A Lie for a Lie (All In) - Helena Hunting Page 0,30
with a quiet click.
I exhale a long breath as soon as I’m alone. Thank God I managed not to cry in front of him. That would be insanely embarrassing. I turn on the shower, strip out of my soaked clothes, and step under the hot spray. I can’t hear the thunder or lightning in here, so I’m finally able to relax a little. I don’t know how long I stay there, but by the time I’m done my hands are as pruney as my feet and my skin is bright pink.
I rummage around in my suitcase for a nice pair of underwear. I have to settle on pink cotton ones since I didn’t bring anything sexy for this trip, thinking the only guys I’d be hanging around with would be of the whale or dolphin variety.
I pull on a pair of thermal leggings, a thermal undershirt, an oversize sweater, and wool socks. I check my reflection in the mirror, relieved my cheeks aren’t blotchy anymore, and head downstairs.
I find RJ in the living room, stoking the fire. There are pillows laid out on the floor and big fluffy blankets. On a tray next to the pillows and blankets are two steaming mugs of hot chocolate piled high with marshmallows. A plate of cookies and pastries sits between them. The rain has slowed, the pounding now a light patter.
“This looks cozy.” I clasp my hands to keep from wringing them. Now that I’m not panicking, I’m more than a little embarrassed by the way I acted when RJ picked me up.
“And you look much warmer.” He pats the pile of blankets. “Wanna come sit with me?”
“Sure.” I drop onto one of the cushions and cross my legs as RJ does the same. “Sorry I was so . . . freaked out when you came and got me.”
He props himself up on one elbow. “Can I be completely honest?”
I glance quickly at him and then away. “Of course.”
“I’m just glad I get to spend more time with you. And I actually really like that I get to protect you, even if it’s just from getting rained on—which probably sounds wrong. It’s just . . . nice to take care of someone else? Feel . . . needed?” He blows out a breath and cringes. “I’m going to stop while I’m ahead. Or maybe behind.”
“I think I get what you mean.” I run my fingertip along the seam of my leggings so I have somewhere to focus that isn’t RJ’s face—or specifically his mouth. Now that the worst of the storm seems to have passed and I can do something other than panic, I’m remembering what it was like to be kissed by him. “It’s kind of nice to be taken care of. Normally I’m just dealing with overprotective parents, so this is much more welcome.”
He relaxes a little. “Okay. Good. I’m glad you feel that way. And I can completely understand why your parents are overprotective.”
“I can take care of myself—I just don’t like thunderstorms,” I say rather defensively.
He runs a gentle finger along the back of my hand. “I think you can take care of yourself just fine, considering you survived in that shithole cabin the past few days. But I’d be overprotective, too, if I had a daughter and she was gorgeous and sweet like you. I wouldn’t want anyone to take advantage of what’s mine.” He shakes his head. “I think I’m digging myself a bigger hole, aren’t I?”
I laugh. “There weren’t many opportunities for me to get taken advantage of with four older brothers.”
“Can’t say I blame them for wanting to keep the wolves at bay.” His gaze moves over me in a hot, familiar way.
“You’re not a wolf, though, are you, RJ? You’re a teddy bear.”
His dimpled grin appears. “I’m glad you think that. You feeling better now?”
“Much, thank you. I don’t know what I would’ve done tonight if you hadn’t come to get me.” Other than cry, anyway.
“I’m glad I could. Tomorrow we can go back and get the rest of your stuff.”
“The owners of the cabin will be back at the end of the week, I think. I can let them know the roof needs to be fixed.” I work on sounding flippant about it, because I’ve already been the damsel in distress more times than I’d like with RJ.
RJ cocks a brow. “At the risk of sounding like I’m telling you what to do, you can’t stay there anymore, Lainey.”