I walk into the ensuite bathroom and make a start on the bath. I pour some bubble bath into the running water and just watch the bubbles rise and quadruple. The lavender aroma fills the room. It’s not a scent I’m overly keen on, but it’s all I have here. I didn’t expect to have a gorgeous woman in my bathroom today.
I turn off the water and pluck up the courage to get Lexi when she appears behind me in the doorway. She doesn’t look any better than she did last night, but she seems a bit stronger on her feet.
“Let me help you.”
“You don’t need to. I’m okay. Thank you.”
I hold my hands up in surrender and remove my clothes. I’m quicker than Lexi, so I step into the hot water first. I’m not a bath kind of guy. I’d usually favour a shower over a bath, but the hot water will do Lex good, and I’m learning that I can’t deny this woman anything.
I look up at Lexi stepping into the bath on wobbly legs and lowering herself into the water. The water rises to near the top of the rim. She watches it closely, careful not to spill it over the side. I reach out and take her hand, entwining our fingers. Little and large springs to mind; I dwarf her.
She leans back in the bath and rests her head on the ledge. She looks even more beautiful when she’s relaxed. It’s not a sight I get to see much of. Well, not unless she’s mid-orgasm and everything else in her mind fades to nothing.
“It’s good to see you kick back for once.” I break the silence because I can’t stand it.
She peeks one eye open and lifts our joined hands out of the bath water, dripping in bubbles. “I told you, I’m a workaholic.”
“Not very smart building a nest egg for yourself if you kill yourself working too much.” I tilt my head to the side to watch her response.
She sits back up and we’re practically nose to nose now. “Are you trying to say that I’m being stupid? Reckless?”
I kiss the tip of her nose. “Maybe. Tell me something that makes you work so hard? That you’ve not already told me.”
She bites the side of her lip and smiles. “I want to be able to retire comfortably one day. When the time comes and I havekids, I want them to have more than I had growing up. I want to leave behind a legacy for them.”
I sit up straighter. I don’t know what I was expecting Lexi to say, but that wasn’t it. That answer just shows me that she does want to find Mr. Right one day. She wants the husband, the kids, maybe even a dog or two. I can’t give her any of that.
“Did I say something wrong?”
I shake my head and smile to try to brush off my sudden mood change. “No, not at all. I don’t think I expected you to say you wanted kids.”
“One day. Not right now. I have too much work on.”
“Of course you do.” I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, place my hand on her cheek, and hold her in place. “You’re an amazing woman, Lexi. Never let anyone tell you differently.”
Lexi leans forward and kisses me tenderly. I really wish she wasn’t sick because I would have taken her in this bath, but she doesn’t have the strength for me today.
“Now, I need to get out of this bath, go home, and crawl into my own bed.” She breaks apart from me.
“You don’t have to rush off.”
“I need to. We’re muddying the waters between us even more, Max. Max and Lex have spiralled from a one-night stand to a business deal, to whatever this is.”
I take in a deep breath because I can’t tell her she’s wrong. She’s a smart woman. Perceptive. It’s like she’s living in my head rent-free.
“Thank you for looking after me. I really do appreciate it. Now you’re free from nursing duties, what are your plans?”
I shrug, lean back in the bath, and try to position the bubbles over my raging hard-on. “Work.” I laugh, and Lexi splashes water over my face.
“You’re a hypocrite, Mr Loudon.”
Isn’t that the truth. She just doesn’t realise how accurate that word fits me because when I’m around Lex, I feel like a phony. I’m leading her astray every time we’re together, but instead of stepping back and putting distance between us, I keep taking more from her.
Chapter 10
Lexi
“Just be here for seven p.m., and we can get a taxi to the hotel,” I tell my friend down the phone.
