“Did something not agree with you?”
“It’s not because of food.”
He looked at her in puzzlement for a moment, and she made a face he instantly recognized from high school, only this time, she didn’t follow it with, “Duh.”
And then, it hit him. “Oh.”
She nodded. “Yeah.”
“When did it start?”
“It hasn’t yet. I always get cramping the day before, but usually it’s notthis bad.” She hugged herself a little tighter. “Maybe it’ll start tonight. Got any Advil?”
“In my flight bag.”
“Good. I’ll take three.”
He hurried to fetch the medication, returning with a tall glass of water and the pills.
She took them with a nod, downed half the water, and gave him a wan smile. “I’m guessing there are no feminine hygiene products in this house.”
“That would be a good guess. The owner is a guy.”
Jannie reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone. “It’s fine. I’ll have something delivered.”
“I’ll go.”
“You don’t have to. I can just use my app and order from—”
“I’ll go,” he repeated. “I can be back with what you need before they even start to shop the order.”
Her shoulders relaxed. “Thank you.”
She looked up at him then, her pained expression tugging at his heart. “I was really looking forward to night flying.”
“So was I. We’ll reschedule.” He leaned down to give Rolf an ear scratch. “Watch over her, bud.” To Jannie, he said, “I’ll be back as fast as I can.”
Nick fished his truck key out of his pocket and headed out. Stepping out into the night, he paused to inhale deeply before striding briskly toward his Tahoe.
He hadn’t even used the bathroom, washed his hands, or changed.
What was he doing?
Hell if he knew.
All he knew was that this woman was bringing out every protective instinct he possessed, and some he didn’t even know he had. He opened the maps app, found the nearest twenty-four-hour Walgreens, then started the truck. The engine roared to life, and Nick backed out of the driveway, his mind a jumble.
Living with Jannie had been an exercise in torturous self-restraint. Every morning, while she was in that bathroom, he fantasized aboutgoing in there and joining her in the shower.
Washing her hair.
And body.
So vivid were the images that he’d had to take care of the problem, a problem that was becoming constant when she was near. Knowing she was in there, without a stitch of clothing, had been impossible to put out of his mind.
And after seeing her in a skimpy towel that day, he finally had a clear image to fuel his fantasies. He pictured soaping that body of hers, running his hands over every dip and curve, covering those pert breasts in creamy soap, her nipples peaking under his thumbs. How soapy water would cascade over her belly, running down her thighs. How he wanted to palm her, then sink his fingers into her, stroking until she came.
Fuck.
