Maxime.
He floated on his back in the shallow end. The chiselled planes of his chest gleamed in the late sun, his tattoos bled blue where they disappeared beneath the surface. He had his eyes closed, the usual furrow in his brow firmly in place.
I smiled. If staying in Furze meant I’d see him like this every single day, then hire me a mermaid tail and give me singing lessons. I’d be his Siren—whichever way he wanted me.
Taking a breath, I moved onto the cool pool tiles. When he didn’t move, I cleared my throat.
As soon as he heard me, he snapped his lashes open and stood. Water cascaded from his shoulders, forming delicious liquid paths over his chest and arms. When he pulled one of his hands through his hair, sweeping it from his face, all the muscles at the base of my belly tightened in glorious appreciation.
“Chloe,” he whispered. “You came back.” A smile grew on his lips. “And how charming you look.”
I gave him a nonchalant shrug. It baffled me when he didn’t laugh at my outfit. But if he wanted to party with OG Chloe Au Lait, I wouldn’t turn down the invitation.
“I thought since my job title might be under review, I should check in with my boss. Go over any new terms and conditions. Explore the fine print.”
Maxime shook his head. “Chloe. You don’t have to work for me.”
I took another step forward. “Oh, but I’d like to. Just not the way you’re thinking.”
He ran his eyes from my head to my toes. “No?”
I shook my head. “No. I intend to make my updated role a lot more …personal. It’ll require a lot more overtime. Late shifts after hours. And there might be some uniform changes.”
I took a last step forward, pulling at the tie around my apron, sending Maxime the cheekiest smile I could muster.Apparently, he got the memo, because he took a step towards me, his bottom lip gripped in his teeth, gaze full of fire.
“You asked me on the beach to never hide anything from you again.” I moved still closer to the edge of the pool, dipping my toes in, swirling them in the water. “So, in the spirit of honesty, I have some things to share.”
Teasing and turning, I slowly untied the apron. When I finally slipped it off, Maxime sucked in a breath.
I moved to sit on the edge, but before I could, he was there, standing beneath me with hands outstretched. I took them, and he closed his palms around my waist, slowly lowering me down his body and into the water.
On my way down, I threaded my arms around his neck. When I hit the cool liquid, I wrapped my legs around his waist. Grinning, I moved against the hardness in his shorts. Was this what companies meant by “clocking in?” It felt a lot more like “cocking in” to me.
Maxime carried me into the middle of the pool. Instead of turning his gaze to my breasts just beneath the surface, he kept his focus locked on my chef’s hat.
“Are you going to keep that on?”
I tilted my head. “Why? Don’t you like it?”
Maxime ran a hand down my back, bringing it to rest firmly on my buttock. “You could wear anything, and I’d love it.”
“Perfect, because I’m thinking of upgrading my outfit.” With a grin, I pulled off my hat, throwing it into the water. Then I reached for my nape, drawing forward the sea glass pendant he’d made. I’d tucked it behind my back on the way up the steps. It floated in the water, between my breasts.
He took it, slowly turning the blue glass in his fingers before laying it against my skin. Only this time, he brushed the back of his hand over one hardened nipple.
When his eyes found mine, it was all I could do to stay on track. I swallowed, trying to focus. “I accept your offer.”
Maxime zeroed in on me, his face bright and alive.
“I’ll stay. I mean, I’d love to stay.” I paused, fighting the hammering in my heart. “I can’t imagine ever leaving.”
He widened his eyes, and I wrapped my legs tighter around him, bringing us closer together.
“You’re sure?”
I nodded, blood roaring in my ears. Maxime didn’t move at first. He just looked at me, as if he meant to memorise my every feature. Then, slowly, he brought his hands to my face and kissed me, soft and certain.
“I love you,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t expect you to say it back, but…”
