spa you can use.’
Happy to move out of his commanding orbit, Aspen followed his directions.
‘Oh...’ She stared at a sapphire-blue lap pool which had a large spa at the end of it. The pool was shielded on one side by a thick hedge and from above by a strategically placed cloth sail that would block both the sun and any paparazzi snooping around. ‘You don’t do things by halves, do you?’
‘Mexico is a hot place.’
Then why did she feel so cold?
Shivering, she glanced back at him, her attention caught by piercing black eyes and the dark stubble that highlighted his square jaw. Those broad shoulders...
She shivered again, and tossed her head to cover her reaction. ‘Time to get this party started, I’d say.’
‘Party?’ He raised a cool eyebrow at her. ‘In the pool?’
Aspen cast a quick glance at the inviting water, alarmed as an image of both of them naked and entwined popped into her head. It was so clear she could almost see them there—his larger, tanned body holding her up, the silky feel of the water lapping at her skin as it rippled with their movements, her arms curved over his smooth shoulders as she steadied herself, his hands stroking her heavy breasts....
She felt her face flame. She had the romantic—the fantasy —version of sex in her mind. The real version, she knew from experience, could never live up to it.
‘Of course not.’
‘Have you ever made love in the water, Aspen?’
Had he moved closer to her? She glanced at him with alarm but he hadn’t moved. Or hadn’t appeared to.
She inhaled and steeled her spine. ‘The pool doesn’t appeal to me.’
‘Pity. It’s a nice night for it.’
Aspen didn’t want to complicate this. A bed was more than adequate for what was about to happen between them. And she could close her eyes more easily in a bed.
‘A bed is fine.’
She wondered if Cruz would put a towel down, the way Chad had done.
A muscle ticked in Cruz’s jaw and he stared at her as if trying to discern all her deepest thoughts. Then he turned abruptly away. ‘Actually, I find I don’t enjoy making love on an empty stomach.’
‘This has nothing to do with love,’ Aspen reminded him assertively.
Halfway to returning indoors, Cruz stopped and his black eyes smouldered. ‘When I touch your body, Aspen, you’ll think it does.’
Oh, how arrogant was that ? If only he knew that all his Latin charm was wasted on her.
Aspen hurled mental daggers at his broad back and wondered why he didn’t want to get this over with as soon as possible. By all accounts he seemed to want her—but then so had Chad in the beginning. Oh, this was beyond awful. She hated second-guessing Cruz’s desire. Hated hoping that with him it would be different. She knew better than to count on hope. It hadn’t brought her mother or her father back into her life. It hadn’t made her grandfather love her for herself in the end.
This time when she looked around the vast living area she noticed a bottle of champagne in a silver ice bucket on the main dining table. Maybe that was what she should do. Get drunk.
As if reading her mind, Cruz tightened his mouth. ‘Come—I’ll show you to your room.’
Aspen felt her heart bump inside her chest. He’s just showing you the room, you fool, not asking you to use it.
Yet.
Standing back to let her pass, Cruz indicated towards a closed door. ‘The bathroom, which should be stocked with everything you’ll need, is through there.’
Aspen nodded, feeling completely overwhelmed.
When it became obvious she wasn’t going to say anything Cruz turned to go. ‘I’ll leave you to freshen up.’
She noticed a book on the bedside table. ‘This is your room,’ she blurted out.
‘You were expecting someone else’s?’
‘No. I...’ She spared him a tart look. ‘I thought you might like your own space.’
‘I like my bed warm more.’
Right.
‘Dinner should be served in twenty minutes.’
After he closed the door behind him Aspen
Happy to move out of his commanding orbit, Aspen followed his directions.
‘Oh...’ She stared at a sapphire-blue lap pool which had a large spa at the end of it. The pool was shielded on one side by a thick hedge and from above by a strategically placed cloth sail that would block both the sun and any paparazzi snooping around. ‘You don’t do things by halves, do you?’
‘Mexico is a hot place.’
Then why did she feel so cold?
Shivering, she glanced back at him, her attention caught by piercing black eyes and the dark stubble that highlighted his square jaw. Those broad shoulders...
She shivered again, and tossed her head to cover her reaction. ‘Time to get this party started, I’d say.’
‘Party?’ He raised a cool eyebrow at her. ‘In the pool?’
Aspen cast a quick glance at the inviting water, alarmed as an image of both of them naked and entwined popped into her head. It was so clear she could almost see them there—his larger, tanned body holding her up, the silky feel of the water lapping at her skin as it rippled with their movements, her arms curved over his smooth shoulders as she steadied herself, his hands stroking her heavy breasts....
She felt her face flame. She had the romantic—the fantasy —version of sex in her mind. The real version, she knew from experience, could never live up to it.
‘Of course not.’
‘Have you ever made love in the water, Aspen?’
Had he moved closer to her? She glanced at him with alarm but he hadn’t moved. Or hadn’t appeared to.
She inhaled and steeled her spine. ‘The pool doesn’t appeal to me.’
‘Pity. It’s a nice night for it.’
Aspen didn’t want to complicate this. A bed was more than adequate for what was about to happen between them. And she could close her eyes more easily in a bed.
‘A bed is fine.’
She wondered if Cruz would put a towel down, the way Chad had done.
A muscle ticked in Cruz’s jaw and he stared at her as if trying to discern all her deepest thoughts. Then he turned abruptly away. ‘Actually, I find I don’t enjoy making love on an empty stomach.’
‘This has nothing to do with love,’ Aspen reminded him assertively.
Halfway to returning indoors, Cruz stopped and his black eyes smouldered. ‘When I touch your body, Aspen, you’ll think it does.’
Oh, how arrogant was that ? If only he knew that all his Latin charm was wasted on her.
Aspen hurled mental daggers at his broad back and wondered why he didn’t want to get this over with as soon as possible. By all accounts he seemed to want her—but then so had Chad in the beginning. Oh, this was beyond awful. She hated second-guessing Cruz’s desire. Hated hoping that with him it would be different. She knew better than to count on hope. It hadn’t brought her mother or her father back into her life. It hadn’t made her grandfather love her for herself in the end.
This time when she looked around the vast living area she noticed a bottle of champagne in a silver ice bucket on the main dining table. Maybe that was what she should do. Get drunk.
As if reading her mind, Cruz tightened his mouth. ‘Come—I’ll show you to your room.’
Aspen felt her heart bump inside her chest. He’s just showing you the room, you fool, not asking you to use it.
Yet.
Standing back to let her pass, Cruz indicated towards a closed door. ‘The bathroom, which should be stocked with everything you’ll need, is through there.’
Aspen nodded, feeling completely overwhelmed.
When it became obvious she wasn’t going to say anything Cruz turned to go. ‘I’ll leave you to freshen up.’
She noticed a book on the bedside table. ‘This is your room,’ she blurted out.
‘You were expecting someone else’s?’
‘No. I...’ She spared him a tart look. ‘I thought you might like your own space.’
‘I like my bed warm more.’
Right.
‘Dinner should be served in twenty minutes.’
After he closed the door behind him Aspen
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