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“Course,” she said. “I can switch seats with you if you want to sit next to Ash?”

Ash tugged Nina’s arm. “No, I’m all snuggly now.” She rested her head on Nina’s shoulder.

Cam laughed and got under the cover next to Nina. “Great to know I’m so popular with my girlfriend.”

Ash blew him a kiss across Nina.

Nina tried to steady her heart rate as Cameron settled onto the sofa next to her, his arm brushing hers. She lifted her tea to sip it.

Ash started the movie and Nina tried to concentrate. It was a fun story, but it was a little weird being sat between a couple, watching a romance. Even weirder when I’ve got the hots for one of said couple.

She glanced across and it appeared that Ash had fallen asleep. Nina smiled. Ash did seem to have a knack for dropping off wherever she sat. It must be all the late-night partying. Nina rested her head on top of Ash’s and closed her eyes for a minute. The heat of the day plus the alcohol, not to mention the stress of Isla’s behaviour had taken its toll and she was exhausted.

Nina opened her eyes. The on-screen couple were just about to launch into their first kiss. Blinking, she realised that her head was no longer resting on Ash, but on Cam’s shoulder. She must have shifted in her sleep. She lifted her head and caught his gaze. “Sorry.”

His face was soft in the darkness. “That’s okay.” He raised a hand to her cheek. “You’ve got popcorn on you.”

She smiled. “Hey, I was saving that for later.”

He smiled, brushing the popcorn away and letting his fingers linger on her cheek. Nina was aware that the on-screen couple were now in a full-blown snog, and it seemed to fuel whatever tension was brewing between her and Cam. Ash shifted next to her and Nina leaned away from Cameron.

Nina swallowed hard. She should probably go to bed before she did anything rash like try to kiss a gorgeous guy out of her league who was only being polite and friendly, when his hot girlfriend was sitting next to them.

“I think I’m going to call it a night,” she said.

Cam lifted the blanket to let her out and she nearly fell onto his lap as she climbed past him.

“Sorry,” she said, feeling like an idiot.

“Need anything before you retire?” he asked.

“No thanks,” she said, meeting his gaze. “Goodnight.”

“Night,” he said. There was an intense look in his eye. Probably thinking she was a total weirdo, snuggling up to him then practically climbing into his lap.

Nina left the room and climbed the stairs. Once she got to the room, she shut the door and took a deep breath. Was she imagining that there was sexual tension between her and Cam? Perhaps he did find her attractive? She shook her head. It was bound to be one-sided on her part and she was just wishing he’d returned the attraction.

She got out her phone to call Isla, but her friend didn’t answer. Nina left a voicemail saying that she missed her and wanted to talk. Then she opened her new Twitter app and searched for Ash, followed her, then followed Cam. On impulse she googled Cam’s name and scrolled the articles. Some mentioned his Ibiza residency, a couple were about him and Ash, then loads showed him with various beautiful females. She kept scrolling and the list went on forever. Her heart sank. They all seemed to resemble Ash in some way and were made up to the nines. Nina put the phone down. Of course he wasn’t interested in her. She was nothing like those women, not in appearance or in the way that they were so well presented. She was foolish to think otherwise.

Nina started getting ready for bed. He clearly wasn’t her type either if he was into multiple brief affairs. She was more of a one-steady-relationship sort of person and she wanted someone to connect with, not just have a love affair with.

She noticed a pair of satin pyjamas lying on the bed that hadn’t been there when she’d left the room earlier. Hanging on the handle of the wardrobe was a vest top and shorts, along with a new bikini in cellophane wrap. They must have been placed there by Ash before she’d come to dinner. She was effortlessly generous. A wave of guilt washed over Nina at the thought that she’d been coveting her new friend’s boyfriend. What is wrong with me? She got changed into the pyjamas and climbed into the bed, determined to stop being such a fool and do better the next day.

Chapter Six

In the morning Nina awoke early. She’d had a night of stressful dreams regarding Isla. She lifted her phone. Isla had texted just before midnight and said she’d be there around ten a.m. Nina messaged to acknowledge the text and ask what Isla had been doing. Then she got up and showered, putting on the bikini, vest top and shorts that Ash had left out for her. She steeled herself to become immune to her attraction to Cam. She was not his type. He wasn’t interested in her, and thinking that he might be just made her delusional. Plus, it was not okay to be fantasising about another woman’s man.

She made her way downstairs, deciding to go in search of coffee. In any case, I don’t go for men who are only into the aesthetics of a female. She could certainly appreciate the beauty of those women and the talent it took to make themselves up a certain way. She didn’t begrudge that because it was their choice and they were entitled to it. But it wasn’t her preference, so men who were into all that weren’t on her radar.

She checked her phone as she went through the living room and a wave of nausea washed over her. Isla had messaged back telling her to stop prying and it was none of her business what she’d been doing. Shit. She should have been more careful about what she’d texted, because she hadn’t meant it in that way but could see how it had been misconstrued, given Isla’s current mood. Nina hated fighting with Isla. It wasn’t like them and it was causing her significant stress.

Nina entered the kitchen, her heart rate reacting to her anxiety. The smell of freshly brewed coffee went some way to soothing her. One of the others must be up. Instinct told her that it wouldn’t be Ash, because she’d given the strong impression that she liked to sleep in. In addition to napping in the day. Nina smiled. No wonder, with all her late-night networking and partying, the woman must need all the day-naps she could get.

She got out a mug and poured herself a coffee. Footsteps sounded on the stairs from the basement and Cameron appeared at the top, shirtless and wearing only gym shorts. His towel obscured his face as he wiped the sweat from his face and hair. She froze with her coffee cup en route to her lips.

He glanced up and his eyes widened, clearly not expecting her to be there. “Morning.”

She swallowed, trying to get her voice out. “Hi.” She dragged her eyes away from his torso, trying to remind herself of the talking to she’d just given herself.