Tonight would be the ultimate test.If I stayed on my side of the hot tub, I'd know I could resist Ford.
I threw on a cover-up to answer the door when the bell rang.
There was a voice in my head telling me that I was crazy, and I was twisting things in my head, but I pushed it down.I didn't want to listen to reason tonight.I was following my instincts.
I open the door, feeling the breeze as the door swung wide.My cover-up fluttered around my legs, and Ford's eyes widened.
"Are you ready to go in the hot tub?"
He lifted his hand, where he was gripping trunks.
I smiled and stepped back."You can use the powder room to get changed.I'll get it ready."
I grabbed a bottle of wine and two glasses in case he wanted to unwind.I set everything on an end table so I could use both hands to remove the cover from the hot tub.It was heavy, but I could usually slide it off to the side with enough effort.
I lifted it, struggling to push it off.His arms came around me, and I was pressed against his body as he used his strength to remove the cover.My skin flushed hot, and desire licked through my body.
He moved to steady me with a hand on one hip.I couldn't draw in a deep breath as I turned to face him.
"Thanks for the assist."
One side of his mouth quirked into a smile."It looked like you were struggling."
I rolled my eyes, turning away from him to switch on the jets.I played with the lights until they were blue."I always get it.Eventually."
He moved to get in, settling on the far side of the tub, watching me with an expectantly raised brow.
I lifted the cover-up over my head, letting it drift to the floor before climbing into the water.I sat on the bench adjacent to him so that I could enjoy the view and wasn't forced to look at him.I should have invited him to sit next to me so that he could enjoy the same one, but I didn't think that was a good idea.
"You look like a naughty elf in that red bikini," he said, his voice low and gruff.
I gave him a look."You know elves that wear bikinis?"
His eyes gleamed with mischief."Just the naughty kind."
I shook my head."I was trying to be festive."
"I appreciate the effort."
I glanced over at him again, everything inside me heating up."Are you flirting with me?"
A smile played on his lips."I'm just relaxing.Isn't that what you wanted to do?"
"Yes, actually."We had been somewhat stiff around each other.As if we didn't know how to interact anymore.It had been years since we dated, so there was some awkwardness there.But now, he was letting down his guard.Maybe this was his way of giving in to a friendship between us.We could talk and hang out, but nothing would come from it.He felt safe to be himself around me.I should have felt relieved; instead, I was disappointed.
"The snow is coming down, and we have a view of the mountains."
"It's not the best night to see stars with the storm clouds over us," I murmured, wondering why I'd told him snow was the best view."I love a clear night."I lean back and allow myself to be overwhelmed by the sheer number of stars in the sky, feeling small and insignificant.It helps remind me that my problems aren't too big to handle."
I felt Ford's gaze on the side of my face."You've had quite a year with your parents' death, moving home, and running the inn."
"It's been a lot."
"When I left the military, I wanted to reconnect with my family.As much as I liked being part of something much bigger than me, I wanted to be grounded in what mattered.I put country and my mission before everything, and that was fine for a time, but I wanted something more."
I felt a tingle run down my spine because he was opening up to me.He was doing the one thing I couldn't seem to get him to do when we were dating.He was telling me how he felt."Are you happy that you made that decision?"
"I was gone a long time.I have a lot of relationships to heal.But I'm confident that I can."
