day was one of the longest of her life, yet the sun was just setting. She should be exhausted, but her only need was for a long, hot bath, room service, good wine, and some easy company. The questioning at the police station was grueling and long, but the detectives were kind and not overly suspicious considering she had been the victim. Still, it wasn’t without guilt that she relayed the story several times. Jackson tried to explain that in a situation like this, she was doing the best for all concerned: her family, and herself. She resolved to buy it.
Jackson sized up the generous amount of boxes and bags Xavier sent. “Think he thought to send me clean underwear?” He had a doubtful smirk on his face. “I’m wearing the ones the hotel sent back from the cleaners this morning.”
She pursed her lips and mockingly said, “I’m sure I could find something for you.”
His full lips gathered to one side. “Sorry, nothing you have could hold me.” His eyes twinkled, but he managed to avoid the big wink. “I saw a men’s shop downstairs, I’ll pick up some things while you’re in the bath, if you’re okay with me leaving.”
“That’s fine, but be sure to come back. New clothes don’t count unless you show them off to someone when you get them.”
He peered around the corner. “I vaguely remember the customary post-shopping torture from living with Scar.”
She laughed, flipping her hair over her shoulder with the swing of her head. “Well, since you’re not my uncle, maybe we can speed up the process. I’ll just show you the stuff as I wear it. If something catches your eye, you can take a closer look. You’re free to take a little time shopping. I’m going take a long bath and bask in this luxury.” The relief of seeing for herself that Max was safe lifted the cloud of doom that blanketed her for months.
He studied her.
“What?” she asked.
“If it makes you this happy to take a bubble bath, there’s no end to the pleasures lying ahead for you in a place like this. Lock the door behind me.” He pushed himself from his position in the door frame that had afforded him an optimal view and headed down to the lobby.
With soft music playing in the background and candles lit, it was easy to put the last few months behind her and forget they ever existed. It was just as easy to pretend there was no future waiting for her. For now, at least. Scales of hardness were shedding from her interior, as well as her exterior. She was beginning to believe, that when she stood up from the bath, she might actually resemble a woman again. She toweled off, wrapped the huge cotton hotel robe around herself, and dried her hair, taking care to pat the waves into shape. That’d be the extent of her styling.
She heard Jackson come in and hollered passed the crack in the door. “I’ll be out soon. Did you get everything you need?”
“Got it. Do you want me to order room service?”
“Sounds great. Get me something decadent and messy. I want to eat with my hands and need to lick my fingers when I’m finished. A culinary experience for those who have been force fed farm food for nearly six months.”
Jackson shook his head and laughed softly. “So, she wants a big, fat, greasy cheeseburger and fries,” he whispered.
She slipped the champagne gold silk chemise over her head and let the fabric fall, savoring the sensations the silk brought to her still sensitive, freshly bathed skin. The chemise was much too short for dinnertime comfort, but the matching robe was knee length.
After stepping into some skimpy silk panties, she slid her hands up her thighs and over her body. Xavier had thought of every need. She slipped her feet into the matching low-heeled slippers.
Jackson knocked softly on the already opened door. “Room service has arrived. Dinner’s out on the terrace.”
She smiled. When his wandering eyes complimented her, her thick dark lashes lowered toward her warm cheeks, which were surely red, and then raised again. By the time her eyes reached his, she deemed the deep connection kindred.
The terrace was inviting and intimately lit by the multitude of hotel lights on the beach. The waves echoed from below, and the temperature wasn’t too warm—the perfect night. When Jackson revealed the cheeseburger under the dome, she smiled and laughed softly.
“Perfect, just what I wanted. Only one