“You got it. I love having you guys over.”
The rest of dinner conversation is devoted to easy subjects—the weather, Patrick’s newfound desire to own a Harley, Elaine’s loud protests over the dangers of motorcycles. It’s not very late when we call it a night, and as we say our goodbyes, I catch Patrick’s arm, pulling him aside. Derek and Elaine continue talking.
“Thank you for watching over me.”
He smiles and shrugs. “I promised Derek. Besides, it wasn’t any more than he’d have done for me.”
My eyes narrow. “You say that, but I know better. I also won’t hear anything bad about you ever again. Everybody’d better look out.”
“That might be hard. There’s plenty of bad about me that’s true.”
“Not for me. It’s all good now.” He breathes a chuckle, but I’m not through. “Would you promise me something this time?”
Golden-hazel eyes meet mine. “What?”
“Promise you’ll look after him now. For me.” I touch his arm. “Don’t let him do anything…” What’s the right way to say it? “Anything that could mean he’ll be taken away from me?”
His warm hand covers mine. “You mean anything illegal or potentially deadly?”
“Exactly.”
“I promise. I’ve got his back.” Patrick isn’t smiling, and I know I can trust him. He means what he says.
Derek’s with us, and we drop the subject, acting casual, like we were just discussing how to get Elaine onboard the Harley train.
My fiancé takes my hand, pausing before we go out the door. “I’ll meet you at ten. We should be there by noon to wrap this up and make a plan.”
“See you in the morning.”
The cottage is dark and quiet when we arrive. Derek stops in the kitchen to check his messages, but I go straight through the house, flipping on lights, refusing to be timid in my own place.
I go to the bathroom and switch on the hot water. An oversized, jetted bathtub is one of the perks of living in an intended vacation residence, and tonight my whole body craves the comfort of a steaming, swirling bubble bath.
Digging under the cabinet, I find the jar of foaming bath salts I bought at the spa in Scottsdale and add several scoops to the stream rushing from the faucet. Once the temperature is right and the bubbles have risen, I strip out of all my clothes, tie up my hair and slide down into the cactus-flower-scented jets.
The water is the perfect level of hotness. My head rests on a foam pillow attached to the side, and I close my eyes, allowing the swirling water to soothe away the night. I don’t realize I’m asleep until the soft press of Derek’s lips against my forehead followed by the light scruff of his beard against my brow wakes me. My eyes flutter open, and he smiles down, fully dressed and leaning over the tub.
“Tired?” His voice is gentle.
Nodding, I lift one hand out of the now-warm water and touch his cheek. “Join me?”
I watch as he unbuttons his sleeve and rolls it up to his elbow. One hand on the wall behind my head, he leans forward and captures my lips as his other hand slides beneath the foam to cup my breast.
A breathy moan slips from my mouth into his, and keeping my eyes closed, I cover his hand with mine, following his movements from one breast to the other, his thumb slowly circling my hardening nipples.
He leans up and our eyes meet. “Good news.” My eyebrows rise with curiosity, and he continues. “Sloan’s back on the radar. He’s in Charleston. Bennett’s watching him and promises to keep me updated.”
“Now you don’t have to worry.” My voice is thick from napping followed by all the steamy kisses and touches. “I can stay home and work tomorrow.”
“I’d still like it if you had someone with you.” His voice is soft with a touch of sexy, fanning the heat he’s aroused in me.
“I’d like it if you were less clothed and in here while we discuss it.”
“I’m not sure we’ll do much discussing that way.”
Sitting forward in the tub, I carefully unfasten his buttons with the tips of my fingers until his olive chest is revealed. A scattering of dark hair covers the top of his lined torso, and I chew my bottom lip remembering how it feels against my breasts. With the pad of his thumb, he touches my mouth.
“Don’t bite your lip.” He leans in and brushes his against mine. “Let me do that.”