“And I’m only here for a few hours anyway,” I added.
Katherine smiled at last. “Excited about the honeymoon?”
“Oh, yeah.”
Ironically, I didn’t get much done, because I was too busy obsessing over whether my colleagues were suspicious or not. I ended up leaving right before lunch.
I began unbuttoning my shirt as I stepped into the house. That Jacuzzi would be so welcome right now. I had two hours before I went to get my pedicure. I didn’t have time for it tomorrow, when I also had a manicure, hair, and makeup scheduled.
When the tub was full, I slid in the hot water with a sigh. I propped my head on the edge of the bathtub, plugging in wireless earphones. My phone was safely on the cabinet next to the towel rack.
I hummed the lyrics, closing my eyes as the Jacuzzi’s jets of water massaged my tense body. This was the best relaxation money could buy. When I moved back into a place of my own, I’d definitely get my own Jacuzzi.
I shuddered thinking how much it would cost to have one installed, but honestly, I could invest in myself.
I couldn’t wait to see my family tomorrow. I saw them so rarely. We were all spread out, and seeing everyone at the same time was a perk.
As a little girl, I’d dreamed Dad would walk me to the altar, that Mom would fuss over my dress and makeup... I wondered what they would think if they knew tomorrow was just a sham.
I was helping out my best friend. Surely they wouldn’t be disappointed. Yet I was lying to them. There was no other way to phrase it. Could I tell them the truth? At least tell Mom and Dad? The chances of any immigration officer interrogating them was slim. Still, they’d have to keep it a secret too, and that increased the risk. What if they slipped and told someone?
No, I couldn’t tell them, as much as I wanted to.
I focused on the music and my breathing, clearing my mind, as I did during my daily yoga sessions. Yoga had been one of the things that had kept me from going crazy since starting law school. Before that, I’d laughed it off, thinking it was just a fad.
I was so relaxed, I almost dozed off. I had no 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