Skinny Dipping (33 page)

Feeling flustered Sophie turned to Carol. “Let’s make the most of the daylight. I need to take shots of different angles. This won’t take more than an hour,” she commented, and she urged both Carol and Matthew out onto the beach.

“Do I have to be here?” Carol asked.

“You can be my model.” She directed Carol out to walk onto the pebbled beach. “Matthew’s the client, so he can just watch.”

“Really?” Carol seemed thrilled, jumping into action, clapping her hands excitedly. There was only a flicker of uncertainty in Carol’s gaze. It was almost unnoticeable, but Sophie saw it. But after taking a slight swallow, Carol pushed her shoulders back and held her head high as though nothing phased her and that she loved being the centre of attention, that type of girl.

“It’s necessary,” Sophie said stubbornly. “I need excellent shots to show Desmond. Matthew, I just need you to see the area, make sure you’re happy with where we plan to film.”

“Okay.” He blanked his face, trying to look exceptionally serious. But his lips twitched, in a sexy type of way. Sophie wondered what it would be like to kiss them.

It was her turn to frown, try not to get carried away thinking about Matthew’s lips. “Of course. Let’s get this over and done with so we can enjoy the festivities. Carol, just stand there and I’ll take photos of every angle.”

Carol stood like a statue, but held her head high with a type of grace which must be from the her ballet training. She stood smiling, showing her long, slender neck, and expressive, elfin face. She was a natural. She really could be the girl for the commercial, the way her lips curved into a mischievous smile.

Sophie captured shots with the pier in the background, shots simply horizontal with only the water lapping. After taking almost thirty different photos, she checked the camera, and her handiwork. Desmond would definitely have something to work with.

“Look at these Matthew, aren’t they great?” There was a shot showing Carol looking radiant, with a mass of gleaming blonde hair blowing in the wind and the sea behind her. Her large eyes would hold anyone’s attention.

“She looks bloody brilliant on camera. She’s not the girl we’re using though, is she?” Matthew said in a low voice, quietly so Carol couldn’t overhear.

“No….” Sophie said slowly.

“Pity.”

Sophie nodded. “Very nicely done, thank you Carol,” she said. “It’s a wrap.”

Carol raced back from her posing. She looked nervously at Sophie. “Are the pictures okay?” She ran a hand through her mass of blonde hair.

“Terrific,” Sophie said, assuring her. “You’re quite a natural.”

Carol sighed visibly, and her eyes glittered at the compliment.

“They really look fabulous,” Matthew confirmed.

“Thanks,” Carol squeezed Sophie’s hand. “If they’re not, we can stay a little longer. I was so worried I might be tense.”

“You were perfect.”

Carol seemed to shake herself, and the worry away from her. “Well that was fun,” she enthused. “We should go back. I’ve got a party to get ready for. And I’ve got to see Josh.”

***

The girls got ready in the penthouse suite. Matthew was staying somewhere else in the hotel, with a group of his school friends. Sophie didn’t know where, all she knew was that she was to meet him at the party. She dressed in a short red dress and Carol was in something sleek, short, and flashy.

Mickey arrived, dumping a backpack on the floor as she walked into the penthouse. Her jaw practically dropped to the floor as she looked around. “So we’re all staying here the night?” Mickey said, running around the room, like a kid who’d been eating too much sugar. She jumped on one of the beds. “Nice spring?” She raised her eyebrows.

“Yeah. I guess,” Sophie said.

“So
this
has to be a date,” Carol asked, “It
is
a date, isn’t it?”

Sophie shrugged. “I dunno. He just asked us all to the party.
All
of us.”

“You are in mass denial,” Mickey said. “Tell us what’s going on. We’re all in Brighton in the bloody penthouse suite. We’re not stupid.” She flopped onto a bed.

“There’s not much to tell. Nothing has happened.”

“You should have the master bedroom,” Carol said, her eyes wide, innocent and rounded.

“Nope, that wouldn’t be fair. Besides, I couldn’t take him back to my room. That would be a promise of…”

“Ah ha. So you’ve thought about it. You’ve thought about having sex with him,” Mickey said, pointing her finger. “He’s gorgeous, nice, and rich.”

“It’s not about him being gorgeous, nice, and rich.”

“Lighten up Soph, have a little bit of fun,” Carol commented.

