"Oh, I didn't tell you, did I? Damian's family is of Rom heritage. Most people call them gypsies." I rolled my eyes when I thought about my best friend's favorite pastime. "Damian thinks it's fun to play like he's a real gypsy, with supernatural powers and everything. He does palm readings, but I don't know how accurate his fortune telling is. Women seem to think his Rom stuff is hot."
"Doesn't sound all that hot to me." Mara smiled again, and my dick twitched. "I like normal guys who are reliable and don't pretend to have superpowers."
"Good to know." I stood up again. "Now, I really have to get back to work."
Like a coward, I sprinted for the guest house.
And though I took dinner to Mara later on, I ate mine in the guest house office and sneaked into the little house only after the lights went out in her bedroom. I'd have to rethink my avoiding-Mara plan, since I was in charge here until Val and Eve came home. But for tonight, I'd stay away.
Only a hallway separated my room from hers.
Sleeping right across from her room didn't ease my problem south of the equator. Of course, I didn't actually get much rest. My brain had other ideas. It tormented me with hot dreams about Mara and her pink toenails and all the dirty things I wanted to do with her.
Chapter Seven
Mara
The next morning, while I showered and got dressed, my thoughts rewound to yesterday and how Ollie kept running away from me---literally. Only during our nature walk had he stayed with me and not acted weird about it. After that, he'd raced back to the guest house within minutes after every time he came over to check on me, and I wondered why he'd seemed so tense when he was talking to me. Duh. I'd acted like a complete freaking lunatic since the second we'd met. Screaming and fainting because I saw naked people? No wonder he had to run away from me.
Once I'd gotten over the initial shock, I had decided to face up to my fears. Peeking out the window at the nudists had served as phase one in my desensitization plan. Once I felt okay about that, I'd ventured outside, staying right by the house at first. Eventually, after my walk with Ollie, I got brave enough to march over to the grassy area where the other guests were hanging out.
Everyone must have seen and heard me when I'd screamed. Still, they all treated me kindly. Ruth Norris, who described herself as "the busybody who helps spread all the gossip, but only in a loving way," seemed to have made it her mission to get me acclimated. She took me around the lawn, introducing me to everyone and putting her arm around my shoulders anytime I got anxious. She intuitively knew when I needed a little support. Despite their nakedness and my lack thereof, every single guest treated me like an old friend.
Ruth had suggested I sit on a chaise and observe the nudists to get acclimated.
"Maybe after that," she'd told me, "you won't want to leave anymore. We'd sure love to have you stay, Mara. And I know Ollie would like that too."
She'd winked at me when she said the part about Ollie.
Ugh. How could he possibly want me to stick around? I'd acted like such an idiot, and I'd kissed him---which he clearly hadn't appreciated.
So stupid, Mara.
This morning, I decided to hide out for a while in the little house where Ollie had generously let me stay. He had left a note on my door saying he went to the office in the guest house and I should help myself to the breakfast he'd left in the fridge for me. Sure, I'd gotten somewhat accustomed to hanging out with naked people, but I needed a break from my immersion therapy. A little alone time. To decompress.
Nothing helped me relax more than a nice warm bath.
Unfortunately, this house had a shower, not a bathtub.
Did the guest house have a tub? I really, really, seriously needed some relaxation time, preferably with bubbles.
I peered out the kitchen window and spotted Ruth Norris right when she looked in my direction. I waved until she noticed, smiling, then gestured for her to come here. She nodded and hustled to the door. When I opened it, she walked right in.
"What can I do for you, sweetie?" she asked.
"Um, well..." I hunched my shoulders, feeling weird about what I wanted to ask.
She put her arm around my shoulders and gave me a gentle squeeze. "Don't be shy, hon. Whatever it is, you can tell me."
"I was wondering if there's a bathtub in the guest house. I'd love a nice, relaxing soak."
"There is a soaking tub attached to the exercise room. It's a jacuzzi-type thing, so it's great for relaxing."
"Exercise room?" I bit the inside of my lip, imagining all the ways I could be humiliated by someone walking in while I was soaking. Even if I wore a swimsuit, I'd feel embarrassed. "That sounds kind of...public."
"No-no, sweetie, you can shut the door. Nobody will go in there without knocking first." She gave my bottom a little pat. "Go on. Enjoy yourself. I'll let the other guests know not to use the exercise room while you're enjoying jacuzzi therapy."
"Thank you, Ruth. You've been so nice to me, in spite of the way I acted yesterday."
"Never mind that. We all have bad days."
Ruth gave me directions for how to find the exercise room, then left to alert the other guests that the room was off limits for a while. She even suggested I put a scarf or something on the door handle so I could take it off when I left the exercise room. That way, everyone would be sure to steer clear until I was done.
God, I loved that woman. I wished she were my grandma.
My real grandmother was just like my mom. If the people here thought I was uptight,
