“Mm-hm.”
“What exactly do you do, Jesse?”
Strangely, his eyes widened. “Oh, uh.”
I tilted my head. “You work for your family’s company, right? Westwood and Sons.”
“Yes. Sure. Of course.”
“But what do you actuallydothere?”
His expression changed ever so slightly, flickers of discomfort tightening his features, but then they smoothed again. Almost like he was struggling with a question that, to my mind, was relatively simple and straightforward.
“I help manage things,” he said finally.
I frowned. “Manage what?”
“Operations.”
My eyes narrowed a little, suspicion setting in. “Operations? Why are you being so vague? It’s not a difficult question.”
“I’m not being vague. It’s just hard to define my role. Corporate stuff. You know.”
The way he danced around the question was almost impressive. Almost but not quite. Before I could push any more, however, he started toward the door. “Well, it’s late and I desperately need a shower after the cellar cleaning. I’m pretty sure I smell like ass.”
I wrinkled my nose. “That sounds dreadful.”
“It was.”
As he neared the door, I opened my mouth without thinking it through. “You’re welcome to shower here.”
He stopped moving instantly. “Here? In your suite?”
A strange, tense moment stretched between us and I suddenly wondered why I’d said that, but then again, we were getting married. Soon.
“Yes,” I said, finally deciding to commit. “I can ring down for some clothes for you. After everything you’ve done for me today, the least I can do is offer you the use of my bathroom.”
Jesse studied me for a long second before he nodded, definite relief softening his features. “That would be great, actually. Now that I’ve realized how badly I need a shower, I can’t wait to rinse off.”
I chuckled, repeating his earlier words back to him before sweeping my hand out to the hall. “I know the feeling. Let me show you the way.”
Without pausing to process the fact that he was about to be very much naked in my space, I led him through my rooms to the bathroom, pushing open the door and flicking on the light. “I’m sure you’ll find all you need in here. There are fresh towels on the rail.”
He nodded, those blue eyes blazing into mine for just a moment before he blinked and spun around. His head shook as his broad back disappeared into the bathroom. I spun around too, needing to put some distance between us before I would be able to collect my thoughts.
Goodness. An entire day spent in bed, arranged by my fiancé, and followed by him undressing in my rooms. It’s almost like I’m still asleep.
Instantly, my mind started supplying unhelpful scenarios of what kind of scene might’ve followed him showering and being naked in such close proximity to me if thishadbeen a dream. My cheeks heated so much, I was sure they were glowing by the time I picked up the phone to make the call I’d promised him I would.
A short while later, there was a knock at my door and a cart was rolled in with a change of clothes for Jesse as well as cloche-covered food.
I wasn’t surprised. Miriam did nothing halfway, and having been alerted to the fact I’d called, she had most certainly made sure I ate something before I went back to bed.
However, she’d clearly sent enough for Jesse as well, but I would need to bring him his clothes. I picked up the neat bundle and strode back to the bathroom, my pulse racing as I knocked on the door.
A door he apparently hadn’t closed all the way. As I knocked, it creaked open and steam drifted into the hallway. I took atentative step inside, intending on setting the clothing down near the door, but I caught sight of him before I could. He literally emerged from the mist, fresh from the shower with his wet hair slicked back and his totally naked body wrapped in nothing more than a towel.
All I saw were abs, clearly defined muscles, and the lines of his hips before I yelped, immediately turning to flee.Oh, good Lord. I should’ve just set the clothes down outside. How is he so?—