“If it’s going to work with Matthew, you better start by taking a risk, and just go with the flow. You can’t control everything.”

***

By the time they got to the party, it was in full swing, with a DJ playing music. There were about fifty people, all with drinks in their hands. Carol and Mickey practically fled to find a waiter, leaving Sophie alone, wondering how she would find Matthew amongst all the people.

Working her way through the crowd she found him – surrounded by women, of course. They were all tilting their heads up, asking him questions and hanging on his every word. He wore casual black jeans, and an expensive-looking, crisp, white shirt. Sophie felt her knees go to jelly, as she wondered whether Carol or Mickey might be right, and if she would see him with no clothes on.

He caught her eye, and shot her a lazy, sexy smile. He excused himself, breaking away from his conversation and approached her. Almost echoing her thoughts, he spoke. “It’s good to see you.” He offered her a glass of champagne, the tips of his fingers somehow, innocently brushed hers.

“Yes,” she smiled. “You look great.” She was acutely aware of her body responding to him, her neck arching up toward his tall frame, all her attention on him.

He shrugged. “And you look beautiful, as always.” His tone was very casual, but closely followed by a devilish grin.

“The party’s in full swing. And it’s still quite early in the evening,” she said, pushing her hands through her hair, and looked at a group of people having jelly shooters. “Everyone arrived yet?”

“Not quite, we’re expecting another fifty people or so.”

“Awesome place, awesome party. Oh, there’s Eve.” Sophie noticed Eve from the swimming centre and waved her over.

“Yes, Eve’s here,” Matthew sighed. “Talk to everyone, or do whatever you want to. But I’m hoping you won’t talk to anyone else for too long. I would like to spend some time, just with you. If it’s possible?” He gave her a confident stare, then took his leave as Eve approached.

At eleven thirty, Matthew made an announcement, fireworks would be on soon and anyone brave enough should go outside on the terrace because there would be a stunning view. The party went into chaos, the guests looking for coats as the party moved outside, with people huddling in the true English style, waiting for the countdown.

Sophie shivered at the thought. “Want to join me outside?” Matthew said, suddenly at her side.

“I have to get a wrap or a coat, or my cardigan. Otherwise, I’ll freeze.”

“Do you want my coat?”

“No, I’ll be only one minute. I’ll just run upstairs.”

“Upstairs?” Matthew asked and flashed a dangerous smile. “Do you want me to come with you, and keep you company? Upstairs?” the words were innocent, but they seemed loaded with intent. His expression gave her a distinct feeling that if he came upstairs, the equilibrium between them would certainly change.

She nodded.

He followed her in silence, toward the lift. They entered the lift, and she realised they would be riding the lift alone. Just the two of them. Together. She found safety, standing on the other side, keeping a safe distance from him.

The lift travelled up. Level three. Level four. Level five. They travelled in absolute silence, their eyes meeting in the elevator door’s reflection. Tension built around them, and Sophie was sure that if the lift took much longer, she could practically see them flinging themselves at each other and tearing their clothes off.

The elevator doors opened, and Sophie practically ran out, opened the door to the suite and hurried into the master bedroom. Half-frenzied, she looked for her cardigan. Should she try to cool the situation down? She tried to focus on finding her warm item of clothing. But her head was full of thoughts of him. She could imagine Matthew throwing her clothes off and having his way with her, right here, in the master bedroom.

She needed to calm herself down. “Thanks for the room, it’s grand,” she called out, even though he stood casually by the master bedroom doorway, watching her hungrily as she smiled at finding the cardigan. She pulled it on and fumbled with the buttons, finding it difficult to concentrate on anything other than they way he stood so very sexily by the doorway.

“Later, if you wanted, I could give you a tour of the rest of the hotel?”

“Sure,” she said, exiting the room with speed. Suddenly confused about how much she wanted him and the knowledge of how complicated their working relationship would become if anything happened between them.

“What do you think?” he asked, stopping by the large glass doors in the penthouse lounge. He gave her a sidelong glance. “This room has an excellent view.”

“Yes, it’s lovely,” she approached him, and looked at the sea. Mesmerised.

“I wanted to say something to you,” he said, turning to face her. “I know it’s early. But… Happy New Year.” His voice was intense, and he put his hand through her hair.

