Gaining Visibility by Pamela Hearon Read Free Book Online Page B

scenery—Adonis, still hard at work. Still hard everywhere. She’d given up trying to make sense of the article in the magazine on her lap, although she kept it there as a prop to thumb through. The man was too great a distraction. Hidden behind her large sunglasses and floppy hat, she’d been enjoying the view for quite some time.
    He dropped a stone into place, and suddenly, his head snapped her way as if her stare had called him. A “caught ya” smile played across his handsome, dark features.
    Julia went rigid with embarrassment, quickly thumbing another page to prove the arrogant playboy wrong, but a hot flash of seismic proportions sent her scurrying to jump in the pool and wash away the telltale sweat.
    As she swam a couple of laps, Adonis took a break, moving to the shade to down a bottle of water. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him pick up his pad and start to sketch, as he’d done the night before. She went back to her chair and toweled off just as the americana bombshell stood and stretched and readjusted the back of her Brazilian bikini, eyes glued on the stonemason.
    In the perfect position to see and hear all, Julia put her invisibility to work. She donned her hat and sunglasses, and opened her magazine as the blonde strutted her stuff in Adonis’s direction.
    He flipped the sketch pad closed when he saw the woman approaching.
    â€œYou don’t have to be shy.” She came to a stop—more of a pose, really—with hands hugging the back of her hips and breasts thrust far enough forward to look dangerous. “I’ve noticed you watching me all afternoon, and then I saw you sketching me. I thought I’d come over and introduce myself.”
    So that’s how the visible crowd did it these days. Even if she were visible and the young woman’s age, Julia never could’ve been that bold. But it was intriguing to watch.
    â€œ Mi dispiace .” Adonis’s deep voice carried easily.
    The blonde waved her hand in front of her chest and let her fingers play lightly at the base of her throat, drawing attention to her breasts as if they might somehow be overlooked. “You don’t have to apologize. I wanted to let you know I wouldn’t mind posing for you . . . like in a more private setting? We could meet later for drinks and talk about it if you’d like.”
    And have sex, of course. Sheesh.
    â€œ Sì .” He shrugged. “My friend Romano meet me for the drinks in the bar.” He indicated the door to the bar with a nod. “You join us?”
    â€œThat sounds fun.” The blonde’s tongue glided along her upper lip in a provocative manner. “What time do you want me?” She flashed a smile. “To meet you, I mean?”
    Seriously? Shouldn’t a body like that exempt you from having to be coy?
    â€œ Le diciannove. ”
    Blondie giggled. “What’s that mean?”
    â€œThe nineteen hours.”
    â€œSo that would be . . . ?”
    Adonis held up seven fingers.
    â€œAll right, then. I’ll see you at seven in the bar.” Blondie gave a tiny wave and strutted back to her seat.
    As Adonis downed a second bottle of water, Julia gathered up her things and headed for her room. The last three minutes had added at least a decade to her age.
    Adonis had worked moving rocks all day in the hot sun, yet was primed and ready for sex.
    She, on the other hand, had relaxed for a good part of the day—and was ready for a nap.
    * * *
    From her corner table in the restaurant where she relaxed unnoticed, Julia watched the three young people in the bar, playing out the scenario she had overheard being planned.
    The ubiquitous stonemason and his friend had scored . . . or were well on their way.
    Blondie had indeed met them for drinks. Although Adonis had been anxious to accept her offer this afternoon, now his friend seemed more aggressive in the pursuit. Adonis appeared a bit more aloof, to the