Celine turned to check out Pierce’s location. He was still on the far end of the pool but now he was lounging, doing the backstroke, leisurely floating back towards them. Obviously, he felt there was no more threat. He’d probably thought she’d given up and gone back to sit with Kylie and lick her wounds. Well, he had grossly under estimated her and he was about to get the shock of his life.
With the slippery stealth of a snake Celine slid back into the water but this time she took a huge breath and went under, traveling swiftly along the bottom of the pool. As she moved she watched Pierce float toward her, totally oblivious to the danger lurking below. Then when he was right above she crouched and, using the bottom of the pool for leverage, she vaulted straight up and shot toward him.
Celine grabbed Pierce around the waist and dragged him under and as he kicked in surprise she shot away from his reach.
She was laughing as she got back to Kylie’s side. Why had she done that? For the life of her she couldn’t tell what made her as to dunk her own boss. Dear God, she must be losing her mind.
He’d been so close, he’d been so warm when she grabbed him around the waist, he’d been so firm to the touch. And she’d been so turned on. The horseplay was supposed to have been pure innocent fun but tell that to her body. Every time Pierce came near her nipples turned into hard pebbles she was sure he could see through the fabric of her bikini top. And every time she saw his lean muscled body cut through the water her breath caught in her throat. She was dying to slide her hands over his muscled chest and tight abs. She was craving to slide her lips down his back. She’d never had such bold thoughts in her life. What was this man doing to her?
By now Pierce had swum back to the surface and still sputtering, was staring at her through the water streaming down his face. The glitter in his eyes told her he wasn’t about to take that without a response. He shook the strands of wet hair from his face and fixing his dark eyes on Celine, ducked down into the water, his body, mouth and nose below the surface. Like a crocodile stalking its prey, with only his eyes and the top of his head above the surface, Pierce streaked toward her.
Although she knew it was in fun, and although she was fully aware that this was a man and not a beast, an unreasonable fright filled Celine and she shrieked. The game was becoming too real. She scooped Kylie up and swam quickly toward the steps, intent on getting out of the pool and escaping her stalker’s clutches.
She was almost out when a woman’s high-pitched voice cut through the air. “Well, what have we here?” As one, they spun in the direction of the voice. And there stood Sophia Redgrave looking cool and crisp in a pant suit of white linen. In her arms she gingerly held a tray on which lay a colorful cake cover.
She gave them a tight little smile. “I was ringing the doorbell but when there was no answer I decided to come around. Did I break up a party?”
Her eyes flashed with something akin to anger as they swept over Celine and Kylie. But then her face softened as she turned her attention to Pierce. “I brought you something special,” she said, her face softening into a smile. “I’ll take it to the kitchen. Come see.”
Pierce raised his eyebrows then he smiled and swam to the side of the pool where she now stood looking down at him.
“What do you have there?” he asked, his voice full of amusement.
Sophia shook her head and gave him a teasing frown. “I’m not telling. Only if you’re a good boy and follow me.” Without waiting for a reply she minced her way up the path in her high heeled gold sandals, her bottom swaying seductively as she went.
Pierce watched her go then he turned to Celine and Kylie who had not moved from the edge of the pool where Sophia found them. He raised his eyebrows and grinned. “Who doesn’t like a surprise?” he said with a shrug. Then he put his hands on the side, hauled himself out of the water and loped up the cobbled path to the house.
With each step Pierce took up that path Celine’s heart slid lower and lower. When he finally disappeared into the house she felt like her heart was a rock that had rolled to the bottom of her belly.
How could she have been so stupid? How could she have forgotten about Sophia Redgrave?
She’d had her doubts when the woman implied that she and Pierce were more than just friends. She hadn’t heard Mrs. Simpson mention her so then she’d thought the woman was probably exaggerating. Maybe she just wanted Celine to think they had something going on.
But if she’d had any doubts about the veracity of the woman’s statement she didn’t have any such doubts now. The way Pierce’s face lit up, the way he’d run off after the woman told her all she needed to know. Pierce D’Amato was taken and if she knew what was good for her she’d stay as far away from him as possible.