“Happy New Year,” she answered, feeling heat from where he touched her.

He fumbled with her cardigan, doing up the buttons. “You’ve missed one, got them all out of synch. I’ll help you put this on properly. No need for you to get cold.”

She laughed. “Thanks, I didn’t realise.” The pressure of his hands sent a shiver of anticipation through her body.

Their eyes locked. His arm suddenly wrapped around her waist, and pulled her close toward him. Was he going to kiss her? Suddenly her fears about complicated relationships vanished from her mind. She was lost in his handsome face, as his large blue eyes searched for any type of resistance.

She felt an urgent, sharp need for him to kiss her. Quickly. Otherwise she might lean in. Be bold. Make the first move. And she didn’t want to do that.

He pressed his lips against hers. Soft. Gentle. Tender. Electricity soared between them and the intensity of the kissing became harder. More passionate. He practically ripped off her cardigan. But then he stopped, and pulled back.

“Sorry, Soph,” he said, panting. “I don’t want to rush anything between us if you don’t want to.” He brushed a strand of hair from her forehead.

She swallowed, feeling weak with wanting. “It’s okay,” she said, in a very quiet voice, her hands making the decision for her, pulling him close by the belt buckle. Tugging his shirt out of his jeans. Her hands shaking slightly as she was aware of initiating the undressing further.

Her phone rang, the pierce breaking the energy surrounding them. “I’m sorry,” she said, laughing nervously, her stomach flipping with butterflies. She wiped her lips which were still tingling. “It’s probably Mickey or Carol, wondering where I am. I’ll just turn it on silent.” She grabbed her phone with shaking hands, and frowned seeing the caller identification screen. Edith.

“Hello?” she said, taking the call. Edith wouldn’t call her on New Year’s Eve, would she?

“Sit down, Sophie.”

“Why?”
Why did she need to sit down?

“I don’t know how to say this.”

“Spit it out.”

“Mum rang.”

“Okay.”

“It’s Dad.”

“Dad?” Sophie stiffened. “What about Dad?”

“He’s in hospital.”

“What hospital?” she gasped, unable to keep the panic from her voice. She didn’t realise tears were rolling down her face. “Is he okay?”

“He’s in emergency, Mum’s on her way already.”

Sophie dropped the phone as her knees buckled, and Matthew somehow caught her, stopped her from falling. “I’ve been drinking. It’s New Year’s Eve. I’ve got to get there.” She spoke mostly to herself, her eyes round, wild, conjuring a plan.

Matthew grabbed the phone.

“Hello. Hello, this is Matthew Silver. I’m with Sophie at a New Year’s party. I heard you say ‘hospital.’ What hospital?”

***

Her Dad was at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington. All she needed to do was get there. In a manic state, Sophie gathered all her things from the hotel room and raced down the lift. She ran out, onto the street, and started waving to moving vehicle. Cars, buses, anything; she needed to go to London. Now. This was an emergency.

Then two strong hands wrapped tightly round her waist, picking her up from the street and dragging her onto the sidewalk. Matthew Silver.
He had no right.

In a panic she flapped at him.

“Calm down, Soph, I’ll get you there.”

“I’m fine. I’ll make it. No need to put yourself out, you’ve got a party,” she said, struggling against his grip.

“The party’s not important. I’ll get you there.”

“I don’t want you to put yourself out,” she repeated, unable to help herself. She didn’t need anything from anyone. She was a capable woman, wasn’t she? “Really, I can handle this.”

“I know you can. But I want to help you.”

“I’m not a charity case. It’s New Year’s Eve. How will you get me there, we’ve both been drinking?”

“Trust me. I made a call while you were throwing things in your bag. I’ve sorted it.” Their eyes locked, he looked intensely at her, a man on a mission, as if he really wanted to help. There was firmness in his voice, and then he looked past her toward the curb.

A limousine arrived, and he practically pushed her into his car, then followed, slamming the door behind them.

“How did you get someone so quickly?”

“Perks of knowing me.”

Sophie stared out of the window, tense with worry. Matthew leaned down to show her where the buckle was, and she snatched the seat belt. “Thanks,” she said. “I really appreciate this.”

She remained perched at the edge of the leather seat for the entire drive, ready to catapult out as soon as they arrived at St Mary’s Hospital emergency ward.