And yet the idea leaves me cold...
‘Signor Perez? Signor Perez?’
I silently curse my loss of focus. She’s not even here and she has me distracted. ‘Si, scusi.’
I throw my attention into the call, go through the adjustments and authorise the payment as I enter the cabin and head for the bathroom. ‘Grazie mille, ciao.’
I re-pocket my phone, push open the bathroom door and...
Faye!
She screams. I scream. I swear my heart has just launched into my throat. And then my eyes dart down her body and back up. What the actual...?
‘Turn around!’
I spin on my heel, my brain and pulse racing. ‘What are you...? Why are you...?’
I can’t even get the question out. All I can see in my mind’s eye is her body, arms caught up in some...some red...some red...rope?
‘I’m getting dressed,’ she squeaks.
‘In red string?’ I can’t keep the amusement out of my voice, or the heat that’s surged south. My body saw too much, far too much...
‘It’s a...it’s a bikini. Or at least, it’s supposed to be.’
‘I’m sorry, I’ll leave you to...’ I wave a hand in the air, my grin growing by the second as I head back through the doorway.
She makes a sound very akin to a grunt and there’s the definite sound of tearing. ‘Shit.’
I stop. ‘Everything...okay?’
‘Yes. No. Yes. Shit.’
‘You want to make up your mind?’
‘I don’t believe it. This can’t be happening.’
‘Want to explain?’
I can hear movement and her breath straining out of her but she doesn’t speak. I angle my head to the side—not enough to see her, but enough for her to see me frown. ‘Are you okay back there?’
‘I... I think I might need your help.’
I have to stop my lips quirking up. So many ideas are racing through my mind. None of which are conducive to my brotherly vow.
‘What do you need?’
I hear her blow out a breath. ‘I think I’ve broken my bikini and now I’m stuck.’
‘In your bikini?’ I say it slowly. This has to be the most surreal encounter of my life. Finding her naked in my pool comes a close second. ‘We really need to stop meeting like this, you know?’
It’s my attempt at humour but the flustered breath that comes out next tells me she doesn’t find it funny.
‘When you’ve stopped entertaining yourself with my predicament, do you think you could back your way up here and see fit to actually help me?’
‘Well, in order to do that, you know I need to turn back round, si?’
‘Yes.’ It comes out as a resigned huff and I have to chuckle as I turn.