In a Heartbeat (Heartbeat #1) (12 page)

“Yeah, I missed her too.”

What followed was a long, awkward pause. Stella didn’t like where the conversation was headed; it was too early for that and besides she needed a break from all the serious conversations in the world. Today would be all about not being serious. Speaking of which ...

“We were thinking of coming to the spa today. Is that OK?”

“Of course! I’m always telling Lisa to come anytime, but she rarely does. Call me when you get there; I’d love to see you.” She rinsed her empty coffee cup and folded the newspaper neatly on the table. “I’ve got to run, but I’ll see you later.” She kissed Stella on both cheeks and was gone.

Stella finished her coffee and deliberated about putting on her running gear and heading for the beach, but she didn’t want to risk hurting her injured foot. She’d run next week, just to be on the safe side. Today she’d put her swimsuit on and do a few laps in the pool.

By the time she had finished, Lisa was already drinking her coffee, sprawled on a lounger by the pool.

“How you have energy for exercise every day is beyond me.”

“I have no choice. By keeping in shape I maximise my chances of recovery.” Lisa nodded and looked at her cup as if embarrassed. “Besides, not everyone has your genes. Most of us have to work out to look good in a bikini,” Stella teased, as she sat on the lounger next to her cousin. “I saw your mom when I woke up and gave her the heads up that we’ll go to the spa today.”

“Oh, good, I was just about to call her. Let’s get some breakfast and go, otherwise we won’t have time for the beach later. I have to be at the studio at six.”

The spa was incredible. It was situated just off a busy road, in a modern two-storey house with a huge garden. It was convenient for transport, but at the same time it was secluded enough not to be disturbed by too much noise. The garden was full of trees, bushes and flowers, giving it a country feel right in the city.

It wasn’t one of those overly large, impersonal places where nobody even looked at each other. The spa was small, with just enough space to accommodate several different treatment rooms. It also had a large open-plan area where people could have their hair or nails done. At the back of the house were a sauna and a small relaxation pool.

It had quite a luxurious feel to it, and yet it seemed kind of cosy. People chatted light-heartedly and the staff were smiling politely rather than obligatorily. The moment the girls walked in, the receptionist – a beautiful, middle-aged woman with smooth olive skin and bright blue eyes – shot to her feet and came to give Lisa a bear hug.

“Oh my god, I can’t believe my eyes,” she started gushing in Italian. “I haven’t seen you in months,
cara
. You look amazing, as always. Your mom will be so happy you stopped by.” She paused to take a breath and her eyes immediately drifted to Stella. “You must be Stella,” she said as she enveloped her in a hug and kissed both her cheeks. “Niki’s told me all about you! Come, I’ll take you inside.” She grabbed their hands and led them to the back of the spa.

In about three hours, both Stella and Lisa had had their nails done, hair conditioned and blow-dried, a massage and a face mask each, and had eaten a light lunch along with an organic energy cocktail. In the meantime they had learned every single piece of gossip worth knowing, regardless of whether it was about a celebrity or someone’s neighbour.

They left the spa smiling. Stella hadn’t really thought about anything during those three hours, and she felt more relaxed because of that than anything else. They headed for the beach and Stella couldn’t wait to top up her tan – her skin was slowly starting to flush with that healthy, sun-kissed glow and she quite liked it that way.

She also couldn’t wait to see Max.

*

It was Friday and it was a hot day, which meant the beach was packed. Thankfully, the sea was calm and there were no idiots trying to show off in front of their friends by swimming despite the red flag. Max was scanning the beach behind his sunglasses when he noticed Lisa and Stella going into the changing rooms on his left. Soon they were out, clad in their bikinis, and apparently something funny was going on because Lisa was pointing towards the sea and they were both laughing.

Max couldn’t care less what they were giggling about. His brain couldn’t process any information apart from the way Stella looked in her bright pink bikini. He could spot her all the way from Australia. It was barely covering her curves as she swayed her hips towards him.

