“Why do they target you? I don’t understand why they target you specifically.” I do actually. He’s gorgeous, wealthy, and has enough boyish charm to light up the world… but I’m not letting him know that.
He shrugs. “It started about five years ago when I dated a girl who also happened to be a model. It was her they were after, and they got a few images of us together. Then I met another girl who, unbeknown to me, was an actress. We were photographed leaving a club together and they just assumed I was seeing both woman at the same time. That’s when they began this whole love rat bullshit.”
“Were you seeing both women at the same time?”
He smirks. “Possibly, but each of them knew we weren’t exclusive and they were seeing other people, too.”
I stare out the window and a wave of disappointment runs through me. Unable to stop it from happening, my eyes fill with tears.
“Angel,” he whispers, wrapping his arm around me. “Don’t be upset.”
“This isn’t how I wanted to announce my first relationship to my family, Spence,” I whisper.
“I know, baby.” I sit back and rest my head on his shoulder. “It’s shitty.” He kisses my temple. “But don’t let this crap affect our relationship. I don’t care what everyone else thinks, I don’t care if they hate me, but if I lose you because of shitty lies from people who don’t even know me…” His voice trails off.
He’s right. This isn’t his fault.
“Can we start the weekend again, please?” I ask hopefully.
He smiles down at me, his eyes filled with empathy. “We can do anything you want, angel.”
*
The car pulls into the private garage and I hunch my shoulders in excitement.
We’re in Santorini, Greece.
“Your villa is two doors down from ours. You have your own pool,” Spence tells the boys. “The key is in the mail box at the side.”
“Thank you.” They both smile, and I think that, secretly, they’re just as excited as me.
I love how Spencer always books their things and looks after their welfare, making sure they are well looked after. They have taken to him well and look to him for guidance now. It means a lot to me, and it says a lot about the type of man Spencer is.
“We’ll just check out your place first, if that’s okay?” Anthony asks.
“Of course.”
The boys grab our bags and then disappear inside, leaving me to bounce around in the car. I can’t remember ever being this excited. Spencer opens my door and holds his hand out for me to take.
“You ready, angel?” His face is alive with mischief, and I already know the place he’s booked is incredible.
“I am.” I beam at him as I take his hand and get out of the car. “Thank you for organising this. It’s amazing.”
“You haven’t even seen it yet.” He chuckles. “This isn’t our place. We’re camping on the beach with no bathroom.” He throws me one of those sexy winks he does so well. “I thought we could rough it. Really get to know each other.”
I laugh. “That would be amazing, too.”
He takes me into his arms and kisses me. “You are very easily pleased, Charlotte Prescott.”
“As long as I’m with you, I’m happy.”
We kiss again as the air around us swirls, our tabloid disaster has thankfully been left behind on the plane. We’ve decided not to think about it until Monday when we return. There’s no use worrying and ruining our time here over something that’s already done.
We are on the side of the mountain in Santorini, just near a village called Fira. All the houses and villas are white and overlook the sea. It looks like it’s straight out of a travel brochure.
“Let’s go inside,” I urge.
“Wait for the boys to finish first.”
Oh, he wants privacy. I love it when he wants privacy.
I giggle up at him and he holds me in his arms. “Greece agrees with you.” He smiles lovingly at me.
“I know.” I laugh. “It really does.”
He chuckles, and a few moments later we hear the words we’ve been waiting for. “All clear.”
“Thank you,” Spencer says as they walk back out into the garage. “I’ll call you in the morning. No plans, we’re just here to relax.”
“Okay.”
He slaps Wyatt on the back as he walks past him.
“We have our phones if you need us,” Anthony calls.
“Thanks.”
Spencer guides me through the huge timber double front doors, and my mouth falls open as my eyes bounce around the space.
“Oh my God,” I gasp.
It’s all white and minimalistic. The walls are made from rendered cement, and the floor has a beautiful terracotta tile to it.
The room is glowing pink and I’ve never seen anything more beautiful.
The sunset.
The entire back of the villa is made of glass that overlooks an exotic infinity pool and the most beautiful view. The sun is just setting over the water. Spencer leads me out through the French doors to a balcony that is decorated with exotic day beds and deckchairs. Beautiful cushions are scattered around the pool and I can’t help but smile as I take it all in.
“This is like some crazy movie scene,” I breathe, feeling the pink glow on my face. The sea breeze blows my hair around, and I look up to see Spencer smiling at the ocean. “Thank you,” I whisper.
He takes me in his arms and pushes the hair back from my face. “I’m sorry about today.”
“It’s not your fault.” I wrap my arms around his broad neck, and his lips touch mine. “Let’s go swimming.”
“Okay.” He immediately begins to undress, lifting his shirt over his shoulders. “What are you doing?” I ask.
“We’re skinny dipping.”
“I don’t think I want that on the front page of a magazine.” I hold my arm up to gesture to the villas above us on the hill. Who knows who can see us from up here?
“Didn’t think of that.” He kicks off his shoes, slides his jeans down, and he steps out of them. I’m rewarded with the sight of his tight, white boxer shorts. My eyes drop down his body and back to his face.
“Get your bikini on. Now.” He smirks darkly. “I’m about to fuck you in this pool.”
Goose bumps scatter up my arms and I giggle like a schoolgirl. I run inside and grab my bag, taking it through to the main bedroom.
This is the best weekend ever.
I stop dead in my tracks when I see the room.
Once again, I’m rendered speechless. There’s a king size bed made out of a pale timber that has beautiful white netting surrounding it. The back wall is made of glass windows, and it also has magnificent views of the ocean. Through a large mint green barn style door is a gigantic bathroom with a triple shower and a sunken spa bath in the middle.
I put my hands over my mouth in awe. I’ve never been anywhere so beautiful. I scramble through my bag and find my gold bikini. I throw it on and run back out to the pool. Spencer is sitting on the step and he smiles when he sees me.
I hold my hands out wide. “Ta-dah!” I announce.
Spencer’s eyes twinkle with a certain something I haven’t seen before. He stands and takes my hand, leading me into the pool.
“Look at you, you’re blossoming before my eyes.”
I frown in question.
“A month ago, you were self-conscious and shy, and now...” He holds his hand out to my bikini. “Sexy and confident as fuck. Exhibit A.”
I giggle as I wrap my arms and legs around him in the water. “Well, I have a very good teacher.”
He looks down at me, the sinking sun lighting his face. The water is still, and suddenly, it’s as if the whole world stops. Our eyes are locked, our bodies snuggled up tight together, but it’s his heart I’m here for. His big, beautiful, caring heart.
This is a tenderness I’ve never known—one that a lot of women will never know.
The closeness between us is everything.
His eyes search mine as if he feels it too, and for a long time, we just stare at each other in the twilight. Finally, he takes my face into his hands and his lips gently brush over mine.
“I love you, Charlotte,” he whispers.
“I love you, too.” I smile softly. Oh…. this is so perfect.
He is perfect.
We kiss, long and slow, and I can feel his erection up against my stomach.
“You didn’t have to bring me all the way to Greece to say that?” I smile down at him.