I heard sloshing behind me, then a loud voice. "Where are you?"
"The break room," I cried over my shoulder, my hand aching from my grip on the valve.
Hudson hoisted himself onto the chair and pressed his chest against my back. He reached over my head, covering my hand with his, and turned the valve with ease. The rushing of the water slowed, and a few seconds later stopped completely.
I turned, finding myself standing close to Hudson Sterling. His jaw was set in a hard line, and I could feel the heat emanating from his body.
My arms hung by my sides, and his gaze drifted lower.
I followed his gaze to find my top clinging to my nipples. My skin prickled with goose bumps, and I wasn't sure if it was from the chill in the air or standing so close to Hudson. The shiver started deep inside of me, and I covered my chest with my folded arms.
His frown deepened to a scowl. "What are you wearing?"
"My new product. I was trying it on when"—chattering teeth caused me to break off—"I saw the water. My clothes were on the floor." Probably floating somewhere in the shop.
His hands settled on my bare upper arms, and everything inside me stilled. Hudson was touching me with his bare hands; the heat of his palms seared my skin.
I lifted my gaze to meet his eyes, which were dark and turbulent, similar to the water lapping at the legs of the chair I was standing on.
Hudson eased back to pull his sweatshirt off. Then he tugged it over my head as if I was a toddler who couldn't dress herself.
I was immediately ensconced in warmth and the smell of him, something spicy and decadent.
"We need to get this water out of here before it does any more damage." His voice carried in the small space and changed the moment from something intimate to professional.
"Right. Of course." He was here to help me with a leak, not to touch me. Between his proximity and the borrowed sweatshirt, Ifelt like a live wire. I could go off at any second, but only he could push my buttons.
He stepped off the chair, unbothered by the fact that his feet were under several inches of water because he was wearing sturdy work boots.
He grabbed an industrial broom which was floating in the water. "Is there a drain anywhere?"
"The bathroom," I said, my teeth chattering again.
He raised a brow.
I pointed. "It's to the left when you walk out of this room."
Hudson disappeared, leaving me standing on the chair, grateful for his sweatshirt, but very aware that my legs and feet were wet.
I heard the water sloshing and assumed he'd found the drain and was pushing the water in that direction.
When the water receded slightly, I stepped carefully off the chair, following the sound of the broom moving water. When I reached him, he said, "You should box up your stock and take it somewhere else. This place is going to smell, and it will ruin everything. You'll never get the stink out."
I nodded, desperate to escape his presence. I needed to get my mind focused on my shop and not the sexy plumber who'd come to my rescue. "I need to call Eve too."
Hudson nodded. "I've got this."
I waded through the water to the front of the store, pulled out boxes from the latest shipment, added tissue paper from beneath the counter, and folded the items. I placed each one carefully in the box. The store, these clothes, represented my new life, one where I depended on no one but myself.
Opening a business was risky, but I'd started with a small amount of product and sold it at pop-up shops in local malls and at festivals until I'd saved enough money to rent a space. This was the most reasonable rent I could afford, and it camewith an apartment above the shop. It was perfect for me and my daughter, Ayla.
I called Eve to let her know what was going on. This was her building after all.
"Hello," Eve answered, sounding relaxed and happy.
"Eve? There's a problem." I couldn’t keep the tremor out of my voice. My dream of being a shop owner was dissipating in front of my eyes.
"What happened?" Her tone switched from relaxed to concerned.