They waved at him as they positioned their towels on the sand. He prayed to God that nobody would need his help today, because with Stella mere metres away from him, almost naked, it would be very hard to react to any emergency.

Speaking of hard, he had to reposition himself in his tight lifeguard shorts and cursed under his breath. Just what he needed. After he barely restrained himself from kissing her last night, today she was going to tease him with her incredible body all afternoon and then they were going to spend the evening together.

Shit.

He had to do something about this situation, because it was driving him insane.

“Dude, you look like someone stole your lollipop.” It was Beppe. As usual, he’d arrived exactly when Max didn’t need his opinion. He glanced in the girls’ direction and a satisfied smile spread on his lips. He was loving this. “Ah, it’s not a lollipop after all. But I bet she’s just as sweet.”

In a second Max was in his friend’s face and growled: “If you like the feel of all your teeth in your mouth, you’ll watch what comes out of it.” Max was at least an inch taller than his friend and much bigger, but Beppe didn’t seem at all fazed by his threat. Although his body was muscular it was much leaner than Max’s, but that didn’t make him step back. On the contrary – he looked his friend right in the eye, his smirk still in place.

“Grow some balls and claim her, then. Because if you don’t, there are others who will.” It wasn’t a threat or even a warning. There was nothing nasty in his tone.

Max raked his hands through his hair, backing off from Beppe.

“It’s not like that, man. I’m attracted to her, but that’s it.”

“Yeah? When was the last time you were in someone’s face ready for a fight? When was the last time you were in
my
face ready for a fight?”

A long time ago.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that. But seriously, it’s no big deal. She’s Lisa’s cousin, we’re friends. We’re going to dinner tonight. As friends. It’s cool.” Max was trying to look anywhere but in Beppe’s all-too-perceptive eyes.

“You’re rambling. And you’re not making any fucking sense. But hey, if you say you don’t have any feelings for her, I believe you.” Max nodded, relieved he’d got off the hook so easily. “I’m sure you won’t mind what I’m going to do next then,” said Beppe. And with a wicked grin he was off in the girls’ direction.

Max should have known it wouldn’t be that easy. It was Beppe. He loved to push his buttons.

He watched in horror as Beppe approached them and turned on the charm. He hadn’t been there two seconds when they started giggling. In five seconds he was taking the bottle of sunscreen they had lying around and Stella was turning on her tummy. Beppe looked at Max pointedly as he slowly released the bikini strap on her back. Then, he squeezed a generous amount of sun cream on his palms and, taking his time, spread it over Stella back and shoulders.

Max was so furious he couldn’t think straight. The only thing that anchored him was Lisa – she was looking right at him, watching for his reaction. She frowned as she saw his barely contained anger and subtly shook her head. Max forced himself to think about the guy he’d beaten up five years ago – the way he’d looked when he visited him in the hospital; the desperation he had felt when he couldn’t even remember why he’d beaten him. The promise he’d made to himself never to hit anybody ever again. The disappointment in Beppe’s eyes that same day.

It worked, because Max didn’t feel the need to kill Beppe any longer. Still, he was insanely jealous that his friend had touched Stella in such an intimate way. If he wanted to prove a point – he had succeeded. Max could bet his left nut that Beppe would be very pleased about it. And by the smug expression on his face, he definitely was.

“You OK? You seemed a little ... on edge,” said Beppe as he approached him, his lopsided grin never leaving his face. Max didn’t say anything – if he lashed out at him, he’d just prove his point; if he played nonchalant, Beppe would call his bluff. The only other option was to glare at his friend and keep quiet. Maybe then he’d get the hint and leave him alone.

Beppe was taken aback by his reaction; maybe he expected a similar outburst to that from the lollipop comment. His eyes grew serious.

“Listen, man, I’m not going to watch you spiral out of control again because you were a coward and didn’t go after what you wanted.” He was dead serious now, his voice hard and yet full of concern. “There’s a whole beach full of hot women. Look around. Pick one, take her home and fuck her until Stella is all but a distant memory.”

“I don’t want any of them.”

