Page 58 of Everything She Wanted

“I’ll take the fall.” He pulls off his shades just enough to shoot me a wink. Damn him and his sexy face that I can’t say no to.

Little does he know I’d let him take me beyond the atmosphere if it meant I had more time alone with him.

It’s blistering hot even though it’s not yet summer and the streets are crowded. He takes my hand and I hold on tighter than I should. We’re out together in broad daylight, but I don’t think about that now. I won’t let myself.

English Bay Beach is just a block away, and the ocean sparkles in the distance. A sequinned turquoise chunni swaying in the wind.

“It’s just right here.”

He leads me through the door of a sophisticated glass storefront with a fancy stylized logo. Immediately a sense of calm washes over me as notes of lavender and patchouli float toward us from a nearby diffuser. I wander over to the main desk, with Nick close behind. A woman with straight long chestnut hair and a broad smile greets us.

“Welcome to the Atlas Nordic Spa. You two are among our first customers, we just opened last week.” Her name tag says Samantha.

“We heard. Henrik sent us over with these.” He hands over the passes.

“You’re guests of Henrik.” Her eyes light up. “Right this way.” She steps out from behind the desk.

“Actually, we need bathing suits.”

She looks up and bites her lip.

“Oh, we’re still waiting for our women’s stock.” She squints her eyes and looks at me. “But I think I have something that should fit you. I’ll be right back.”

I look over at Nick as he grins at me.

“Oh my gosh, I hope she doesn’t come back with something hideous.”

“Doubt it.” He turns around and places his elbow on the ledge of the reception desk. “Besides, you’d look good in a paper bag.”

I mock roll my eyes, but I store his compliment away to replay later.

“I found this. It should just fit you.”

Samantha puts a red bikini on the counter in front of me. I press my lips together and look at it, testing the fabric with my fingers. It’s so revealing, it would make my skimpiest lingerie look like a nineteen-fifties nightgown in comparison.

“Will this work?” She looks at me with doe eyes.

“Sure, it’s great. Thank you.”

“Great! Luckily for you,” she says, gesturing at Nick, “we have lots of men’s suits in stock. She points to the abundantly stocked shelf behind him.

Of course, he gets his pick, and I’m stuck with whatever this is. I push down my nerves of wearing the bikini in front of him.

He chooses a pair.

“I’ll get these, please.”

“You’re guests of Henrik, so these are on the house.”

She gets out from behind the desk and leads us to the change rooms.

“The men’s changeroom is over there and women’s is just here.” She smiles. “For now, it looks like you’ll have the place to yourselves. Enjoy.”

I take a sharp inhale as my heart rate rises.

She returns to the front desk.

“See you inside,” Nick calls after me.