* * *
At the end of the day, Knox stepped into the shower at the rec hall and let the hot water pound against his sore back muscles. “That bet broke me from sucking eggs, even if we did win bragging rights,” he muttered when he finally turned off the water and stepped out. The doorknob turned, and he quickly wrapped a towel around his waist.
“What… I didn’t…” Lottie stammered and dropped her tote bag beside his army-green duffel.
“This is a community bathroom, isn’t it?” he asked.
“Yes, but…” She glared at him. “Learn to lock the door!”
“Why, darlin’,” he teased. “Wearedating, and that means we can take a shower together, doesn’t it?”
She picked up her bag. “I’ll leave and come back.”
“And let everyone who’s out there waiting on us think that we are pulling a fast one on them?” Knox asked. “Turn around and face the wall while I get dressed. Then I’ll do the same until you finish. We’ll go out together, and the guys willthinkthat we still had the energy for some hot shower sex.”
“Youturn around until I get in the shower, and then you can get dressed.”
Knox whipped around and waited until he heard the shower curtain closing. He picked up his grooming kit, set it on the narrow edge beside the sink, and shaved while he waited. By the time she finished her shower, he was dressed and had his back to her again.
“You are a gentleman,” she muttered.
“But not an officer,” he said.
“What does that mean?”
“Have you never seenAn Officer and a Gentleman?” he asked.
“Nope,” she answered. “I’m dressed, so you can stop looking at the wall.”
“I’ve got it in my box of movies. We should watch it sometime.” His voice sounded a little hollow to him when he turned around. Her damp hair hung down her back, and what little makeup she wore had washed away. She looked like she belonged on a beach scene in a modeling session in her denim shorts and oversized chambray shirt.
For a split second, he wished that their relationship wasn’t fake.
Chapter 3
Eddie rubbed his eyes in a dramatic gesture when Lottie and Knox walked out of the rec room bathroom together. “I don’t believe it, not even after I’ve seen it for myself.”
Lottie set her bag of dirty clothes and the one with her toiletries on a chair and took two bottles of sweet tea from the refrigerator. “Believe what? That Knox and I shower or that we’re about to do our laundry?”
“That y’all are really together,” he answered. “If you are taking showers together, then I guess it’s for real.”
“You didn’t believe us? Have I ever lied to you?” Lottie asked in a hurt tone.
Knox had to swallow fast to keep from spewing tea all over his clean shirt. The jeans, shirt, and underwear he had worn all day were folded neatly on top of his duffel bag. He shrugged when he realized that Eddie was staring at him. “Dating has its benefits. We don’t waste water, and we can share a washing machine.”
“Don’t forget your towels,” Eddie said. “You know the rules. Jack provides them, but we have to keep them clean and folded.”
“I’ll get them.” Knox slid a sly wink toward Lottie onhis way to the bathroom. “In all our excitement, we forgot about them.”
“I bet you did.” Eddie chuckled, picked up his olive-green tote bag, and headed toward the bathroom.
Knox hurried in ahead of him, gathered up the wet towels and washcloths, and stood to the side to let Eddie enter the bathroom. “We left a little hot water for y’all.”
Eddie wiggled his thick eyebrows. “From the looks of that foggy mirror, that’s not all the heat you left behind.”
“A gentleman does not kiss and tell.” Knox grinned.
“But a nosy coworker can see it in the glow on y’all’s faces.” Eddie grinned and closed the door.
