Page 60 of Close to Heaven

“Just call me when you’re done,” he said.

This time, to afford her more privacy, he went downstairs and into the kitchen. He refilled her glass with water, shook two more ibuprofen out of the bottle, and shut off the lights. Then he went back into the guest bedroom and placed the glass and pills on the bedside table.

“All done,” she called.

He opened the bathroom door and found her leaning against the counter, holding her right foot off the ground. She must have washed her face, because it was makeup-free. He knew how much women loved the stuff, but he thought she was just as beautiful without it.

“Ready for bed?”

She smiled. “I think so.”

He picked her up again, and this time, she didn’t argue. He smelled her fresh, soapy scent as he held her close and carried her across the hall.

He folded back the comforter with one hand and then gently lowered her to the bed.

She glanced at the water and pills on the nightstand. “You’re really good at this.”

He shook his head. “It’s no big deal.”

“Yes, it is. Most men I’ve known wouldn’t have been so attentive.”

He flinched at the reference to Trevor. “Maybe you’ve been hanging around with the wrong men.”

“I couldn’t agree more.”

“Get some sleep,” he said gruffly and backed away from the bed. Injured or not, standing this close to her was too tempting. “If you need anything during the night, just knock on the wall. My bedroom is right next door.”

She inhaled deeply, and his gaze went to her chest. Even if he hadn’t noticed her discarded bra earlier, he would have seen her nipples poking against the thin material of the T-shirt.

“Thanks,” she said, sounding a bit breathless.

“Sleep good.”

“You too.”

He turned and forced himself to leave, though he was dying to stay. She’s hurt, he reminded himself.

“C’mon, buddy,” he said to Smoky. Like always, the dog had been following him from room to room, but Jax swore Smoky was scolding him with his eyes. He waited until they were both in his bedroom to respond to the dog’s silent stare. “I’m trying to be good. Don’t look at me like that.”

Smoky jumped up on Jax’s bed, turned a few circles, and then flopped down in a dark heap. Jax never thought he’d be the kind of guy who slept with a dog, but here he was, killing it! Cody teased him relentlessly that he slept with Smoky more than any woman, and it was true. He wondered what Cody would think if he knew Avery was sleeping over tonight.

“I just won’t tell him,” he muttered and started undressing.

This was another reason why getting together with Avery was a bad idea. He’d have to keep it a secret from his family and employees. It was bad enough that her ex had called him out for taking advantage of his position. He certainly didn’t want anyone else thinking the same, nor did he want them thinking she’d get preferential treatment for sleeping with the boss.

“I’m so screwed,” he mumbled. He stuffed his clothes into the hamper and then went into the connected bathroom, where he completed his bedtime routine. Then, wearing only his boxer-briefs, he padded back into the bedroom and climbed into bed.

He didn’t even bother getting under the covers, because he was overheated. Carrying Avery around hadn’t taxed his muscles, but it had seriously pumped up his libido. He envisioned her lying in bed on the other side of the wall, braless and in her pajamas, and he became aroused. He placed a hand on his erection as if to stop it from growing any harder. I’m never gonna sleep tonight.

If he were alone, he would have relieved the ache; however, he couldn’t chance her hearing him through the wall. Deciding he needed a distraction, he picked up the book on his nightstand and flipped it open.

He’d been reading an autobiography about a man who’d hiked the Appalachian Trail alone, and as an avid hiker, he found it fascinating. Soon he escaped into the story, only thinking about Avery as he turned each page. An hour later, his eyelids felt heavy, and he set the book down and turned off the lamp.

I hope she’s sleeping soundly, he thought as he closed his eyes.

The next thing he knew, he was jolted awake by a loud thump. It took a moment for the fog to clear, and then he remembered his overnight guest. He glanced at his alarm clock and saw it was almost two in the morning.

Just as he was crawling out of bed, the thumping noise came again, and it sounded more insistent this time. Had she fallen out of bed? How long had she been knocking? In his haste to get to her, he hurried out of his bedroom, neglecting to put on clothes.