Amidst all the tough exterior held a man who was sharp, business-oriented even though he pretends he didn’t care about it, but what I liked about Luca di Medici was the very fact that he didn’t ask anything about Callum, knowing quite well that was the reason I was here in the first place. I’m sure he was curious—piqued, but he was respectful of me, so he didn’t charter towards the blatant obvious.
It was an hour after we shared our dessert and coffee when he heard the choppy sound of an arriving helicopter. From a distance, I could hear women’s laughter.
Splendid. “They’re here?” I stated the obvious.
He nodded, hand stretched out to me. “I believe it’s time to make your entrance, Bella Donna.”
If I was nervous, I dared not show it.
This boat was the last place I wanted to be in, but this was my obligation—as a friend and amongst the other reasons—to try and convince him to stop horsing around.
Luca and I strode, side by side, towards the rear of the boat, I suppose where the fun was taking place.
To the other side, if you go on a few steps, a jacuzzi large enough to accommodate a dozen people, sat surrounded with candles and the water covered in rose petals.
A line of loungers situated on the side and across it, the other wall was line with white leather seating. There was a black marbled pool table at the end. A large screen hung on the other wall that played the men’s racing tournaments. A black marbled bar ensconced on the side. The floor had hidden lining of LED blue and white lightening that made the whole ambiance more intimate, posh and upbeat.
The first person I saw was the former actor, Dimitris, coming towards us. I became so nervous that I didn’t notice the woman beside him.
“Luca.” Dimitris eyed me with interest. “I’m Dimitris Kosta.” He held out his large tanned hand. I stared at it for a bit longer than necessary before I shook it with my own. “Stella von Berg. It’s nice to meet you.”
Dimitris didn’t show any reaction to my name, so I didn’t know what to make of it. It was then he introduced the woman who was standing next to him. “This is Lindsey, my wife.” But before I could express anything, Dimitris was addressing Luca and they had to excuse themselves to talk privately, leaving me with his wife.
I didn’t know he was married…
“Sorry my boyfriend was being rude. He’s just worried because I don’t think Callum is expecting you to be here still.” Lindsey’s dark eyes glittered with amusement.
I frowned. “I’m sorry, but thought he said wife? Or is my hearing quite bad?”
“Oh he’s both.” She guided me towards the bar, before handing me a champagne flute without even asking me if I wanted one. “Down two of these. I’m sure Callum would be a little pissy when he sees you, so these nice bubbles will help you calm down.”
I took the two she handed me and stared at her, bewildered. “How did you know about me?” I had a feeling that Dimitris might’ve mentioned anything about my complicated relationship with Callum because she seemed to know something.
“Oh you know, let’s just say that I have a beef to pick with him after he sort of handed me to Dimitris when the guy was pissed off. So I want to return the favor.”
Lindsey certainly was different. The woman had spunk.
“I think I like you already.” I grinned as I annihilated the first flute.
It didn’t’ take that much to notice why Dimitris liked her because this woman was gorgeous, but not only that, she didn’t follow the usual niceties and protocol that usually followed.
“Hey—we women have to stick together when dealing with this hard-headed men.” She smiled as she took hold of a drink and toasted it with mine.
Yeah, she was my kind of girl friend. “Cheers.” We both sipped at the same time, and when I saw the opportunity, I made a beeline for it. “So, while we wait for Callum’s return, mind explaining how your Dimitris is your husband and boyfriend?”
Callum didn’t arrive until thirty minutes later, along with Andres and Jacques and their cohorts.
“Relax. I won’t let him near you if he tries anything crazy.” Luca winked at me.
Even Dimitris, who was one of Callum’s confidante’s, got my back. “If he tries to tell you to leave, I’ll gladly kick him out myself.” He spoke as he nodded towards the approaching two men who I have yet to meet. “Someone needs to warn the Brit that he’s wife is still here.”
Jacques, who had a cherry stem twirling between his lips, saluted me. “You should go change in your bikini, we’re going in the tub. We have an hour until a couple yachts will moor to come and join us to party.”
There seem to be a problem about that… “I forgot to bring anything.” I licked my lips, rushing to add to that sentence, blushing. “To swim with, I mean.” Why was I acting all idiotic? Umm, maybe because the attention was all on me…
Andrès beamed at me before one of the blonde women hugged him from behind and pulled him towards the pool table.
“I have a lot of new pairs. Come on! Let’s get you into a suit before your hubby catches you.” Lindsey pulled me towards her side; walking as she asked what type I wanted. She didn’t’ even give me a chance to speak before we got to the lower level and went inside the master’s bedroom.
She then immediately went into a drawer and went through pairs, sifting through with tags in them. “Aha! Red is sinful. Totally want you need to punish him a little.” She wickedly suggested as she shoved the items in my chest. “Make that man suffer a little. I think he needs a good spanking, don’t you think?”
Me… spanking Callum? Goodness. “I’m not sure he’s into that bit.”
It was just then that her phone shrilled and she instantly took it. “Can you make it or what?” Lindsey checked her reflection as she listened into the phone. “Dude, did you tell Bass where you are? Cause I don’t want him on my ass, you know. Uh, yeah…duh? Okay. Okay—God! See you in half an hour.”
Lindsey made me change in the bathroom as she explained to me that Emma, her best friend and an actress, was coming to visit for a day. Apparently, she was best friends with Jacques and Dimitris.
It was odd how they’re all connected. But I couldn’t help but feel that pang of jealousy at all of their closeness… it was like a little family.
When I came out of the bathroom, Lindsey was jumping up and down with wicked excitement. “Perfect. All you gotta do now is make him suffer. Don’t give the nookie until he’s all done for, got it? That man’s been naughty, so he needs a good lesson.”