In fact, after losing Maddie, sating his body with strangers he’d met in dusty bars had seemed like the only way he could feel anything. But it had always been fleeting.
As it would be with Jalilah Mazroui.
It was the allure of her unavailability that was making him desperate to the point of distraction.
“The water should have heated up by now. Why don’t you take a bath?”
She smiled a little. “Would you draw it for me?”
“Draw it …” He turned around slowly, a look of casual disbelief on his handsome features. “Darlin’, you can turn taps on, can’t you?”
She laughed softly and arrows of attraction speared sharply along his spine.
“I’ve never had to before.”
“Fine.” He nodded. “I’ll be done here in a minute.”
Lilah crossed one leg over the other and leaned back against the porch. “I’ll wait.”
He made a clicking sound of disapproval as he finished scraping the fish remains into the bag. He turned to face her. “So long as you’re here you can make yourself useful.”
“Can I?” She walked towards him with a seductive purpose. “How?”
“Carry this plate inside.” He lifted the fish towards her but Lilah instantly felt nauseous.
She paled under his watchful gaze and Will was quick to react. He put the plate down and moved closer, putting his hands on her hips. “Lilah? What is it? You looked like you were about to pass out.”
“I’m fine,” she denied quickly.
He released his grip on her hips and stepped back. “My mistake. Here.” He reached for the plate again but Lilah shook her head. “Okay, you win. I can’t carry that. I can’t stand the smell of fish.”
He frowned and then let out a small laugh. “Then why the hell didn’t you say something sooner?”
“Because you were so pleased to think I couldn’t fish … and I didn’t like being pre-judged.”
“But you couldn’t fish. And you never have.”
“It makes no difference that your judgment was correct,” she said haughtily.
He attempted to control his amusement. “Sure, if you say so.”
“Pass me the plate.”
“I have no interest in making you sick.”
“I know. I’ll be fine.”
“You’ve already proven how brave you are, Lilah.” His words were soft and breathed pleasure across her soul.
She swallowed. “I …”
“Go inside. I’ll be right behind you.”
She turned slowly, wondering at the sense of failure over something as ludicrous as carrying a fishy plate.
Avoiding the step he’d warned her about earlier, she shouldered into the house gratefully. The fire was still burning, though less forcefully than that morning. The cabin was warm. It was a blessed relief to feel such a reprieve from the icy winds that had buffeted her face outdoors. She moved quickly into the bathroom and checked her appearance in the mirror. Her hair was a tangled mess despite the bun she’d clipped it into earlier, and her cheeks were glowing pink from the wind.
She stepped out of the bathroom as Will walked into the cabin, a bucket in one hand and the fish in the other.