on the pool house floor. ‘According to the notes I have...’ He trailed off and pushed on one of the inlaid tiles.
To Merle’s astonishment, four of the tiles slid back to reveal a dark cavity. ‘Oh, wow. There really is a trap door.’ She chuckled. ‘It’s like something out of a spy movie.’
‘I know,’ he muttered. ‘Ridiculous.’
As she stared down, lights flickered on to reveal a steep flight of stairs.
‘Shall we?’ He glanced at her with a wicked smile.
Her heart pounded. It was crazy to feel this frisson. ‘We leave this open, right?’ Merle double-checked.
‘Of course,’ he answered.
The staircase was so steep she could almost slide down it. At the bottom, Ash pulled open a heavy-looking steel door. Yet more lights flickered on as he walked through. Her heart still thudding, Merle followed.
‘Oh, wow.’ She gazed about the gleaming space in absolute astonishment. ‘Wow. This is...’
‘Insane?’ He circled around on the spot, shaking his head as he took in the set-up.
This was no weird, prison-like cell or futuristic survival bunker. This was pure luxury—like a plush hotel penthouse.
‘You’d never know it was here.’ She wouldn’t have believed it possible. Not when above them was that perfect, smooth, manicured tennis lawn beside the pool. There were no tell-tale lumps or hollows giving away the secret beneath the ground.
‘Which is the point, right?’ He crossed the room.
‘It’s big.’ Merle slowly followed him across the smooth wooden floors that echoed the warm, coastal luxury of the mansion above ground. Cosy leather sofas furnished the room.
‘My father wouldn’t have anything less than opulent.’
‘How does it smell this fresh when we’re this far underground?’
‘Good maintenance,’ he muttered. ‘There’s a ventilation system. The control panel is in here...’
Merle tuned out as she took in additional details herself. The wall carefully concealed a series of cupboards providing impressive storage space. Digital frames had lit up, creating ‘windows’ to a virtual garden. The kitchen was compact yet still luxurious. While every space was utilised, it wasn’t crammed. It was, she had to admit, absolutely stunning.
‘What was the man thinking, having this installed here?’ Ash’s growl impinged.
‘It is pretty unusual.’ She released a helpless laugh. ‘Did he think he was in danger or the end of the world was nigh?’
‘No.’ Ash shook his head. ‘I think it was the accessory du jour and he wanted to feel superior to his friends in his club. He’d hint and whisper but confirm nothing. My father did like keeping secrets.’
Hearing underlying rancour in his tone, Merle stilled. That edge of emotion flickered in his eyes. It made him even more beautiful. Merle stiffened. Never had she thought a man beautiful before... The bunker no longer felt spacious. Or safe. It was scarily exciting.
He rubbed his arm absently as he looked about the luxury lounge.
‘Are you cold?’ she unthinkingly observed aloud. ‘Maybe you should wear more clothes.’
He snapped his head back and turned a wicked smile on her. ‘Don’t you like to swim?’ he teased and stepped towards her. ‘It’s very warm this afternoon.’
It was extremely warm this afternoon. Truthfully, she was melting this second, but she wasn’t about to tell him that. She’d lost her ability to speak again and she just knew another scalding blush was mottling her skin.
‘You’re not a pool person? What about the beach?’ He cocked his head and chuckled at her. ‘Or is it just bubble baths for you?’
‘I didn’t want to disturb you,’ she muttered.
‘Too late, Merle.’ A heated glint flickered in his eyes. ‘But I’ve been hogging the pool, haven’t I?’
‘This is your home. I’m just working here.’
‘You’re also living here. You’re not supposed to work all day, you’re supposed to have breaks. If you like, I’ll vacate the pool area at a time that’s convenient to you.’
She met his gaze, stilling when she saw seriousness stealing that glint away. Stupidly another wave of heat overwhelmed her—how could she find him even more attractive just because he was being almost human?
She walked down the narrow corridor, more to escape him than to explore. But fascination and curiosity took hold as she ventured further into the pod. There was a bunk room gorgeously decorated in light colours, a sleek bathroom and beyond that a luxurious bedroom for two. The whole place was pristine and perfect and surprisingly cosy. It would be easy to forget you were deep underground. But then Ash followed her into the room and she remembered just how alone and isolated they were.
‘It’s better finished than most homes,’ she commented, purely to pierce