Skinny Dipping

***

  Sophie survived the floating saga. Not just in the physical sense. Roger jumped up from his seat in the grandstand and cheered. People in the swimming centre, glanced at Sophie, curious expressions on their faces. Matthew finished the lesson there with a grin.

  “You might miss your train,” she said to Roger as he approached the edge of the pool.

  Roger beamed from ear to ear. “It was worth it,” he mused and darted a glance over his shoulder toward the exit. “Though, I’d better go, before I miss the next train. See you tomorrow morning.”

  Sophie walked her father as far as possible out of the building, before she darted toward the changing rooms. She dressed, feeling an overwhelming sense of pride and also gratitude toward Matthew.

  She needed to thank Matthew. But how should she thank him? Eventually she dressed and went to reception. He wasn’t there, not behind the counter, or bashing numbers in his calculator or writing in his ledger.

  Sophie asked Eve to call a taxi, booking one headed for Clarks. Sophie pulled her coat tight round her shoulders as she stood outside the swimming centre. Despite the cold temperature, Sophie waited there for the cab. The time alone enabled her to focus and list exactly what she’d do when she arrived at the office.

  First she’d review the pitch prepared for Barney’s Chocolate Bars. Then she’d work on the Silver campaign. Her team was a whisper away from identifying a brilliant campaign idea. There was a niggling thought in the back of her mind. They were so close! If Sophie dug deep, searched and reached, then maybe she could strike gold. Working tonight, she’d try for that extra mile and surely she’d identify a winning idea.

  Sophie closed her eyes. All she had to do was believe. Images of the pool flashed through her mind, the glistening water, children splashing and the trusty step. Faces of spectators, her father watching and, of course, Matthew instructing. Matthew practically came alive in her mind.

  His deep laugh echoed in her ears. She remembered the creases in Matthew’s smile. His positive demeanour practically stood on the pavement next to her.

  Sophie squeezed her eyelashes against her cheeks, trying to centre her roving thoughts. She was supposed to be brainstorming for the swimming centre campaign. Her intelligence was wandering away. For she was acting in a completely dizzy way, fantasising about Matthew.

  Soon she’d be imagining his toned physique and his muscular shoulders. Sophie almost salivated at the thought of stroking her hand against his rippling abdomen.

  Sophie released a breath. She panted. Soon she’d be drooling, dribble falling to the pavement. This dream needed to stop.

  Focus. Sophie, focus. Reel back those thoughts. Think of the campaign and not of the divine Matthew.

  “I’ve cancelled your taxi,” a voice interrupted her thoughts.

  Sophie’s eyes flew open. By God, she’d conjured him. She swivelled round.

  There he stood, Matthew, in the flesh. Her heart beat fast and eyes widened as she scanned him. Matthew wore jeans and a t-shirt. Where was his coat? No, he wasn’t dressed in swimming trunks, so the figure in front of her clearly wasn’t an apparition. She wasn’t quite losing her head.

  “What was that, sorry?” Sophie spluttered, trying to find composure. “You’ve cancelled my taxi?”

  “It’s eight o’clock. Eve mentioned you were going back to the office.”

  “I just want to do a few things. Or I might pick up a few things to do at home.”

  “It’s late to be going back to work,” he said. “I’ll drive you.”

  She averted her gaze and shifted on her feet. “I don’t want to put you out,” she replied. “You’ve helped me enough tonight. I really appreciate everything.”

  “Come on, what harm can it do? The centre shuts in an hour, at nine, and Eve’s already agreed to lock up.”

  Sophie glanced up into Matthew’s dreamy eyes. His offer of driving her to work became increasingly more attractive. Almost as attractive as looking at him….

  Chapter 9