Esther forced herself to look at Kari standing by the woman’s locker room instead of Reed. The woman’s blue eyes were sparkling. “You two are so textbook.” Kari let the door go and clapped her hands together. “Ah, the beautiful tension lighting up the air between you. The way you’re staring at each other as if there isn’t another person in this world. Yay! I’m so in love with you both and your story.”
Esther had no clue what to say to that. Reed put his hand on her lower back and escorted her to the women’s entrance. “I’ll go through the men’s and meet you?” he said to Kari.
“Yes, sir.” The woman smiled hugely. “Actually, change into your suit and I can get you started on the therapies and then show you the stuff you can do on your own. Usually we’d have an attendant with you at all times…” She lowered her voice. “My husband would actually prefer that, more of the liability nonsense, but Heather and I felt alone time was more important.” She winked, swung the door wide, and waited for Esther to walk through.
She walked Esther through the beautiful locker room, showing her the showers and the complimentary skin and hair products and the private hot tubs for those who preferred that. Once Esther had changed into her suit, Kari gave her a plush robe and slippers from a locker.
They walked toward another exit and Esther thought she might escape a private interrogation by this very open and friendly author, but Kari stopped and turned to her. “So if you don’t mind me asking—for research, you see—how did you know Reed was the love of your life?”
Esther’s eyes widened. She clutched the robe straps and shook her head. “Kari. This is only our third date.”And last,but she left that part out. “Who told you he was the love of my life?”
“Oh.” Kari’s eyes registered confusion and sadness. It was silly how distraught she seemed about them not being in love. “No one. I just saw the way you looked at each other, felt the sparks and the level of comfort and trust between you. It was all ideal and racing toward a happy ending in my mind.” She pursed her lips. “I’m sorry. I hope I haven’t embarrassed you. My husband is the best but very solemn, and sometimes he says I am far too open and living in a fairy tale world.” She winked. “It’s a good place to live.”
Esther forced a smile. This woman was genuine, and Esther liked her. The problem was, she was spot on. Reed was perfect to her, and she loved the sparks, the comfort, the way he looked at her, and even the trust. How was she going to stay strong? Especially alone in a romantic spa? She wanted to follow her brother’s advice and not think about the future and just enjoy tonight, but she feared if she did that, she’d fall head over heels for Reed.
If Roman couldn’t handle her clinginess and obsession with him, and he was a bit pompous and had loved her attention until he hadn’t, how would a tough, independent, alpha male, hot sheriff respond?
She shuddered. She didn’t want to find out.
ChapterEight
Esther walked out of the women’s locker room behind Kari and glanced around the gorgeous space. It was softly lit and she could see several pools. One was a small square, another a slightly larger square with what looked like wooden-slat beds in it, and the last pool was huge and rectangular with different waterspouts placed around it and a rock waterfall at the far end. Next to the pools were tile beds that didn’t look too appetizing as well as comfortable-looking lay down beds and a bar with a variety of drinks in glass containers and a glass container with cookies in it.
She could hardly wait to use all the jets in the huge pool. She absolutely loved hydrotherapy and how soothing and relaxing this beautiful spot was.
Her gaze moved to the entrance to the men’s locker room where one Sheriff Reed Peterson stepped out of the shadows. Her mouth gaped open, and her gaze traveled over his fit body without her fully giving herself permission to ogle him like that. She’d seen how his shirt had clung to the muscles of his chest and shoulders when he’d gotten soaked in the waterfall with her, but seeing the smooth muscle and skin uncovered was a bit much for the faint of heart. And she definitely felt faint of heart at the moment.
She stared at how well-formed and honestly beautiful he was, and then she finally met his gaze. His dark eyes were full of hope. He knew he looked good, but he wasn’t cocky about it. He only hoped it was a point in his favor. It was more than a point. She longed to be held close against his beautiful shape.
Closing her eyes, she said a prayer for strength and forgiveness. She wouldn’t want someone gaping over her in a swimsuit. Besides, Reed’s insides were much more important and impressive than his outsides.
Luckily, Kari was talking and Esther could focus on her and not the way she’d gaped at Reed.
“So you start in the steam room. I’ll give you chilled cloths to cover your eyes and noses and set the timer for twenty minutes. When you come out, your fairy godmother will have disappeared.” She placed her hand on her chest and laughed.
Esther and Reed both smiled at her. Despite the embarrassing things she’d said, she was adorable and impossible not to like. Esther wanted to ask for no steam room. She didn’t like them.
“Then you jump in the cold plunge.”
“Cold plunge?” Esther asked. “I got enough of the cold water at the waterfall Saturday.” She gave Reed a wink.
He grinned. “You were very brave.”
“Ah, thank you, sweetheart.”
Kari grinned. “I’m definitely writing a waterfall into your story. I promise the cold plunge feels awesome after being so hot in the steam room. Plus, the steam room opens your pores and then the cold plunge closes them up and invigorates you.”
“We’ll take your word for it,” Esther said, but she gritted her teeth. She’d loved the hydrotherapy she’d done in Cancun with different pools and water jets to soothe every sore muscle, but she hadn’t enjoyed the steam room or lasted more than a few minutes before she had to escape. She’d felt trapped and out of control. Hopefully she wouldn’t flip out today and scare Reed away.
“Good. Then you go to the larger pool and play around with all the jets for as long as you want. There is a jet for every part of your body,” Kari explained.
Esther nodded. That had been her favorite part of hydrotherapy. Using the jets as long as she wanted on different sore or tight muscles.
“Then you go to the bubble pool,” Kari continued. “There’s a button on the side of the pool to turn the bubbles on. Just relax and enjoy. When you’re sick of the water, you can lie on the heated tile beds and the other recliners as long as you want, eat cookies and drink juice and do … whatever you want.” She winked as if whatever they wanted was to kiss for a long, long time. Esther’s body got far too warm. “Or you can go back in the water. Gavin and I absolutely love kissing in the water.”
Esther’s face was surely beet red. She didn’t look at Reed.
Kari wasn’t done. “Or you can simply hold each other as you are weightless in the water and the cares of the world float away on barely perceptible ripples. Or …” She grinned. “You can look into each other’s eyes, gaze upon the soul while it’s so open and accessible with no stress and nothing but each other to focus on.”