“Since when?” Max involuntarily glanced in Stella’s direction. That was all the answer Beppe needed. “Get
her
, then.”

“She doesn’t want me.”

“Bullshit, man. I’ve seen how she looks at you.”

Just then, out of all the moments he could have picked, Rico chose this one to show up. Flanked by his mates, he strolled purposefully towards the girls, his cocky grin in place; his chest bare and tanned.

“Shit,” murmured Beppe, as Max’s eyes grew deadly again. As much as he wanted to, he couldn’t erase the image of Rico’s lips on Stella’s neck, her hips swaying, his hands on her waist.

Rico crouched down next to them and they started talking. His friends kept their distance, but still ogled the girls.
Assholes
. Stella started rummaging through her bag, but didn’t take anything out. She said something to Rico and he waved his hand dismissively. They talked a bit more and then the wanker and his mates left. Lisa turned to Stella and whispered something in her ear, and they both laughed.

What the hell was this? Was Stella seeing Rico? When?

“Hey, you OK?” Beppe’s voice shook him out of his thoughts and Max nodded. He hated that his friend had seen him react to Stella like this. The last thing he wanted was to let him down, again. Beppe had a lot of issues, but he cared for Max like a brother.

“Go after her,” Beppe said, a little louder than a whisper. Max looked at him, surprised. “Look, I don’t know what’s going on and why you feel like she doesn’t want to be with you. Frankly, I don’t give a shit. But I’ve known you since first year at school, and I’ve never seen you so worked up over a girl. Go after her with everything you’ve got, man. Life’s too fucking short.”

He put his sunglasses back on and left. Leave it to Beppe to drop a bombshell and disappear.

*

The doorbell rang just as Stella was opening the bathroom door. Lisa had left for art class about half an hour ago and Niki was not yet home from work, so Stella, still in her bathrobe, went to open it, wondering who it would be. She didn’t expect Max – they had arranged to meet at the restaurant in an hour, so she wasn’t even ready.

It was Max. He was standing on her doorstep looking impossibly handsome in his blue jeans and white T-shirt, which set off his tanned skin. His hands were casually in his pockets and his hair was still damp. He smelled incredible and Stella thought he must have just got out of the shower. That reminded her that
she
had just got out of the shower and made her immediately conscious of her naked body under her robe.

Thank God it’s a tightly closed robe, not a towel.

“Hi,” he said and smiled charmingly at her, his eyes skimming her body and darkening as if he’d just realised she must be naked underneath. He licked his lower lip and bit it, his wicked grin never leaving his face.

“What are you doing here?” Stella didn’t mean to sound unkind, but the lust in his eyes bothered her. She felt her body responding to his look immediately and hated that she seemed to be losing control of the situation. At that moment, Max could have done anything to her and she wouldn’t have been able to do a damn thing to stop him. Thankfully, he didn’t know that.

Or did he?

“Good to see you, too,” he said as he brushed past her and walked in.

“Weren’t we supposed to meet at the restaurant? In, like, an hour?”

“We were – but I couldn’t wait that long.” He sprawled on the sofa and gave her another irresistible smile.

“Well, I’m not ready yet, so you’ll have to wait for me.”

“I know. No worries.” He took the remote and switched the TV on.

Stella had forgotten that he’d spent a lot of time here and felt quite comfortable in Lisa’s house. So she just walked past him and went to her room to get dressed.

*

Seeing Stella in her bathrobe was totally worth the early arrival. Max had seen her wearing much less on the beach, but this was different; it was much more intimate. She was naked under that robe and the very thought of it turned him on. She looked so sexy with her wet hair and make-up-free face. She smelled lovely, too.

After Beppe had left him stunned on the beach, Max had spent the afternoon thinking. His friend had been right. He knew all too well exactly how short life was. Wasting precious moments and over-thinking every single step was a massive waste of time. Max had always believed there was a reason behind everything. If a person entered your life, they always had a certain effect on it. Letting go of his feelings for Stella without even giving them a chance felt like missing an opportunity that life itself had served him on a silver platter.