‘Why don’t you ask me what I want for a change, instead of telling each other what you want me to want?’ she demanded winding herself up to a righteous anger.
‘Enjoying yourselves?’
Three faces gaped out of the nest of steam. Hugh! his bulk increased by a thick coat, collar turned up against the wind.
‘Fantastic!’ said Richard, acting for all he was worth.
‘Great!’ said Steve, not to be outdone.
Julia said nothing. She just sat there, mouth open, looking like a tiny seductive siren. Pale curves glimmered under the light covering of water, her full, rounded breasts, supported by thin straps of magenta, gleamed invitingly. Creamy shoulders barely broke the surface of the steam-kissed water and her blonde hair, darkened by dampness, curled closely around her small, flushed face.
‘What are you doing here? Is something wrong?’ asked Julia anxiously as she got over her initial surprise.
‘Urgent messages.’
‘Who for?’ chorused the twins hopefully.
‘Zak …’ Steve bit his lip in annoyance at the mention of his manager’s name while Richard grinned triumphantly, ‘… wants to talk to Steve. Something about technical problems with the new album—some of the tracks may have to be re-laid.’
‘Can’t it wait?’ asked Steve. There was no sign of panic on his face and Julia let out a small, unnoticed sigh. He really was putting the past few months behind him, although he hadn’t fully realised it yet.
‘Not according to Zak,’ replied Hugh, stripping off his brown leather gloves and thrusting them into his coat pocket. ‘And there was one for you, too, Richard.’ The grin was wiped off as if by a sponge. ‘Your film company. The director wants to hear from you, as of an hour ago. Schedule changes, I believe. Olivia can tell you more—she took the calls.’
‘Damn!’ A brief struggle, which ambition won. ‘Do you mind awfully, Juliet, if we go back?’ said Richard in his best wheedling tone. ‘We could come back tomorrow, or another day?’
Julia opened her mouth, aware of relief.
‘There’s no need for Julia to go,’ inserted Hugh smoothly. ‘She can go back with me, later. No sense in spoiling her afternoon as well as yours.’
‘But…’
‘But…’
It was the first time Julia had ever seen both twins lost for words simultaneously. It was a sight to behold.
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‘Julia doesn’t mind, do you?’
‘Er … no … no,’ she said flabbergasted by his apparent friendliness. ‘I’d like to stay,’ she added, more firmly.
‘That’s settled, then,’ said Hugh. ‘Run along, boys, I’ll look after your girlfriend.’
He smiled his honey-bear smile at Julia and she, who had missed it lately, smiled back. The twins retreated in disarray, actually talking civilly to each other as they went.
‘Thanks.’ Julia looked ruefully up at the hard-boned faced crowned by a vast grey sky. ‘It was going to be pistols at dawn next.’
‘I did warn you.’
‘I know. Hey!’ as he began moving away. ‘Where are you going? You’re not going to leave me stranded, are you?’ She sat up hurriedly, water cascading down between her breasts. Hugh’s gaze wavered, and steadied on her face.
‘I’m merely going up there,’ he pointed to where the twins were towelling off and dressing, ‘to take off my clothes.’
‘But you can’t do that!’ cried a scandalised Julia.
‘I’ve dressed and undressed myself ever since I was four years old,’ he replied patiently and then made a gesture of mock enlightenment with his large hands. ‘Oh, I see what you mean. I am wearing swimming togs. And I might add that they’re a lot more modest than those two strips of nothing you’re pretending to wear.’
‘Stuffy!’ Julia threw after him, when she recovered from her blush, aware that her unthinking cry had emanated from her subconscious, that unruly desire to see what Hugh was like underneath his civilised wrappings.