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“What are you doing?”
“Well, I’m reading and having my coffee while you get ready. In case you didn’t notice, I’ve already showered and I’m dressed for the day. So I’ll just wait here for you.”
“You don’t want to do something else?”
“Listen, if I go downstairs, I’ll have to stare my mum in the face and lie to her again. And as much as I didn’t want to admit it, you’re right. It’s a bad feeling. The lying. I don’t want to do it if I can help it.”
“We’ve really gotten ourselves into a situation, haven’t we?”
“Aye. And the way I see it, there’s only one way to get out of it.”
“Do you want to stop?”
“Do you?”
I knew how I should answer, what the smart choice would be. To take the opening and say yes.
“I don’t know, Taylor. It’s only been a little over two months. Are you tired of me already?”
He sighed and dragged a hand through his hair before gazing out the window.“Tired isn’t the word I’d use.”
“Then what?”
“Frustrated.”
It broke my heart to know how he was feeling, and it confused the hell out of me. “Oh, okay. I see.”
Except I didn’t see at all. He got me off our first night here. Whispered sweet words in my ears. Layered kisses everywhere but my mouth. But he wouldn’t let me touch him. Was I some sort of obligation? Was that what this was about? I didn’t want to look at him for another minute because I was afraid I’d slip up and say something like, I think I’m falling for you. Or worse, we should stay married.
Happily ever after wasn’t what the two of us had agreed to. An amicable divorce, a new kitchen for my bakery, a new reputation for him, and a solid way offMeet-Cupid.
I went into the bathroom and shut the door before stripping out of my cozy pajamas. I turned on the water and took a moment to let it heat as I stared at myself in the mirror. Maybe I was just swept away by the act he was putting on. Maybe none of this was real, and Taylor was pretending for everyone.
But the way he touched me felt real. The way he’d said my name as I came for him had too.
I pulled back the shower curtain and stepped into the ancient clawfoot tub, and instead of hot water, shards of ice assaulted my skin. I screamed bloody murder and all but jumped out of the tub. The door swung open, and Taylor stood there, eyes wild, ready to defend me.
“What’s happened, lass? Are you all right?” His words caught in his throat as he took in my naked body.
As quick as I could, I snagged a towel and covered myself. “The water... so cold.”
“Cold water warranted a scream like that?”
“You try jumping in there.”
He smirked. “I have to take ice baths as part of my physical therapy. I’m not afraid of a little... Jesus, that is cold.” He turned the dial a few times, waiting to see if the hot water would come back on, and when it didn’t, he frowned. “I better go check the water heater. You should put your clothes on.”
“I need to shower,” I protested.
“I like you dirty.”
My belly flipped over a few times at the implication. He left, and I did my best with a washcloth and soap to at least clean the important parts, even though I was shivering and miserable the whole time. When he returned, I was dressed and applying one final coat of mascara. I looked at him and my breath caught at the attraction I saw in his eyes.
“You look so pretty with your hair up and that little sweater.”
I smiled. “Thanks. This color sets off my eyes.”
“I think it sets off everything.”
