Virtuous(68)

“I know. I love it. In the daytime, we can see all the way to the Pacific from here. Come see the rest.”

He shows me his cluttered office, the room that doubles as an at-home movie theater and a game room, and the four extra bedrooms, all of them neat and nicely decorated and each with an en suite bathroom. “This is my room,” he says, flipping on the lights in a spacious room with the same view of the Hollywood Hills as the living room.

“That’s the biggest bed I’ve ever seen.”

“It’s a California king.”

“Figures you all do everything bigger and better out here.”

“So much I could say to that.”

“But you won’t.”

“But I won’t.” He kisses my nose and then my lips. “The bed is so big, you won’t even know I’m there.”

“What’s the point of that?”

His mouth opens and then closes as he apparently thinks better of whatever he was about to say. “How about a swim?”

“Now?”

“Why not?”

“Sure, we can do that.”

“Hang tight, and I’ll get the bags.”

I take advantage of the opportunity to take a closer look at his room, including the family photos displayed prominently on his dresser and bedside table. He’s obviously close to his bevy of nieces and nephews, who hang all over him in the photos. I pick up one of him with three blond little boys squirming on his lap, and the happy smile on his face touches me deep inside. This is a man who loves fiercely.

“Those are my sister Annie’s kids—Connor, Mason and Garrett. Little monkeys.”

I return the photo to his bedside table. “They’re adorable.”

“Yes, they are.” Flynn opens a door to a huge walk-in closet. “I’ll stick your bag in here, okay?”

“Perfect.”

“Is it too much to hope for a really skimpy bikini in there?” he asks with a salacious grin.

“Maybe. Maybe not.” I’m now really glad I bought what I consider a very sexy bikini when he told me to bring a bathing suit on the trip, and I didn’t have the heart to tell him I didn’t own one. I bought it online, hoping it would fit, and paid more than the suit cost to have it delivered in time for the trip.

“Mmm, don’t keep me in suspense for too long.” He leaves me with a kiss. “I’ll be outside when you’re ready. The door is off the living room.”

“I’ll be right there.”

I take a minute to unpack my cosmetic bag and put it in the huge bathroom that adjoins his room. After I brush my hair and teeth, I reach for the bathing suit. My hands tremble ever so slightly as I change into the red bikini. By Leah’s standards, it would be considered massively conservative. By my standards, it’s racy. Perhaps too racy, but it’s the only suit I have, so I’ll wear it. Thinking of Leah reminds me I need to check on Fluff, so I shoot off a quick text to my roommate, who graciously agreed to watch her this weekend.

Leah writes right back. All is well here. She’s decided she wants to sleep with me since you’re not available.

Aww, she loves you.

No, she loves YOU, but you’ve abandoned her for Hollywood. How is it out there? I bet it’s awesome.

It’s really nice. We’re at his place in LA, about to go in the pool.

I hate your guts. Have I told you that lately?

Ha! Did I mention the private jet that brought us here?

No, I really do hate you.

Love you too. Smooches to you and Fluff. Take good care of my baby.

Will do. Send pictures and have FUN!

XOXO





Chapter 13





I pull on the cover-up I bought to match the suit, thankful now that I spent the extra money on the cover-up. The thought of parading through his house wearing only a bikini freaks me out. And then his words from the plane come back to remind me of what’s possible with him.

“I hope someday you and I will have a lot of sex. I hope someday you and I will start and end each day wrapped in each other’s arms. I hope maybe someday, you’ll be able to do whatever you want with me any time you want to do it and know that you’ll always be welcome and safe in my arms, in my bed, in my life. And because I know when all that happens it’ll be extraordinary, to say the least, I’m willing to wait. For as long as it takes, I’ll wait. I’ll wait for you.”