“Nothing, it’s a joke my father used to use,” I said, and immediately regretted it because it nudged open one of those doors that I wanted to keep tightly shut.
“Oh? What does he do? I assume he still works?”
“I don’t like talking about my father,” I said, so sharply I could feel the air freeze between us.
“Oh, sorry, but you just brought him up, and I thought . . .”
“I was trying to make a point about you and Norbert still being friends even though he’s apparently gay.”
“Ah, yes, yes. I see. He’s actually my best friend,” Paul said. “There’s a lot more in life to share besides sex.”
“You might get kicked out of your gender for making such an outrageous remark,” I told him, and he roared.
Moments later, we turned into the villa’s driveway and parked.
“Before we go in, I’d like to settle something between us,” he said.
“What?” I asked, anticipating something about my being so elusive when it came to answering questions about myself, my family, or Mrs. Brittany. I was prepared to tell him to stay in the car and not bother anymore. But he surprised me.
“Dinner,” he said. “Margery will be hovering over us, and I’d like to get that in cement.”
I laughed, but then I wondered if I should call Mrs. Brittany first and tell her what was happening. Would she think me cautious and wise to check with her before going too much further, or would she think I was too insecure?
“We’ll go close by. I have a favorite restaurant in Beaulieu, Les Agaves. You’ll love the food, the ambience.”
My hesitation was confusing him.
“All I want to do is walk a little more before we run,” he added with a smile.
I had to smile, too. “Okay,” I said.
We got out and went in to change into our bathing suits. I had a new bikini Mrs. Brittany had bought me on one of our shopping sprees. He took the guest room and was waiting for me below as I descended. I saw the smile on his face blossom even more as he drank me in with his thirsty eyes.
“You’re a very beautiful woman, Roxy. I mean that.”
“I hope so,” I said, as unimpressed as I could sound. “I hate insincerity, especially when it involves something concerning me.”
He lost his smile. “You don’t accept compliments too easily. Why so cautious?”
“Compliments was the way Lucifer got to Eve in the Garden of Eden.”
“I’m not Lucifer.”
“We’ll see,” I said. “Let’s go swimming. We both have to cool off.”
He took my hand as we walked out. Either Margery or Ian had set up the chaise longues with towels and placed a bottle of white wine to chill in a bucket beside them. I looked around but didn’t see either of them. My paranoia began to seep in again. This felt like some sort of setup. Everything was so convenient, so easy and encouraging.
I went right to the pool and dived in to start my laps. When I had completed four, I saw that Paul was still standing at the edge of the pool watching me.
“What?”
“You’re the first woman I’ve been with who really meant swimming when we went swimming.”
“Try it,” I said, with a challenge in my voice, and continued my laps.
He got in and swam beside me, but after ten more, he stopped to catch his breath and hold on to the side of the pool. I did another five before pausing.
“How old are you, really, Roxy?” he asked.