Page 135 of Twisted Truth

“You know what sound. I’m going to need that water to be cold if you do it again.”

“Not a chance. Cold showers are an abomination.”

“Says all the women who don’t have to fight erratic erections.”

I let out a laugh. “That is a rather unfortunate side effect of manhood, isn’t it?”

“You have no idea. I think I alternated between, like, five hot and cold showers a day when I was a teenager.”

“Gross.”

“No arguments there.”

I grab a washcloth and the soap and get to washing myself. Asher’s hungry eyes begin to glaze a bit.

“Turn around. If you insist on being in here, you can at least pretend to give me an ounce of privacy.”

“I’ve never been good at pretending.”

“Turn around, Asher.”

“Fine,” he whines. “But I’d like the record to reflect that I don’t care for this turn of events.”

“I’m great with it. Now I can rub my hands all over myself while I admire your ass.”

“Now that’s a penalty. Unsportsmanlike behavior.”

He whips back around and steps under the spray, an inch from me.

“I thought we were in a courtroom. A second ago you were demanding the record reflect your delicate feelings. Now you’ve given me a sport’s penalty. You have to keep your themes straight.”

“We’re in a courtroom while playing sports.”

“Wow, we’re real multi-taskers.”

“The best.”

“So, what’s my penalty?”

“You’re in time-out. You must freeze. Which means I’ll do the hands-gliding-over-the-skin with the washing.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yes. Plus, your body is compromised already. You said it was heavy and tired. And now I’m feeling like I want to pretend while also being a lawyer athlete.”

“Pretend?”

“Yes. I will pretend to be a gentleman. The damsel in distress before me is too weak and tired to wash herself, therefore, the cad and scoundrel lawyer athlete now turned pretend gentleman is going to take up the laborious task of the washing for her.”

“I thought it was because I was in time-out for being unsportsmanlike.”

“That too. You’re a real hot mess today, Ms. Hale. Failing in all the ways. It’s a good thing I’m here to pretend gentleman.”

“You’re shameless.”

“Always.”

He teasingly tugs the washcloth out of my hands and drops it on the floor.