Page 143 of My Real Love Affair

“I am.” She grinned.

“Sorry. I mean, what do you need for a relaxing bath?”

“Ah.” She nodded. “Candles. Music. Wine. I would say a book, but I don’t think you’re going to want her distracted.”

I didn’t correct her. I wasn’t taking the bath with her.

“Thanks. I guess I’m good.”

“Have a good evening,” she said.

I walked back downstairs. I opened the bottle and filled the glass. I carried it into the bathroom. Melody’s eyes were closed and her head rested on the edge.

“Wine,” I said and handed her the glass. “Give me a minute.”

I grabbed the box of candles and set them around the edge of the tub and a couple on the vanity before lighting them. Then the music started. A soft jazz that wasn’t too loud.

A watery smile tugged at her mouth. “You didn’t have to.”

“I know. But I want to.”

She took a sip of the wine, closed her eyes. “God, that’s obnoxiously good.”

I flicked off the lights, leaving only the candlelight to fill the room. “There,” I said. “You’re good. Close your eyes and relax. I’ll come back down in an hour.”

I walked to the door and turned to look at her one last time.

Damn, she was exquisite. And I was losing her. I could feel it happening in real time and I didn’t know how to stop it.

CHAPTER 44

MELODY

“Stay,” I breathed.

The word came out before I could stop it. Desperate. Needy. But true.

Austin paused at the bathroom door, turning back to look at me. “You sure?”

“I don’t want you to leave.” I sank deeper into the water, suddenly feeling vulnerable. “The way you’re taking care of me is filling a part of my heart I didn’t even know was empty.”

His expression softened. “Melody, you need time. I get it. Just enjoy the bath. I’m not going anywhere.” And then he laughed. “And considering we’re bobbing in the middle of the Pacific, I really mean that.”

“I don’t need time. I don’t need to be alone.”

“Baby girl, I know you well enough to know when something is bothering you. I’m not going to hound you about it. I’m here. We’ve got the rest of the week. I don’t want you to get tired of me. I’m a lot to handle. Maybe it wasn’t the best idea to make our first vacation together on a yacht when you can’t escape me.”

“I don’t want to escape you,” I said.

He smiled at that. “Good because I don’t want to escape you.”

I sighed and saw myself standing at a crossroads. The man was trying. He was so good to me. He’d been open and honest. I had to do the same for him.

“I want to let you in more. I want to tell you what’s really bothering me.”

He came back immediately, kneeling beside the tub again. “I’m here. You can tell me anything.”

“When I checked my email earlier, there was one from an account I didn’t recognize. The sender was all numbers and letters.”