Chapter 10

“Yeah, my uncle. That’s his home,” Zach replied.

Hearing that, Giselle instinctively slowed the bike. “Wait. Isn’t this inappropriate? Bringing a stranger like me into his personal space… Someone his age would definitely hate that. Maybe we should go somewhere else.”

Zach laughed. “What do you mean, his age? He’s only ten years older than me. We’re close—more like brothers, really. Trust me. He won’t care.”

Giselle fell silent.

Zach added, “I brought you here because it’s close to where we were hanging out. And my uncle has an amazing pool, so I figured you’d want to check it out.”

“Your uncle and aunt aren’t home right now, are they?”

“Don’t worry. He’s a total bachelor. He works like crazy and ends up sleeping at the office half the time, so he’s hardly ever home.”

They were nearly at the gate, and Giselle decided not to overthink it.

Perched on the mountaintop, the standalone villa offered breathtaking views. It was just far enough to escape the city’s chaos, yet close enough to appreciate its vibrant sprawl. Behind the villa, an endless green golf course stretched into the distance, while to its right, a spacious parking lot was filled with rows of luxury cars. Every amenity was within easy reach, all set within lush landscaping where the air always felt crisp and refreshing. Even the security was flawless.

Giselle couldn’t imagine what kind of ultra-elite tycoon could own a property in such a prime location.

“Adrian, pick out a selection of new women’s swimsuits for Ms. Holt. We’ll be swimming later,” Zach said, removing his helmet as he addressed the villa’s butler, Adrian Ellison.

“Right away, sir.”

With that, Zach guided Giselle into the expansive, luxurious living room, where the housekeeper offered them refreshments. Once Adrian returned with the swimsuits, the two headed to the pool.

Situated at the side of the villa, the pool was even larger than those in professional aquatic centers. Its innovative design seemed to stretch endlessly, with no visible boundaries.

Zach changed quickly and dove into the pool, already swimming laps by the time Giselle emerged in her swimsuit. The sight nearly made his eyes pop out.

She’d chosen something close to a bikini, and her figure was stunning. At five feet six inches, her proportions were flawless. Years of regular workouts and extreme sports had left her toned and powerful, radiating athletic beauty. Her legs were long and sculpted, her chest full and tempting, and her skin so pale it almost glowed. Calling her a knockout would be an understatement.

Giselle didn’t flinch under Zach’s blatant stare. She dove straight into the water.

Just as strong a swimmer, she lit up the moment she hit the water, showing off a range of strokes as she glided around the pool before playfully splashing with Zach. She was dangerously alluring, a mystery he couldn’t resist. But to her, he was just a fun, easygoing “buddy,” perfect for passing the time.

They played freely in the pool, racing one minute, splashing the next, even trading tips between laughs. When Zach playfully drenched her with a huge splash, she retaliated with a sharp kick before swimming away and diving deep into the six-and-a-half-foot water.

Giselle held her breath underwater for two minutes before surfacing, gasping for air. As she lifted her head, her eyes landed on a tall, strikingly handsome man standing by the pool. The second she recognized that terrifyingly familiar figure, her breath caught. She wiped the water from her face and blinked hard.

Damn it. It really was him!

Donovan stood by the pool, staring at her as if she were something vile, his gaze locked onto her with deadly intensity. When his eyes swept over her scandalously revealing bikini, his expression turned even colder, as if he might dive in at any moment and rip her apart.