“I’ve never won anything before,” she whispered.
I squeezed her tighter before reluctantly setting her down. “I’m proud of you.”
She pulled back to smile at me. I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen her really smile before, but I think I would have remembered. It transformed her face.
CHAPTER FIVE
MILA
I stoodin the bathroom of the hotel room and stared in horror at my appearance. I was absolutely wrecked, both emotionally and physically. My nails were broken and caked with dirt, and the grime felt three layers deep on my skin. Even my scalp was embedded with sand. I leaned toward the mirror, noting with shock that I had several small scrapes and scratches on my face.
My body hurt as I started the shower and stripped off my wet clothes. I could barely lift my arms above my head to take off my wet shirt. I wanted nothing more than to crawl into bed, but instead I was getting ready for another family dinner.
At least you aren’t facing punishment for coming in last, like last year.
I stepped under the warm spray and watched as the water ran black at my feet. Then I sobbed into a facecloth, trying not to gasp or make a sound as my body finally understood it was over and I had made it through. I stood under the soothing stream and cried until I couldn’t cry anymore.
After my shower, I swung open the door to access my suitcase and stopped short. Axel, still wet and muddy, was sitting at the desk and nursing a vodka. An open case sat in front of him, and one of the bottles was open on the small table beside him.
“I’m sorry. I forgot we were sharing a bathroom.”
His tone was dry. “I’m good.”
I disappeared back into the bathroom to pull on a robe and grab my hair products and my blow dryer.
Avoiding his gaze, I moved to sit on the floor in front of the mirror. “You can use the shower. I’m done in there for the time being.”
I wasn’t even done drying my hair, and was still wearing the hotel robe, when Axel walked back out of the bathroom, only partial dressed. He was freshly shaved, and his hair was wet and combed off his face, making his angular features seem even more austere. His dress shirt hung unbuttoned, showcasing his hard, muscular chest and stomach.
When he had lifted and carried me through the obstacle course, he had proven his strength and stamina, but I hadn’t given his body or his level of fitness much thought. Now, as he tilted his head back to drain his glass, I couldn’t seem to pull my eyes off the corded muscles of his neck or the expanse of smooth skin that seemed to highlight every ripple.
Our eyes met in the mirror and I awkwardly dropped my gaze, pretending I hadn’t just been caught watching him. It felt strangely intimate to be acting like a couple when we were near strangers, and I couldn’t stop myself from watching him move around the room in the reflection of the mirror. He checked his phone twice, buttoned up and tucked in his shirt, added a tie and a dinner jacket, and ran his fingers through his damp hair.
He paused behind me, and our eyes met once again in the mirror.
“I’ll have the staff pack up your share of the vodka.”
“You can have all the vodka.” I dropped my gaze to avoid his. I could no longer maintain my hostility toward this man who had spent the day saving me, and that made me feel naked.
“If I get the vodka, you get the cash.” He set down a thick envelope on the end of the bed.
I jerked my head up in shock. “Thank you,” I whispered.
He looked down at his watch. “I’ll be back in less than an hour to pick you up for dinner.”
And then he was gone.
Still feelingfragile and chilled from the day, I deliberately dressed in layers, boots, a long skirt, a blouse and a warm sweater. I slicked my hair back into a tight bun and gave myself a minimal face with a bright lip. I carefully hid the money Axel had left for me in three different places in my bag, and then I folded my clothes neatly, organized my bag and planned my clothes for the next day, before finally allowing myself to lie down.
I wokeup to Axel standing next to the bed, his expression shuttered as he watched me sleep.
“What are you doing?” My mouth felt like cotton. “What time is it?”
“It’s dinnertime.”
He moved away from the bed while I lay there for a few seconds longer, wishing more than anything I could just shut my eyes and go back to sleep.
Instead I dizzily sat up. According to the clock I had only been asleep for thirteen minutes. Why did it feel like I had been out for hours?
