‘I did!’
‘What are we standing here for?’ Within seconds he’s slipped off his jacket and jumper, his t-shirt pulls up to expose tanned, rippled abs, and oh my, I’m going to die of lust. I double-blink and try to regain my equilibrium.Play it cool, Aubrey. Don’t act like some sex-starved fool, but it’s too late. My mouth is agape and I’m probably doing that under-breath life-narration thing because it bloody well can’t be helped. The man is a sex god, no two ways about it.
‘Aubrey?’
He frowns.
‘Aubrey?’
I snap back to the here and now. ‘Yes?’
‘Sorry, is the hot tub thing too soon? I can wear my t-shirt…’
My gaze drops to his torso, which is now unclothed. He stands in a pair of denim jeans that hug him in all the right places. How can a body be so earth shattering, knocking all sense from my brain? Still, it’s best to downplay the effect he’s having on me. ‘No, you don’t need to wear a T-shirt. I’ll change into my bathing suit and meet you in the hot tub.’
* * *
After I’m changed, I check my reflection in the mirror and give myself a pep talk. He’s just Jasper; hot, yes, but intelligent too.
The situation calls for alcohol, no two ways about it. In the mini bar fridge, I find a bottle of champagne with a note:
For the lovebirds, from Princess. It’s not just a name, it’s a way of life.
I smile. God, I love her.
I join Jasper, who’s in the tub, arms outstretched, gazing out towards the snowcapped mountains. He gives me a slow once over, his lips curving as if he likes what he sees but is too polite to say. Well, that’s a good thing.
‘Bubbles, from Princess.’
He takes the champagne flutes from my hand while I open the bottle. Once our glasses are poured, I sit beside him, nestling into him, trying my darndest not to think of what he’s wearing on the bottom half.
‘How lucky are we,’ he says, ‘to be here experiencing this?’
‘It’s incredible. I’m going to have the holiday blues after, that’s for sure. What can ever live up to this?’ And I don’t mean just the stunning vista before me.
‘Does it need to end? That’s the question.’
‘Ah?’
‘This might sound massively cheesy, but when I first spotted you on the platform, I felt an instant spark, like love at first sight.’ He blushes and covers it by taking a deep sip of champagne.
Love at first sight! But hadn’t I felt the very same about Jasper that day on the platform? Shocked back to life? ‘Really?’
‘Really.’ He lets out a self-conscious laugh. ‘I’ve always wanted to find someone who shares the same interests as me, someone who wants to explore the world. Sure, I like my cosy little cabin in Connecticut, but it’s just a base. What I’m trying to say, Aubrey, is that I don’t want this holiday to end, inasmuch as I don’t want to let you go. At the risk of coming across like a stage-four clinger, do you want to keep the holiday going?’
‘By holiday, you mean us?’
‘I do.’
I bite down on a goofy grin. ‘Well, I’ve been thinking.’ I look up at him, my heart stuttering at the sight of him. ‘After Lapland, I was considering renting a campervan for my next adventure.’ Van life is a popular cost-effective way to travel and I’m keen to give it a try and see if I enjoy living out of a tiny home on wheels. I’m used to travelling light anyway, so it’s no real hardship, but living out of a van gives me a lot more freedom when it comes to exploring.
‘I love that idea.’
‘Yeah? That’s good because I had this crazy thought…’
‘I’m listening.’
‘Would you like to be my travel buddy? I’m sure I can find a van big enough for the two of us.’
