Page 48 of Broken Boundaries

“I’d be more comfortable if you… never mind. No. Don’t change.”

I raise my eyebrows at her, curious about what she stopped herself from saying.

“Alright, well, the bath is almost ready. I’ll leave you to it. Do you need anything?”

“Um, can I have some water?”

I nod and excuse myself. I need to get out of there before I say or do something we’d both regret. She’s drunk. She doesn’t know what she’s saying. But I’m completely sober and way older than her. I should know better.

I distract myself by going to the kitchen and getting her some ice water and ibuprofen. I give myself a minute in the kitchen to get my head on straight. It feels like I have a crush, which is something I haven’t experienced in like twenty years. It’s a foreign feeling, and I absolutely cannot be feeling like this for my son’s ex-girlfriend. I’m supposed to be helping her out. Giving her a job and a place to stay because of my idiot son. Not wondering what her lips would feel like.

After my brain and my body calm the fuck down, I force myself to head back to the bathroom and give Aspen her water. Looking back, I probably shouldn’t have offered up my bathtub when I’ve been having inappropriate thoughts about her recently. It’s almost as if I want to torture myself.

The bathroom door is cracked open just a little bit, so I knock to make sure she’s not naked.

“Aspen? I’ve got your water. Can I come in?”

“Yeah. I’m covered.”

I walk into the bathroom, and the first thing I see is a small pile of her clothes on the floor. It’s impossible to miss the black lace thong sitting right on top. Dammit. Maybe I should’ve changed out of these sweatpants. It’s going to be hard to hide what’s currently stirring to life in my pants.

I look up and realize that when she said she was covered, she meant just barely and only by bubbles in the bathtub.

“Ah, shit. Sorry. I didn’t realize you were already in the tub.”

She smiles at me, and I wonder if she wanted me to find her like this. “It’s ok. I don’t mind.”

She reaches her soapy hand out for the glass of water. I also hand her the pills.

“Here. Take these. They’ll help you in the morning.”

“Thank you.” She pops them in her mouth and takes a big sip of water. I do not watch her throat bob as she swallows them. No. I definitely don’t do that.

I need to get out of here immediately.

“Alright, I’ll leave you to it. You can use that towel right there. Just yell if you need anything.”

I turn to leave, but before I make it to the door, she stops me. “Brooks?”

“Hmm?”

“Can we forget about this conversation in the morning? My sober mind will understand that it’s not appropriate to be checking out my boss and be humiliated.”

She looks at me with her big eyes and rosy cheeks, her skin glistening from the water.

I chuckle at her question and also at my out-of-control thoughts. “Afraid not, darlin’. It’s not every day I’ve got a beautiful woman telling me I look ‘hot as fuck.’”

She groans. “Fine. But I still get to keep my job, right?”

“Don’t worry. I won’t say a word to HR.”

“Do we have HR?”

“Sure don’t. Enjoy your bath, Aspen.”

She giggles as I shut the door, leaving her alone. I head back to my living room and try not to think about the naked woman in my bathtub. Unfortunately, I fail miserably.

CHAPTER 18