Amber let out a laugh, and I recognized it as the one she used when she was flirting. “I think you sounded sexy.”
“Nah. I’ll leave the voice-over work to Emily.” The glint in his eyes said he wanted to add something about me being sexy.
I pursed my lips, praying he’d read my mind and keep his comment to himself.
He got the hint, but other than a soft sigh, he didn’t show any other signs of disappointment. He spent the rest of the thirty-minute drive giving an overview of Oinopa, pointing out the resort as we passed by, specifically where the spa was and the shopping mall, and explained where each of the side roads led when we came upon them.
“That’s the hillside trail,” he said. “It’s a nice run from the house. The view at the top is amazing. On a clear day, you can see from one coast to the other.”
I didn’t think it was an accident the way his arm grazed against my breast as he leaned across me to point it out. I held my breath, pissed at how aroused I was and how he had to know by the way my nipples stood up, reaching for the brush of his limb. And if I hadn’t been sure before, I was certain now that we might be in paradise, but being here with Reeve, whose touch was torturous and hot – was the closest thing to hell I’d ever known.
Reeve’s private compound wasn’t beachfront property as I’d imagined it would be. Instead, it was on the mountain, inaccessible except through a secured gate and a tree-lined driveway that wound up the cliffside. At the top, the canopy broke into a clearing with the house on one side of us, and on the other side, a view so spectacular I couldn’t believe that there were any more incredible on the island.
The positioning of the house was brilliant as well. It had been built on an outcrop of land so the ocean could be seen on three sides. It was grander than Reeve’s Los Angeles home, but still simple and clean in its design. The sprawling one-level with its various courtyards throughout was the safest layout, according to Reeve, and I had a feeling he meant safe from more than just hurricanes. Either way, it was easy to see why he considered this his most secure property.
As soon as we were out of the car, Reeve became preoccupied with business and, I suspected, news from Anatolios regarding measures he was taking with Michelis. He disappeared into his office and so Filip offered to show Amber and me to our rooms.
“That’s not necessary,” Amber said in the typical upper-crust manner she used with servants. “I’m guessing Reeve is putting us in the east suites?”
“He is,” Filip said, his head bowed in deference to her. “I’ll make sure your bags are brought immediately.”
I thanked Filip as I passed him, since Amber didn’t, then followed her through the front doors.
“This is the main living space,” she said, gesturing to the area in front of the entryway. “And behind it is the kitchen. The entire perimeter of the house is surrounded by these open walkways.”
The open walks referred to were basically hallways missing an outer wall. I trailed behind her as she followed the hall to the left. “There are three main parts of the house with courtyards in between. Here’s the first.”
The inner wall of the walk continued here, but it was lower, and in the area behind was an additional dining room and entertainment area that extended from the first building.
The next building we passed wasn’t open like the first, and I couldn’t see what rooms were contained inside.
“This is the office and master bedroom. There’s a mini-kitchen on the opposite side. Basically this is Reeve’s area.”
I tried to ignore the prick of awareness I had, knowing that he was just on the opposite side of the wall. “There aren’t any windows. I’d think the master would have the best view in the house.”
“Right? But it’s the most secure area on the compound so it’s supposedly surrounded by thick, impenetrable walls. It’s practically a safe room. But the outer wall here on the office can be raised like a garage door. Reeve almost always keeps it closed, though. You know him – he likes to be all secretive and shit.”
Yes, I did know him. I hated that she did as well.
The walls opened again and this time we turned into the courtyard. “This pool is heated and there’s the hot tub off the master.” She gestured to the last building. “And these are the guest quarters.”
There were two doorways leading into this part of the house. Between them was a bank of showers and, I guessed, dressing rooms behind them. She took us through the closest door, and, after we got inside past the back wall of the pool changing area, the building opened up to a large common space.
“These are all bedrooms,” she said, pointing to the doors that surrounded the main area. “Except that area on the back wall, which, you can see, is the exercise area. And we’ll have the two suites on either side. The best rooms in the house.”
She opened the door to one of them, and I gasped. The entire back wall was open to the outside, giving a breathtaking view of the ocean. Outside the bedroom was yet another patio area. A second pool ran the length of the building and spilled over the cliff beyond.
I walked in further and surveyed the scene. “This is… amazing,” I said, unable to find appropriate words for the spectacular setting.
Amber joined me as I walked out onto the covered lanai. “These walls close, too, like the office. In case you want to shut them at night for privacy. That room on the opposite end will be mine. We’re practically neighbors.”
I had to swallow past the ball suddenly lodged in the back of my throat before I could speak. “Just like old times.”