Leah pulled out several pairs of panties and a couple of bras, along with the two sets of pajamas she’d packed. Her body started to heat from the inside out. How was she supposed to walk out of this bathroom wearing either of these?
The smoke-gray pajama set with the pale-pink lace trimming was the more conservative of the two, but not by much. Unlike the black sheer nightgown, at least parts of her body would actually be covered up. Still, the set left very little to the imagination. The thin spaghetti straps held up a slinky camisole top with a plunging neckline created to display her cleavage to the utmost advantage. The shorts were cut ultra high, revealing an abundance of skin.
However, that black nightgown revealed an abundance ofeverything. The scrap of sheer material was completely see-through. She balled up the nightgown and stuffed it back in the packing cube, where it would remain the entire weekend.
As Leah settled in for an extra long shower, she told herself she was only enjoying a luxury she rarely indulged in, but her more sensible side knew exactly what this ten minute shower was about. Total stalling tactic.
“You can’t spend all night in here,” Leah said as she turned off the water and climbed out of the shower. She removed the plastic shower cap from her head and brushed through her relaxed hair. When she was done, she lathered on her favorite lotion, relishing in the fact that she could use it without having to worry about Derrick and his damn allergies. There were so many things she could return to doing now that he was no longer in her life.
Leah’s hand halted in the middle of rubbing lotion on her elbow. She looked in the mirror, her eyes widening as the realization slowly dawned on her.
I’m free!
She no longer had to hide all those things Derrick had made her ashamed of. She could fully embrace her love of outlandish reality TV shows and newsstand magazines filled with celebrity gossip. She could take up outdoor sports again, which she’d enjoyed for years before her ex slowly began to convince her that a stuffy gym was the better choice when it came to getting in her daily exercise. She’d even held back on her strength training regimen because Derrick thought her toned muscles weren’t feminine enough.
Leah shook her head as she continued to stare at the woman in the mirror. How had she allowed things to get to this point? How had she allowed him to change her? She’d read countless think pieces on women who had lost their identities once they found themselves in a relationship. She never imagined she would become one of them.
But she had.
“Never again,” Leah whispered.
She wouldneverallow this to happen again.
Leah turned for the door, but then stopped. She looked down at her attire and felt her skin flush with embarrassment. Nerves swarmed her stomach.
She hadn’t bothered to pack a robe. Should she wrap a towel around herself?
No. That would look ridiculous.
Should she crack open the door, let Caleb know she was coming out, and ask him not to look?
Leah released a groan. Just do it already.
Sucking in a deep breath, she opened the door and headed straight for the bed, scampering as quickly as possible while trying not to look as if she was running to get under the covers. She felt Caleb’s eyes on her the entire time.
Once on the bed, she pulled the plaid comforter over her and tucked it underneath her arms. “Bathroom’s all yours,” she said.
God, did she have to sound so breathless?
Caleb’s assessing gaze remained on her as several nerve-wracking moments ticked by. Finally, he said, “Thanks,” then walked into the bathroom.
He walked out less than ten minutes later, wearing a pair of dark-blue pajama pants and nothing else.
Good Lord.Good.Lord.
Leah had never come so close to swallowing her own tongue before. This wasn’t the first time she’d seen his bare chest. During the summer months, he often jogged or did yard work without a shirt. But to see it so up-close and personal?
His freshly scrubbed, sun-kissed chestnut-brown skin looked ridiculously soft, even as it stretched over his hard, taut muscles. He had the perfect build, all lean and sinewy, powerful and tight. Just being in the same space with this man induced the most inappropriate thoughts.
“Leah?” Caleb called.
She snapped to attention. “Uh, what?”
Had he spoken to her?
A faint grin played at corner of his lips as he gestured to the brochure on the coffee table. “I asked if you wanted to go over the list of activities on tap for tomorrow?”
Great. Hehadspoken to her. But she’d been too busy openly ogling his magazine-worthy chest to realize it. If she was fated to be struck by lightening, now would be the perfect time.
