“He’s good. Nancy dotes on him. At lunchtime, they brought out a picnic, and we ate on the patio. It’s nice to eat outside,” she said softly. “What did you do today?”
“I repaired a fence with some of the cowboys, then I met with Matthew. He said you and Victoria went for a run at four.”
She barked out a laugh as the hot water soothed her battered body.
“They entered the pool house, and she sprinkled water on my face and gave me five minutes to get dressed.”
“It sounds like her,” Jameson chuckled. “Ivan can be interesting. He has his own men who guard Serenity Mountain. He breaches his own security at least once a month. If the men fail, he has them doing the most humiliating things.”
“Like what?” she asked, yawning.
“For starters, he made them pick flowers, watch the babies during their teething bout, and clean a movie theatre after the entire school enjoyed a field trip there.”
“You’re kidding me,” she exclaimed, laughing.
“Nothing seems more terrorizing than a bunch of disgruntled Russian men picking flowers,” he said, chuckling at the memory.
“Why do the men do it?”
Jameson sat for a moment. “They trust their leader. He never sends them where he wouldn’t go himself. They know he values loyalty above all else. It probably doesn’t hurt that his wife can bust their balls, and if they harmed a hair on her head, they’d find themselves in Siberia.”
“He seems very sweet. His love for her shows in his eyes,” she murmured.
“Yes. He’d sacrifice his life for Victoria. When she went missing, he never stopped searching for her.”
“Can I get out now?” she asked.
“Sure,” he said, standing and pulling out a towel. “I’ll help you out and hold the towel up long enough for you to slip out of your panties and bra. Do you have a robe?”
“It’s at the end of my bed.”
“Stay there,” he ordered gently while he retrieved the robe and returned. He placed it within her reach and then waited for her. Holding up the towel, he turned away, giving her privacy. She dropped the soaked clothes on the side of the bathtub and wrapped herself up in the towel. Jameson excused himself while she dried off and slipped into the bathrobe.
Caroline opened the door and scanned the room. Her eyes landed on Jameson, who set something on her nightstand. Her heart raced as she imagined him inside the bed with her. Hastily she brushed the thought away.
“What are you doing?” she asked as she pressed herself against the door.
“We use this on the ranch when we get a few green cowboys. It helps ease muscle pain,” he explained, unscrewing the lid. “Delaney makes it. After days in the saddle, I use it, and it does the trick. I brought it in case Victoria worked you too hard.”
“Thanks,” she said, pausing. “I’ll put it on.” Thinking no cream could possibly cure the ache inside her every time she saw Jameson.
Gazing at her, Jameson asked, “How will you reach your back? I can’t imagine you only hurt in a few spots.”
“I…I’m naked under my robe,” she said, making her heart speed up again.
“I have a sheet to cover you. You can put the cream on there after I leave. I’ve seen you completely naked before and never touched you. You can trust me,” he cajoled, pulling back the comforter and patting the bed. “I’ll lock the door on my way out.”
He waited for her to make the first move. She sucked in her bottom lip and took a step forward. He didn’t move, letting her take her time.
When she reached the edge of the bed, he picked up the sheet he pulled from the bed and held it high.
“Slip off your robe and lie on your back. Tell me when you’re ready, and I’ll cover you,” he said softly.
Tugging the robe’s belt, she glanced once more to see if Jameson watched her. The sheet remained high, preventing him from getting a view. She shrugged her shoulders, letting the covering fall to the floor. She lay on the bed.
“I’m ready,” she said hesitantly.
The sheet fell over her midriff, covering her private areas and her breasts. Jameson scooped a glob of the cream from the jar and started on her shoulder, working his way down her arm.
