Page 8

The heat was cranking up as midday approached, and she could no longer delay getting into the gorgeous pool. She stripped down to her bikini and lowered herself in, moving off to swim a few lengths. The cold water seemed to soothe her head.

Nina moved to the edge of the infinity pool and gazed out over the gardens toward the sea. If this was where a life of artistic creativity led, then she’d chosen the wrong path in pursuing science.

She did a few more lengths then climbed out, grabbing one of a stack of freshly laundered towels. She lay back on a double sun lounger and marvelled at how it was more akin to a bed. It might even be more comfortable than the bed at her hotel. Nina glanced at the canopy overhead. It being a relatively thin material meant the sun was glinting through. It provided some shade, but her sensible head told her to apply some suntan lotion. She didn’t burn too easily with her light brown skin tone, but she was careful, especially after her work on melanoma medications.

Nina lay back to start her audiobook, but a flash of guilt caused her to pause. She’d thought there’d be tasks to perform and appointments to schedule while she was out here, just like when she’d helped manage Isla’s gigs at university. Lying sunning herself and reading wasn’t what she’d expected, especially on someone else’s budget. But then, what else could she do while Isla and Cameron were away practising their art?

As she listened to the book, her eyes grew heavy, the heat and impaired sleep from the previous night taking their toll.

Nina stirred at the sound of someone moving in the water. She opened her eyes. A beautiful young woman was in the pool, her blonde hair piled in a well-sculpted messy bun and her perfect make-up intact as she carefully cut through the water, avoiding any splashback onto her face. Nina was mesmerised for a moment. The woman looked over.

“Hello,” Nina said, unsure what to say. The woman was clearly at home here and not at all surprised to find a strange brunette lying asleep on one of the sun beds. Nina sat up, taking out her ear buds. “I’m Nina.”

The woman flashed a bright white smile and swam to the side, lifting herself out of the water. She was lithe and wearing the tiniest bikini Nina had ever seen. “Hey, nice to meet you. I’m Ash.”

She had an American accent. Nina had the feeling she was supposed to know who the woman was, just like that Zac guy the previous night—but she didn’t. Nina cleared her throat. “I’m a friend of Isla Starr’s.”

“Cool,” Ash said, towelling off and sitting on the next sun bed. “Logan said you’d be coming over.”

Nina was confused for a moment then remembered that Logan was Cam’s stage name. Was Ash his girlfriend? Then why didn’t she call him by his real name?

Ash lay back, placing her sunglasses on. “Oh my God, I slept so late today. Last night was wild.”

Nina studied her, a little thrown by her easy acceptance of a stranger’s presence and not asking questions about why Nina was there. She hesitated. “What did you do last night?”

“We were at this awesome party,” Ash replied, her eyes closed behind her sunglasses. “I danced all night, and we had these crazy shots at the bar. They tasted just like popping candy. Have you tried them?”

Nina drew breath. Ash spoke so quickly that it took a moment to process what she was saying. “No. I’m not a shots person.”

“You have to try them next time you’re out. You’ll love them.”

Nina smiled, bemused. She was still tired, so she lay back.

But Ash clearly was not the sort who tolerated comfortable silences. “I ended up talking to my ex, Zac—you’ve probably heard of him. Logan hates him. He’s so the jealous type. But I told him that Zac and I are over—and we have been for ages. We’re totally not going in the same direction. You know?”

Nina wasn’t sure if she was meant to answer or not, but Ash carried on speaking before she got the chance anyway.

“I mean, Logan’s way bigger than Zac now. He has really made a name for himself. Everyone wants to work with him. He gets to call the shots on all his projects.”

Ash paused and again Nina wasn’t sure whether she was required to join in the conversation or if it was some sort of monologue. She took a chance and replied. “Have you and…Logan been going out long?”

“Just a few months.” Ash lifted her sunglasses to look at Nina. “Hey, are you English? That’s so cute.”

“Yeah,” Nina said, “but I live in Scotland.”

Ash had already placed the glasses back and closed her eyes again. “England is so cool. I love that Logan’s from there.”

Nina frowned. He’s Scottish, not English. Calling a Scottish person English was probably the biggest insult someone could bestow on them. Don’t those two ever have a conversation? She eyed Ash’s perfect physique. Yeah, I guess not.

“My family are Irish if you go back far enough, so that’s, like, the same thing,” Ash said.

Nina grimaced.

“Are you guys going out tonight?” said Ash.

Nina tried to keep up with the lightning-fast changes in subject. “I don’t actually know. I’ve pretty much had no idea what’s going on the whole time I’ve been here.”

Ash laughed loudly, causing Nina to jump. “That’s so funny. You’re hilarious. You guys should totally come out tonight. You can try some of those popping candy shots.”