idea how much time had passed before I heard a faint groan over the music in my headphones. I blinked my eyes open and froze.
Hunter was standing in the doorway, a towel wrapped around his lower body. My breath caught as I willed myself not to look below his face, but that wasn’t helping much.
His eyes were wide and full of lust. His hands were clenching either side of the doorframe so hard, I was surprised the wood didn’t splinter. I took my earbuds out, dropping them on the floor, then rose to my feet before realizing that made matters worse, because now Hunter had a full-frontal view.
And then I couldn’t help myself, I looked down, and even through the towel, it was obvious he was hard. I’d never gotten aroused so fast in my life. It was all I could do not to clench my thighs. I didn’t hear what he grumbled under his breath as he grabbed a towel, handing it to me. Our fingers touched briefly, and energy zapped through me. And when his gaze perused me unabashedly, resting on my breasts before moving downward, I felt on fire, as if he was trailing his mouth across my skin.
He snapped his gaze away as I wrapped the towel around me, then turned his back completely, as if he didn’t trust himself not to look if he was facing me. I shared his conundrum.
“I didn’t hear you come in,” I hurried to explain. “I was listening to music.”
“I didn’t know you were home,” he said.
“Left the office early. Everyone was wondering why I didn’t take the day off.”
“Shit. I didn’t think about that.”
“Neither did I, but I told them I just wanted to wrap up a few things before the honeymoon. You can turn around now. Towel’s on. All safe.”
Hunter stayed put for a few seconds, and when he turned, my knees nearly buckled from the sheer intensity in his eyes.
I knew right then and there that we’d crossed yet another boundary. I lifted one foot, intending to swing my leg over the edge of the tub, but lost my balance.
Hunter caught my wrist. Shit, could he tell my pulse was out of control? I avoided looking at him as I stepped out. I wasn’t sure what to say, how to manage this tension.
As gracefully as possible, I grabbed my phone and skidded past him, going straight inside my room. Except, it wasn’t my space, was it? He’d have to walk through it when he came out.
Glancing at the clock, I realized it was already time to leave for the spa. I dressed quickly, then simply shouted, “I’m leaving for my pedicure appointment” while he was still in the bathroom.
Chapter Twelve
Josie
While at the spa, I tried to occupy my brain with an upcoming case. It didn’t really work. My thoughts kept drifting to Hunter. We’d been living together barely a week, and everything was already awkward. I could feel our friendship changing, metamorphosing into something I couldn’t define. I could only see this tension escalating.
We were adults, we both had needs, and a three-year dry spell wasn’t exactly plausible, was it? And still, I didn’t want to go back on that. We could be careful, of course. We wouldn’t have to be seen in public at all with other people and the immigration services would be none the wiser. But the truth was, I couldn’t bear the thought of smelling another woman’s perfume on Hunter. Of hearing him come home in the morning and knowing he’d been with someone else. This already felt more real than it was supposed to.
I felt more confused when I arrived home than when I’d left. I lingered a little outside, not quite ready to go in. This place was just beautiful, with the mix of colors and explosion of smells: a gardening company had brought pots with anemones and freesias, laying them on the steps in front of the house. In the hot summer night, the smell felt more intense, somehow, perhaps because of the humidity.
Tearing my gaze away from the flowers, I headed toward the front door, finally gathering the courage to push it open.
When I stepped inside, I sighed. It smelled absolutely mouthwatering.
Hunter was in the kitchen, cooking steaks.
“Hey!” I greeted.
He winked. “Dinner’s almost ready.”
“Want me to set the table?”
“Already done.”
I squinted. “Are you trying to bribe me again?”
He chuckled. “Just wanted to cook you dinner, future Mrs. Caldwell.”
“What?”
“What what?”
“There will be no future Mrs. Caldwell. I’m keeping my name.”
Hunter