“I’m not sure what to say or do right now,” he admitted. “This is nerve-racking as hell.”
She blew out a breath. “For me, too. But first I have to change into something more appropriate. Do you mind if I have a quick shower?” She pulled her hand away and opened her door.
It helped that she was also nervous. Or maybe it didn’t...perhaps one of them being tied up in knots was more than enough. Regardless, he followed her lead and got out of the car, then grabbed both their packs while she got her camera bag. He tried to block out the idea of her under the hot shower spray and instead on the evening ahead...which was nearly as bad.
The day had been warm, but the wind took on a sudden chill as the sun went under a cloud. Drew looked up, surprised to see a wall of clouds closing in.
Once inside the house, Drew put down the backpacks and reached for Harper’s hand. “Can I kiss you?”
She blushed prettily, the colour highlighting the freckles on her nose as she nodded. He stepped forward and kissed her, a soft, gentle hello of a kiss that reached in and grabbed him right by the heart with its hesitancy and sweetness.
Leaving her was going to be harder than she knew.
He broke off the kiss. “Go have your shower. I’m starving.”
“I won’t be long. There are drinks in the fridge if you want one.”
He got himself a can of ginger ale and settled in the living room on the sofa while the water ran for the shower. How was this evening really going to play out? There was no question he wanted to kiss her again. But how far did he want to go?
His brother’s words rang in his ears: I hope you know what you’re doing.
He didn’t. Not even close.
She came back out a few minutes later, her hair wet and darker than usual, which made her pale skin and blue eyes stand out. She wore a light, floral maxi dress that accentuated her breasts but fell in soft folds to the floor, where her toes peeked out from little sandals. She came to sit beside him and that floral scent that had only been hinted at earlier now filled the air around him. Her shampoo, he realized. Whatever it was, it made his blood stir.
“Feel better?” he asked.
“Much.” She smiled softly. “Are you ready?”
“I am if you are.”
She got up and put her hand on her lower back.
He rose and reached over, touching the muscles just above her sacrum. “Is your back bothering you?”
“A little. The doctor said it might bother me a bit because my body is changing and tendons and stuff.” She laughed a bit, but he stood behind her and used his thumbs to rub on the spot where she’d pressed her hand. Over the years he’d come to rely on a massage therapist a lot to deal with aches and pains after difficult expeditions.
“Oh my God, that feels good,” she said, her voice almost a moan as she relaxed beneath his fingertips.
He tried not to react to her words. It was difficult, because the attraction was insane, and having his hands on her was arousing, plain and simple. But this wasn’t the moment. This was a time for being caring and helpful. As he massaged a tight muscle, the first rumblings of thunder began.
“Have you tried yoga? Like, a prenatal kind or something? It might help with any stiffness or lower back issues.”
“I haven’t. I’ve been so busy that my exercise routine has been walking and getting out for the odd hike.”
His thumbs rubbed in concentric circles. “Well, maybe you can look into it. Or go for prenatal massage.”
“If it’s anything like you’re doing right now, that’s a brilliant idea,” she murmured. “That feels amazing.”
You have no idea, he thought, but instead he worked on the tight muscles that she probably overused today in addition to the changes happening inside her body.
Lightning flashed outside the window, followed by a deeper rumble of thunder a few seconds later. “Looks like we’re in for some rain,” he mused.
“I’m glad we’re not in the chopper now.” She gasped a little as he touched a particularly tight area.
“Me, too.”
After a few minutes she straightened. “Thanks, Drew,” she said, and despite the “normal” tone to her voice, there was a huskiness underlying it that lent an intimacy to the moment. “I think that’s good.”