My throat is dry as I take in the view all the way down to his bare toes and back up again. Then my voice rises to a shriek.
‘What if I’d dropped through the window into the middle of a bonk fest? I’d have literally expired with embarrassment.’
There’s a twist to Miles’s lips. ‘It’s fine, you were nowhere near, she left ten minutes ago.’
‘What the hell?’
He’s biting his lip, holding back his grin. ‘I’m joking. I went for a shower, and decided if someone came and stole your clothes collection while I had my head under the rainforest spray you’d never forgive me.’
‘So there was no visitor?’
His eyes are dancing with amusement. ‘Nope. And no sex fest, either.’
I’m still on the rug where I landed, staring straight ahead at the shadow that’s pushing against the denim to one side of his fly buttons. Truly, this is not the time to remember how much I like sex or how much I’ve missed it since I gave up dating. I mean, I’ve often had that thought whispering at the back of my mind when I’ve seen him stretched out on the sun lounger, but this is the first time my brain has yelled and ordered me to do something about it. Considering who I’m staring at here, I’m out of order on every level.
When I finally force my gaze upwards to meet his, I find his eyes are locked on my chest. I brush an invisible speck off my dress, and stare down to find an extra-large expanse of cleavage where a button has ripped off my top.
As I clear my throat, Miles leaps forward and holds out his hand. ‘Let me help you up.’
I’m about to rearrange my legs so I can get to get to my feet when I hear my ringtone. As ‘I’m a believer’ echoes around the bedroom, Miles picks up my bag and hands it to me.
‘A call for you, Betty.’
I pull out my phone and lean my shoulder on the side of the huge double bed. ‘It’s Scarlett. I’ll take it down here.’
I watch Miles whisk around, and when he turns back around to face me again his jeans are done up and he’s pulling on a T-shirt. Then he heads off towards the bathroom and I accept the call.
‘Scarlett?’
‘Just checking in to see how you and your unexpected housemate are getting along?’
I aim for something that hides that wearen’tgetting along. ‘Pumpkin is yet to be convinced, but I’m helping Miles with his latest project– giving him a youth insight.’
‘Really?’ Scarlett sounds surprised. ‘I hope he’s paying you well. He can certainly afford to.’
I swallow back my drool, remembering the toffee pastry melting on my tongue. ‘We have a mutually beneficial arrangement.’ I’m certainly not complaining, but I throw another thought in to move this on. ‘Miles is pretty upbeat considering his heart has been shattered.’
Scarlett sounds puzzled. ‘Tate never mentioned that.’
I give a shrug. ‘It must have been when you were super busy.’ Scarlett’s the one who usually worries about me, but for once I have to ask. ‘You and Tatearetalking again now?’
Scarlett sighs. ‘Not exactly. So much has changed with the move, it’s hard to pinpoint what’s wrong.’
‘Too many hot dogs?’ I am not the right person to give relationship counselling, especially when it’s transatlantic.
She sounds hesitant. ‘It could be stress? He has a lot of responsibility with the expansion.’
There’s no point her asking me, but if we’re talking about people behaving oddly, this is very unlike Scarlett too. I’ve never known her stop to question before.
She carries on. ‘So long as you’re okay. That’s what I rang for. Give my love to Pumpkin.’
And then she’s gone, and as I scramble to my feet, Miles wanders back in.
He grins from behind the towel he’s rubbing his hair with. ‘It’s great you mentioned our collaboration. What did Scarlett think?’
I laugh. ‘She hoped my salary was adequate considering how loaded you are.’ I give a cough. ‘Feel free to listen in.’
‘You were talking so loudly I couldn’t help it, even from the bathroom!’ Miles frowns. ‘And why did you say I’m broken-hearted when I’m not.’
