been working for hours, thanks to the sorbet crisis, and exhaustion engulfed her. Closing her eyes, Aubrey rolled her bunched-up shoulders and massaged her neck with one hand.
“Turn around.” Landon stood and approached her.
She should’ve said “No, thank you,” but Aubrey was too sore and tired to argue. She turned in the tub and offered him her back, gathering more bubbles to ensure her girls weren’t visible. His hands were strong and warm against her, and she moaned deep in her throat as he worked out a stubborn knot. It hurts so good.
Landon stilled behind her at the sound and then blew out a slow breath. When he resumed his gentle ministrations, the tenor of his touch had changed. Her body’s response was instantaneous. Aubrey pressed back into him and shivered when his hands slid up and down her wet, slick arms.
With her heart slamming against her rib cage, Aubrey turned to face him and held his hot gaze. She couldn’t think straight, but she wanted this. She wanted this so much. Landon lowered his head and she leaned toward him, her hands lifting to his hair and her lips parting in anticipation.
The chime of the doorbell jarred Aubrey out of her trance, and she hid back under the bubbles with a sharp gasp. Landon didn’t budge and continued to hold her gaze. She shut her eyes and stopped breathing.
Saved by the bell.
She didn’t dare look at him. If he chose that moment to flash the Smile at her, she would drag him into the tub fully clothed and have her way with him.
* * *
“I’ll get that,” Landon said after a moment’s hesitation.
Aubrey nodded, lowering her lashes to hide her eyes from him. If it weren’t for the rapid rise and fall of her magnificent breasts—or the bubbles covering them—and the rosy blush on her cheeks, he might’ve believed he’d imagined the moment.
He stalked to the front door, grumbling under his breath as he pushed up his wet sleeves. Aria and Lucien stood outside with their arms loaded with brown paper bags. Landon itched to slam the door on their clueless, grinning faces.
“Great timing,” he said dryly.
Aria rolled her eyes and pushed past him, but Lucien cringed, scratching the back of his head.
“Did we interrupt something? I insisted we call first, but Aria … Well, you know Aria. I think her exact words were, ‘Oh, poof.’”
“I know her all too well,” Landon said, stepping outside. He needed a moment to collect himself after seeing Aubrey nearly naked. “Come on. Let’s take a walk before dinner.”
Lucien gave him a sideways glance as he easily matched Landon’s long strides. “You okay? You looked crazed when you opened the door for us. Something wrong with the production?”
“No. Nothing’s wrong. I’m perfectly fine.”
“Hmm. If you insist,” his friend said while his expression called bullshit.
Landon raked his fingers through his damp hair as they veered onto the small path that led into the wooded hills. He nearly groaned when his body hardened again, remembering how it had gotten wet. Her naked arms had felt like warm silk under his hands, and the bubbles had clung to her breasts like seashells on a mermaid. A strategic breath from him would’ve dislodged the tenacious foam. He had to walk off his hard-on if he wanted to return to the villa. He didn’t want to leave Aubrey alone with Aria for too long.
“How are things with you and Aria?” Landon said. “Are you still being a stubborn ass?”
“There’s nothing going on between us, and I’ve been a stubborn ass for forty-seven years. I have no incentive to change at my ripe old age.”
“You’re exhausting, do you know that? If you shut Aria out, you’ll regret it for the next forty-seven years. The tragedy is she’ll hurt right along with you. If it comes to that, I’ll beat you to a pulp. She’s my best friend, man.”
Lucien replied with something between a groan and a scoff. A cop-out. He knew Landon was right.
By the time they walked into the kitchen, the women were in deep conversation. Based on her crinkled nose and wildly gesticulating hands, Aubrey was probably relaying her frustrating attempts to make Moscato sorbet.
“Well, one thing’s obvious,” Aria said, “you’ve been at it too long. Let’s have loads of delicious food and fabulous wine and not spend a single minute thinking about work.”
“How’s that even possible?” Aubrey laughed. “Food is your work.”
“Oh, poof.”
Aria covered the dining table with a board of savory charcuterie—a slice of jamón