“Please, don’t think this is your fault—”
“Is this anit’s not you, it’s meconversation?”
Mazey cringed. “As much as I hate to admit it, yes, that’s exactly what this is.”
“Okay. No more sex. Can we still be friends?”
“Friends?” She couldn’t control the little bubble of delight that burst inside her at his request. He wanted to remain friends. “Yes, of course. Of course. That’s what I want. And thank you. You probably don’t want to hear this, but I needed that.”
One of his dark brows arched. “Oh, you needed that did you?” He stepped closer, his body heat brushing against her skin. “Well, if ever you need that again...”
“Ah, um, well,” stammering, she swallowed to clear her throat. “Okay.”
Rylan grinned. “Okay.”
What had she just agreed to? “Ry—”
“I’m going to make coffee and grab some of that pie if there’s any left. You want some?” he asked as if they weren’t standing in the shower naked after having had sex against the wall.
“Um, sure. Yes, coffee and pie would be great.”
“See you out there then.” He scooped his wet underwear from the floor before he turned and left the stall, not one bit self-conscious of his naked state as he walked out into the common area of the bathroom.
She closed her eyes. She hoped no one was out there. Shit! What if someone had come in while they were in the shower together?
How could she go out there and face her colleagues wondering if one of them had heard them. If all of them knew what she and Rylan had done?
She’d never be able to look anyone in the eye.
A knock on the door made her jump and suck in a breath. “Y-yes?”
“Can I get you anything before I go?” Rylan asked through the closed door.
“Ah . . .”
“A towel?”
“Yes. Please. A towel would be good.” She switched off the water and stepped toward the door. It opened, and Rylan stuck his arm through the small gap, a towel clutched in his fist.
“Here. Do you need something else?”
“No. I’m good.” She took the towel and wrapped it around her body. Opening the door all the way, she stared up at Rylan. “Thank you.”
“No problem. I’ll go make us some coffee. See if I can find some pie to go with it.”
Nodding, she held the towel together with both hands between her breasts. “That would be great, thanks. Wait, I hid two pieces at the bottom of the refrigerator.”
“Perfect, I’ll see you in the kitchen.” He glanced behind him quickly, then bent forward, brought his mouth close to her ear. “No one knows we were in here together. They were all outside talking to Levi and his partner, who turned up when we came in here.”
“Oh. Okay.” The relief that filled her eased her breath, loosened the tension in her shoulders and back, and she lowered herself to the bench beside the door.
“I don’t kiss and tell, Maz. About anything.”
She looked up at Rylan. A small smile curling her lips. “So, nobody knows I threw up all over you last weekend?”
“No. And they never will.” His hand came toward her, but he pulled it back before he touched her. “Take your time.”
The door closed between them before she could thank him again. Staring at it blindly, she tried to remember the last time someone had taken care of her the way Rylan had in the previous week. That he’d done it without strings.
