Page 117 of My Favorite Hero

She slid into the tub, settling between my legs, and leaned her head on my chest. I sighed in contentment, feeling the tension begin to drain away. Simply having her close did that for me.

“Your duck is awfully quiet. Not even a peep,” she murmured after a few moments of silence.

I held the duck in front of her.

“‘Quack, quack, quack,’ said the little rubber ducky,

‘Keep rubbing back on me, and you’ll get a little fucky.’”

Her laughter was loud, and I kept going.

“Quack, quack, quack, the ducky loves your rack.

We’ll start off in here, and we’ll finish in the sack.”

Her amusement echoed off the tiles, making me laugh with her.

She took the duck from my hand and dropped him into the tub. He disappeared in the mountains of foam.

“Don’t give up firefighting,” she mumbled, still laughing.

“Probably a good idea,” I replied.

“But A for effort.”

“Dammit, that was a great poem for being off the cuff,” I teased her, bending to nip her neck.

She shook her head in silent amusement.

“Why do you have a rubber ducky?” she asked a moment later.

I chuckled. “My ducky surprises you?”

“It is a bit out of character for you.”

“Lou gave it to me years ago, not long after I moved in. I told her I used the tub on occasion for aches. She thought it was funny.”

“She’d be shocked at the things he says,” she teased.

“I highly doubt that. What would shock her is the fact that I still have it. Or that I showed it to you.”

“You don’t show your ducky to other lady visitors?” she asked.

I pulled her tight to my chest. “You are the only lady visitor I have ever had here.”

“In the tub?”

I pressed my lips to her ear. “In this house.”

“Oh.” She squeezed my knees, nestling against me. Silence fell, and we both drifted, the heat soaking into us, the bubbles slowly dissipating. I still had the need for her, but right now, I was content to relax here with her in my arms.

I barely recognized myself. Letting my colleagues and townspeople know we were a couple. Lying in a bubble bath with the same woman, making up stupid poems to get her to laugh. Looking forward to sleeping beside her tonight. Waking up with her tomorrow.

Who the hell was I, and when did Jesse Thorne leave the building?

Or, the voice in my head argued, had I finally found him again?

We got out of the tub when the water cooled. I wrapped her in a towel, dropping kisses to her wet skin. I dried myself off, following her to the bedroom, lying down and watching as she brushed her hair, the long swath of dark silk gleaming in the lights.