While the water level slowly rises, I look around, trying toimagine what Frank will think being in here for the first time. This was the first room I renovated when I bought the place. It was fine before, with emphasis on the wordfine. Now it’s my oasis. A big rain shower, an oversized tub, and heated floors. I might not spend much time at home, but when I’m here, I want to enjoy it.
I reach under the sink and pull out a bag ofEpsomsalts. After all the hard work he puts into my yard, I suspect his muscles are sore and tired. Even if they’re not, the lavender scent will relax him. I pour in a hearty amount and grab a couple of the fluffiest towels in the closet. Is it too much? I know he doesn’t need most of these things, but I can’t help it. There’s something about Frank that screams at me to take care of him. And that boy needs someone to help make sure he’s taking care of himself. Eating. Staying hydrated. Not falling asleep outside. I turn off the water and head back downstairs. I need to remember that he’s not mine.
Chapter Six
FRANK
Most embarrassing momentsin my life?
The time I got food poisoning on a high school class trip and shit myself on the bus. The time I asked Cara Masters on a date in eighth grade, and she literally laughed in my face. And tonight.
Getting caught sleeping in the backyard would be one thing. Sitting in Matthias’s house while he fusses over me is another.
Fuck. Sam’s going to kill me. The question is whether it’ll happen before or after he fires me. Maybe he’ll kill me first and spare me additional embarrassment.
“Alright, let’s get you in the bath.”
I start to get up, but I’m caught in the blanket burrito and end up falling right back onto the couch.
“Are you dizzy?” Matthias grabs for me, keeping me from tipping over and off the couch.
“I’m a little…” I hold the edge of a blanket up. “Stuck.”
Matthias comes closer to me and puts an arm aroundmy waist. For a second, I think he might pick me up and carry me upstairs—an idea I don’t hate. Instead, he unwinds the blankets and drops them on the couch.
“Come on.” He leads the way up, hovering close to me on the stairs. Not uncalled for either. My feet are frozen solid, and while I can see them moving, I can’t feel them.
When we walk into the bathroom, I pause. I’ve been in some crazy places as part of renovation jobs, many of which were very impressive, but this is a fucking palace.
A separate bath and shower? Both top of the line? If that tub was in my house, I’d be in it every night. The last bath I took was sometime in elementary school.
The water in the tub is cloudy. And… I sniff the air. It smells like flowers.
“Did you put something in the water?”
“It’sEpsomsalts. They’ll be good for your muscles. Help loosen you up.” Matthias’s face turns a shade of bright red. As the one who’s routinely making an ass of myself, it’s nice to see someone else blush.
“Okay.” I stare between the tub and Matthias. He doesn’t really expect me to strip down in front of him, right? I’m not typically shy, but standing naked in front of the guy who’s been filling my fantasies lately might get a little… hard.
“Oh, um, I’ll leave you to it. If you stick your clothes outside the door, I’ll put them in the laundry.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I want to. I’ll bring you something of mine to put on in the meantime.” I highly doubt anything he owns will come close to fitting me, but I’m too spent to argue with him.
Matthias sighs and starts out of the bathroom. “I’m going to leave the door open a crack so I can hear if you need anything.”
I can’t help but nod my head. “Sure.”
As soon as he leaves, I strip off my work clothes and leave them outside the door as requested, suddenly thankful I’m not going to have to put them back on. I didn’t realize they were damp from the ground.
I dip a toe into the tub. The water feels way too hot, but after a few seconds, I acclimate to the heat. I let my foot slowly sink until it hits the bottom before I repeat the process on the other side.
It takes me way too long before I’m able to sink down into the water. I admit to being skeptical, but now that I’m in, it’s magical. The tub’s big enough that I can stretch out without my feet hitting the other end. I relax until I’m floating, enjoying the feeling of water surrounding my body.
I’m going to miss this when I go home to my tiny stall shower. I barely fit in it. If I drop something, too bad. There’s not enough room to bend over and pick it up.
There’s a knock at the door that pulls me from my thoughts. “Yeah?”
