hot!’ she hissed.
‘Pardon?’ Adira frowned.
‘Oh, come on, don’t give me that,’ she nudged her. ‘The air between you and Jasper was electric.’
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ Adira denied.
‘Yeah, right.’
Adira faced her. ‘Did he ask for a massage, or was it all a wind-up?’
‘Fletcher mentioned it, but Jasper was game… and the way he was looking at you—’
‘Enough,’ butted in Adira, feeling quite flushed again.
‘Just saying,’ Cassie spread her hands in surrender.
‘He’s a client.’
‘Of course he is,’ she snorted.
Chapter 18
Fletcher had ribbed Jasper relentlessly about his forthcoming massage. He’d taken it in good spirits though and, truth be told, was rather looking forward to it. Who wouldn’t want to relax under the soothing touch of Adira? And besides, his uncle had been right, he really was tense and in need of ‘chilling out’.
The way Adira had blushed had both surprised and touched him. It also gave him food for thought. Why should she be embarrassed? Did she find him as attractive as he found her? Because Jasper couldn’t deny the fire which had sparked since the moment he saw her in the stream. He’d tried to, wanting his sceptical, rational inner self to bring him to his senses; but he couldn’t. He knew the pull she had on him was real, and her acting flustered over massaging him told him something – she might feel the same way. Flashbacks of her bathing had tortured his mind and awoken a desire deep inside him. Perhaps his toned body would have a similar effect on her? Although he worked behind a desk, he regularly attended a gym and used the rooftop pool of his apartment. He knew he was in good shape and now more than ever he was keen to impress.
So, with a spring in his step, he walked through the entrance to the Inn to be instantly greeted by Cassie.
‘Ah, Jasper, there you are.’ She held a camera. ‘I’d like to take a few promotional shots, you being the first customer of The Bath House.’
Jasper’s eyes widened, making Cassie laugh.
‘Not of you stripped down to a towel,’ she explained, ‘just a few of you and Adira in the treatment room before your massage.’
‘Fine by me.’ He looked a touch relieved, to Cassie’s amused eye.
