“Of course, I can teach him how to shoot apple juice when you’re gone.”
Not knowing whether Bennett’s kidding or not, I throw him a look that could kill before allowing it to soften into appreciation, slapping his back and telling Leo to be good for the guys until I’m back.
As a single father, even an hour to myself is sacred, and I’m looking forward to a steaming hot shower and half an episode of a show in bed in my boxers. The hotel kitchen is open twenty-four hours, so I’m tempted to order myself a steak, too.
Once I’m in my suite, I notice Flo’s bedroom door is closed, as we share the living space but have separate sleeping quarters since I’ll be up early in the morning. I order Leo and myself some food, then shed my clothing and enter the shared bathroom.
My mind wanders to her. What she’s currently doing. Is she awake?
When we arrived at the hotel, she checked into the room straight away with a takeaway burger she’d ordered from the restaurant, and as much as I wanted to offer to join her to eat, I let her have her space.
Stepping into the lava-like shower is both painful and soothing. My taut muscles instantly loosen, and I rest my head against the brown-tiled wall as the jets pour down on my body. The shower is relatively quiet, so the hush is easily broken by the unmistakable sound of the door creaking open and someone walking in.
20: Flo
Entering the bathroom using my hip without thinking, steam hits me in the face like fog, making breathing difficult. I catch a male outline behind half of the glass shower door, and my breath hitches. I hadn’t heard Evan and Leo enter the hotel room, but I’d had my headphones on while finishing up Leo’s gift that I’m planning to give him tomorrow.
Evan’s broad shoulders immediately demand my attention, glistening droplets of warm water dripping down them onto the slope of his corded back. I freeze mid-step, eyes latching onto the lion tattoo curling around his inner bicep.
I’m unsure why I can’t move, because I’ve just walked in on my boss showering. I should be running for the hills, hands covering my eyes, ready to scoop them out to rid my mind of the image, but that’s the last thing I want to do.
“You all good there, trouble?” His voice, all husky, lets me know he’s aware of my presence, and the slight chuckle his tone holds also tells me he’s not as angry as I thought he’d be. In fact, he sounds somewhat amused.
“Shit, I’m sorry.” I drop my eyes. “I just needed to brush my teeth. I didn’t know you were in here. I should have knocked first.”
“Just do what you need to do.”
“Um… where’s Leo?”
“Down in the bar with the guys. Just pretend I’m not here. You can brush your teeth.”
He expects me to ignore him? While he’s behind me naked? My lower abdomen aches.
“I have eyes, you know? I can see you. How do you expect me to pretend you’re not here?” I cross my arms over my chest, unsure if he can even see me.
“Imagine I’m just part of the furniture,” he says over the sound of the soft water jets.
I release a scoff. Well, if Evan West is a piece of furniture, I want to sit on him. “Okay, and is that what you would do if I were naked in the shower behind you? Ignore me?”
I’m met with silence, but after a few seconds, Evan clears his throat, seeming almost startled by my question.
“No,” he says confidently. “But that’s different.”
“How is it different?”
He shuts the water off, and my heart rattles against my ribcage so hard I’m convinced I’m going to break one of them.
“Do you really want me to answer that, Flo?”
“Yes.”
“Fine.” He sighs, frustrated. “Because it would be physically impossible for me not to drop to my knees in front ofyou if you were naked behind me. I’d probably even ask for your permission to devour you right here in this shower.”
My skin tingles. And instead of pulling away, I lean into it. My body’s already decided it’s going to react. Heart racing. Blood pumping. Core throbbing.
Fuck.
I focus on Evan’s form moving around inside the foggy shower, and he opens the door and wraps a towel around his waist as I keep my eyes trained on his upper body since I don’t trust myself not to drop to my own knees if I were to see something I’m fucking desperate to.
