“I lurve the freedom of water, don’t you?” He raised one eyebrow. “I’m Bazz, by the way. Maybe I could buy you a drink?”

Natalie made a choking noise as she gasped and swallowed at the same time. Was this guy trying to pick her up? Dear God, she didn’t even know what that looked like any more.

“I’m late actually, Bazz.” She spun away, teetered momentarily in the whirlpool motion of water she’d created then strode to the steps. Not daring to look back, she wrapped herself in a towel, gathered up her things and strode to her room, latching the door firmly behind her.

Once inside she sat for a moment, gobsmacked – firstly because he’d appeared to be chatting her up and second because she’d bolted like a startled rabbit. Why hadn’t she simply told him no thanks to the drink and kept swimming? She looked at her surprised face in the bathroom mirror and laughed. “Bloody Bazz,” she muttered then shuddered as a chill rippled over her. The air conditioning was cold on her damp skin.

She ran a warm shower and stepped in. When she closed her eyes she saw Milt’s face. From the moment she’d first met him he’d been the only man she’d ever wanted. Now when she thought of him she was filled with…She pursed her lips. How did she feel about her husband? Angry? If she really narrowed it down, suspicious too. The trust she’d thought was there…perhaps it had been false? It had been blown away in the face of Jack Halbot’s intrusion in their lives.

Out of the shower and dressed again, Natalie reluctantly decided to pack her bags. Regardless of her destination she needed to leave the hotel the next morning. Her case was empty except for a few items she hadn’t needed, and she was surprised to find, tucked in one of the zipper pockets, The Model Wife. She’d had such a blissful few days she’d not given it a thought.