Temptation(56)

“You are a bad girl Tash.” I shook my head at her.

“You can talk?” She bit her lip.

“Maybe, maybe not.” I gave her a cheeky grin.

“Let’s go for a walk, up the hill. There’s a nice pool and you can see the ocean.” We all hopped out and put on our white terry-towelling robes and flip flops.

“Shit its cold.” It was, the pool water’s average temperature was between 39 and 43 degrees, so when you stepped out the cool air really hit you. We all shuffled along and must’ve resembled a colony of penguins.

“What the Fuck?” Tash was leading us up the hill and stopped in her tracks, we all nearly bumped each other like a set of dominos.

“Check this dude out, he is lying in a foot pool.” There was one lone man lying flat on his stomach in a pool that was very shallow and shallow because it was meant for your feet only. Tash continued on and we all followed, trying to stifle our impending laughs, as I walked past muffling my mouth with my hand, I pointed to the ‘Foot Bath’ sign. Let’s just say the guy, got out of there very quickly.

We had a blast Saturday night at the Karaoke Bar, lots of songs were killed including, Holding Out For a Hero, Love Shack and Battlefield, the Schnappies kept coming and Danny made sure we all got back to the Country Club safe and sound. I never once used Bryce’s credit card, this weekend was about me and my girls and I was more than happy to splurge. Steph had passed out on the sofa and Jade had put herself to bed. Tash, Lil and I sat out in the Al Fresco area and opened another bottle of Dom, apparently there was an entire case in the Limo.

“So Lexi, all this extravagance, lust and knight in shining armour shit aside, what are your feelings for Mr Clark? Have you and Rick been having some problems?” Trust Lil, to come right out with it.

“No, no problems really, well I don’t think so? As for Bryce, you want the honest truth? She raised her eyebrows and nodded.

“I think I’m in love with him.” Tash and Lil turned and the atmosphere had really become quite serious.

“Lex, are you sure? What about Rick?” Tash looked devastated.

“Is it possible to love two people? I don’t know that’s what it feels like?” I began to tear up, but fought the salty menaces away.

“Have you slept with him yet?” Lil was all Dr Phil.

“No Hun, I haven’t and I won’t behind Rick’s back but we have had a few passionate kisses, and when I say passionate I mean fucking passionate. I feel incredible when we are together, this might sound stupid or wrong or even naïve but I think we were meant to be.”

“But didn’t you feel that way about Rick before Bryce came along?” Tash was still dubious.

“Yes and that’s just it I have never had a comparison, you guys forget I have only ever been with Rick.” Both of them shrugged their shoulders.

“Ok Lex, take away the billions, the cars, the hotel and strip Bryce down to the core. Do you still think you’re in love with him now?” I thought about stripping Bryce down to the core and a greedy smile crept across my face.

“Yes, I honestly think I do. It’s not the money or power that attracts me to him, it’s him and the way he feels about me, money can’t buy that.” Lil lit up a cigarette.

“Give me one of those.” I put my hand out.

“You don’t smoke.” Lil threw me the packet.

“I do today.” She leant over and flicked on the lighter, I could see her sweet concerned face in the flame light.

“I heard a quote once, by memory it was by Mr Johnny Depp, it might pertain to you - If you are in love with two people, choose the second one; because if you really loved the first one, you wouldn't have fallen for the second." She flicked off the lighter and sat back in her seat.





CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE



Rick was watching the Grand Prix when he heard a knock at the door, annoyed he got up and answered it.

“Better not be a friggin telemarketer.” He opened the door, it definitely was not a telemarketer, instead the illustrious Bryce Clark was standing on his door step. Fuck, what does he want?

“G’day Bryce, you do remember Alexis is not here, yeah?”

“I’m not here to see Alexis, have you got a moment alone to discuss something?” Bryce looked around in the hope Nate and Charlotte were nowhere to be seen.

“Yeah, the kids are out with their friends, come in.” Rick dubiously showed Bryce inside, he knew something was up and at the very bottom of his stomach had an idea of what that was.

“Can I get you a beer Mate? It’s not the nice drop you offered me but it’s a frothy.” Rick went to the fridge and grabbed a couple of Crown Lagers and then they sat down on the lounge. Bryce was looking at the countless number of photos on the wall of the kids when they were babies. A lump formed in the powerful, billionaire’s throat but when he caught a glimpse of Alexis in her wedding dress looking simply breathtaking, he pictured himself in the Tuxedo next to her, this thought gave him pure joy and he buried the guilt of what he was about to do, Rick handed Bryce the beer.