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“I’ll bring you one of my vitamin waters,” Kate offered, patting Ezra’s shoulder. “They’re what I use to keep tour crud away.”
“Thanks.” Ezra sure did do grateful better than almost anyone else I knew—big eyes and soft mouth and tilted chin.
“And Duncan’s right.” She jerked her head in my direction. “If you’re not feeling well, you don’t need a swarm of fans at the club. Let him take you back. I’ll arrange for a car.”
“Thanks,” I said quickly.
“I mean, I could go…” Ezra protested exactly as I’d expected him to, but I let Kate be the one to rebuff him.
“No, you couldn’t.” She rubbed his shoulder one more time before taking a step back. “We need you ready for Chicago more than we need you at the club.”
“Okay, okay. Twist my arm. I’ll go rest.” Ezra managed to look so regretful even I almost believed he’d really rather do the club. “Send me pics.”
“I will,” Kate promised on her way back out of the room.
“Well, that was smooth.” Ezra shook his head as I shut the door behind her. “Bossy as hell, but smooth.”
“I try.” I couldn’t help my smile for him. “Now, let’s get you ready for that ride Kate’s arranging.”
“I hate letting people down.” Although he huffed loudly, he still stood and started collecting his bag and other belongings. “I’m not that tired.”
“Yes, you are. And you’re not letting anyone down by taking care of yourself.” I clapped him on the shoulder and relieved him of the bag.
“How often do you take that advice?” He gave me an arch look.
“We’re talking about you here.” I strode over to the door before he could press his point.
“Uh-huh.” He laughed all the way to the car Kate had summoned for us, a black sedan with a quiet older man as the driver, and I was careful to keep a professional distance from Ezra all the way back to his suite. I made a fast security sweep of the space, then pointed at the bathroom.
“To the tub with you. I’ll handle ordering your pie.”
“Damn.” He laughed as he pulled off his sweaty shirt, sending it flying to the corner. “I must be more tired than I thought if I’m finding you all bossy cute.”
“Tub,” I commanded, not taking the bait of the compliment. I was taking care of him because he needed it, not because of the attraction that insisted on simmering between us. I’d do something nice for anyone as exhausted as Ezra was.
That logic worked for justifying why I stuck around after he was in the bathroom. The sound of water running mingled with his humming as I ordered his pie. Someone needed to be there to collect the food from room service. But there really was no acceptable explanation for why I puttered around after the pie delivery, putting his bag on the luggage rack, collecting his dirty shirt, turning back the bedding, and thinking up other things that might help him get comfortable.
I queued up his show on the bedroom TV and set the remote near the pillow before lowering the lights to a peaceful dim glow. I placed the pie and a bottle of water on the bedside table and used the faint sound of Ezra humming to himself as inspiration to turn on some soft music, the sort of folk oldies Ezra had been playing with his friends when I’d first gone to his house.
Had that really been only a few days ago? It felt like a lifetime. And none of those impulses explained why I was standing in the middle of the bedroom when Ezra finally emerged from the bathroom in a cloud of steam, wrapped only in a towel. If I had any sense at all, I would have been back in my own assigned room, but instead, there I was, returning his slow smile, warmed by his grin in places I hadn’t known were freezing.
“You’re still here.” The pleasure in his tone eliminated any lingering awkwardness I felt about waiting for him. “And look at this.” He swept his hand to encompass the bedroom and my meager efforts. “Lieutenant, I think you’re a closet romantic.”
“Nah.” I was a damn SEAL. I did not blush. Not ever. If my cheeks were flaming, well, perhaps I’d adjusted the room temperature too high. “I just wanted it relaxing for you. That’s all.”
“Well, you succeeded.” Crossing the room, he draped both arms around my neck. “Totally earned yourself a reward.”
“Ezra…” I didn’t even know what I was protesting. If I truly wanted to leave, I would have, and he smelled amazing as his warm hands kneaded my shoulders. I wasn’t going anywhere, and we both knew it.
“What?” He laughed lightly. “You can’t leave now. Who will I share the pie with?”
“You could eat it all yourself.” I stretched to get more of his massage. I should have been embarrassed at how damn much I liked, no needed, his touch, but his fingers felt too good to feel anything other than bliss at his nearness. “You have to be starving.”
