“Um, no,” I said softly, trying not to look too befuddled, “I was just going to get… a coffee.”
For a second Brenda glared at me then her gaze became rather condescending.
“Oh, I thought I recognized you: you were at the picnic on Sunday, Mrs.…?”
“Caroline Wilson,” I supplied politely. “And you are…?”
“Brenda Wiseman,” she said, raising her eyebrows, clearly believing she was unforgettable. How right she was.
Sebastian’s haunted eyes pedaled between us.
“Nice to see you again, Brenda,” I said, matching her for insincerity.
She adjusted her bikini top, her tried and tested method for attracting Sebastian’s attention. This time it failed spectacularly; he was still staring intently at me. God, I hoped somebody tried to drown themselves soon – maybe that would snap him out of it – although it was doubtful.
Brenda’s eyes narrowed: she sensed competition, so now she was going in for the kill. While Sebastian’s gaze was still fixed on me, I saw her fiddle with one of her earrings and slip it into her purse. What was she up to?
I was about to find out.
“Seb?” she whined. “I lost an earring; I think it came off in the deep end. Would you, like, dive down and find it for me?”
Wow, she really was shameless! She’d deployed the poor, helpless female act to get her own way and she was about to make him take his shirt off – all in one short sentence. I would never have thought of that: I had a lot to learn.
Sebastian frowned at her.
“Are you sure you lost it in the deep end?” He stared at her accusingly. “Your hair is dry.”
She flushed. “I’ve been here a while… I was swimming when I noticed it had gone. Please, take a look?”
“Okay,” he said, staring down into the pool.
I saw a look of triumph in her expression which soon changed to lust as Sebastian pulled off his T-shirt and stepped out of his flip-flops.
It was really hard to imagine that they’d dated for ten whole months. Even harder to imagine that she hadn’t ripped off his clothes and stolen his virginity at some point during that period. Had she only become so obviously desperate once he’d broken up with her or had she always been like this? I reminded myself of the reason why they’d broken up in the first place: she’d slept with someone else. Perhaps Sebastian had had a good grasp on his self-control when he was with her – just not with me, I concluded smugly.
Across the pool, I saw two women of Shirley’s age nudge each other and adjust their sunglasses for a better look.
Big tips from horny, older women.
Jealousy was such a new and unaccustomed emotion, that I had to remind myself my homicidal thoughts were something of an over-reaction. Except, perhaps, where Brenda was concerned.
I was relieved that the nail marks I’d inflicted on him last night – or very early this morning – had, mostly, faded. Sebastian wasn’t the only one who had to be careful not to get carried away.
With a grace that took my breath away, he dived into the deep end and stayed under for half a minute, searching for the earring that Evil Brenda pretended she’d lost. He came up for air then dove down again. Twice more he swept the bottom of the pool but, of course, found nothing.
Eventually he gave up and pulled himself out of the pool, right next to where Brenda was sitting, the vixen trying to look all helpless and grateful. His swim-trunks clung to his body as the water poured off him, and his skin sparkled in the sun, droplets reflecting light off his chest and arms.