The tiniest smile turned upthe scarred corner of Fox’s lip. If anything, the scar gave him an extra airof mischief, like a little boy about to get up to something he shouldn’t have.
I was starting to like itwhen he smiled at me.
“Well, as long as I’m here,I’m happy to keep being very rude to him. Not a fan of the bastard at all.”
I snorted. Foxwashonest, wasn’the? He didn’t feel any need not to say what was on his mind.
Part of me wished I had halfhis confidence.
Fox sipped his tea, paused,swallowed, and then made a face.
“And you drink thisvoluntarily?” he asked, nose wrinkled.
“Pretty much.” I shrugged. “Helpsme sleep.”
“Yes, well…” he inspectedthe mug for a moment, as though there might be some hidden clue to makingchamomile tea palatable to his clearly incompatible tastes. “You know what thisreminds me of? Grass clippings.”
“You drink a lot of grassclipping tea?”
Fox looked at me again, andit was almost the samewho are The Beatleslook as before, but there waslaughter in his eyes this time.
He smiled again, morebroadly, whole face lighting up.
“I see you’re recovering,then.”
I was.
It should have beenconcerning that he could read me so clearly after just half an hour in mycompany, but…
That was what being adetective was about, right? Being able to read people.
“I am, but I’m gonna want anap in a minute, if it’s all the same to you,” I said. I felt like Ishouldhave beenentertaining my guest, but he was here to work, and he’d had a long trip. Heprobably would’ve liked a nap, too. “I’ll show you to the guest room. Oh, and Ileft a spare key on your pillow. In case you need it.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Foxsaid, pouring his tea down the sink. “Ready when you are.”
***
Post-nap, I felt likesomething had died in my mouth and my eyes were so dry theyhurt.
I stumbled my way to thebathroom, desperate to splash my face with some water and take a shower. Hell,maybe abath.
I’d used the bath in thisapartment a total of once in the eight months I’d lived here. On the plus side,my collection of bath bombs, salts, and creams was growing, since I never gotthe chance to use them.
The moment I opened thebathroom door, I realized my mistake.
Fox.
Fox, naked.
Stepping out of the shower.
Perfect droplets of waterclinging to his beautiful chest and abs, trailing their way down to…
My eyes snapped away at thelast second.Don’t look at his cock.
“I’m so sorry,” I said aheartbeat too late, looking up to find Fox’s gaze on me.
Shit. How long had I beenstaring at him?
