“It’s fine,” I tell her waving her gratitude away. After all, it’s what you do for your friends. “He better be cute?”
“The man is gorgeous, Elle. I’m so upset that I’ve done this because I was very much looking forward to spending the week with him.” Sierra sighs.
Lauren’s eyes widen as she looks up at me with a smile on her face. Guess if I’m giving up my day off, I am glad it’s for a hottie. I blow them both a kiss, and they wish me luck.
As I head toward the villa Sierra told me her guest is staying in, all I know is he’s booked in for a happy ending massage. While I get him set up, I will check the tablet to see what his other wants are so I can ensure he has a seamless Paradise Club experience. Once I arrive at the villa, I knock on the door and wait for the guest.
“Come in,” the male’s deep voice calls out to me.
I pause for the briefest of moments as icicles slide down my body.
No.That can’t be right.
Memories of a once-familiar voice cascade through my mind—one that I have tried to forget about since leaving London. The ache and hurt from his betrayal rush through me, and I take a moment to try to compose myself.
There’s no way it’s him.
Fate wouldn’t be so cruel.
He is a member.I still refuse to believe it could be him.
I’ve been thinking about going back home a lot recently, and that’s the only reason why I’m thinking about him now. He’s attached to London, and it’s not because I’ve missed him or anything. There may have been times when my curiosity got the better of me, and I may have checked his socials. That ended in hurt, seeing the images of him out and about town with several beautiful women on his arm.
Guess I was easily replaced.
And I hate that it hurt me that much.
I hated that I let him slip through my defenses.
Never again.
I give myself a head shake to shake off the lingering hurt.
I have a job to do for Sierra—now, plaster on that Paradise Club smile and do what you must for your friend.
My hand turns the door handle, and I step into the beachfront villa while sucking in a deep breath. The gentleman is sitting in the pool, back turned toward me, staring out toward the ocean.
“I’m sorry to inform you, sir, but Miss Sierra has had an accident on her way to the villa.” My eyes run over the broad, tanned shoulders exposed outside of the water—it appears he looks after himself. I wonder how gorgeous he really is. Sierra seems to think he’s hot, and she usually has good taste. “She’s fine. Looks like it might be a broken ankle, though. She is very sorry that she won’t be able to continue to look after you during your stay,” I explain to him. Not that it’s going to be too much of a hardship for me, judging by the way he looks from behind. “I’ll be your new host for the rest of the week. My name is Elle.”
As soon as my name falls from my lips, he spins around, and that’s when my world stops.
No.
This can’t be happening.
He can’t be here.
Is this a cruel joke?
Those hazel eyes flare with surprise before narrowing with anger. Why the hell would he be angry with me? I’m the one who’s supposed to be angry. He’s the asshole who promised me the world and then took it all away just as easily.
His sandy-colored hair is longer than it used to be. There’s stubble growing across his square jaw as if he hasn’t shaved in weeks.I hate that I like it.He’s tanned, which means he’s spent all his days in the sun. If his socials are anything to go by, he spends a lot of time with bikini-clad women draped all over him.
Large hands slap the edge of the pool as he hauls himself up and out of it. My eyes follow the water droplets running over his body as they sink into every deep line of his six-pack. It appears he’s been working out with every muscle appearing like it’s been cut from stone. He stands tall as those hazel eyes continue to glare at me.
Screw him!How dare he look at me as if I’m the villain in this story.
He grabs a towel from the basket and wraps it around his waist, then begins to walk toward me.