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It wasn’t the sex, she realized, though the deep relaxation of her body was a wonderful plus. It was Swain himself, the tenderness and consideration with which he’d treated her, and the feeling that she mattered to someone. It was the closeness, the link, the not being alone. For months now she had felt totally alone, removed from the world she could see around her as if nothing and no one could touch her, surrounded by a moat of pain and grief. Swain’s enthusiasm, his personality, had pulled her out of that solitude, once again connected her with life.
Oh, damn, she was definitely falling in love with him. What a silly thing for her to do right now, with everything that was happening, but how could she stop it? She couldn’t walk away, she needed his help, but even more she didn’t want to walk away. She wanted everything he could give her, every minute. She couldn’t even worry about whether he would be there forever, because what was forever? Today might be the extent of it for her, or tomorrow. All she had was now, and that was good enough.
Because there was only the one bathroom, she hurried so he could get in there. She didn’t have any clothes in the bathroom and the bathrobe was on the floor beside the bed, so she had to walk out as naked as she’d walked in, which didn’t matter because Swain hadn’t yet bothered with clothes, either. He got up from the bed when she came out of the bathroom, his sleepy eyes lingering on her points of interest before he pulled her close for a long hug. His morning erection prodded her stomach, making her wish she wasn’t so sore.
“Wanna take a shower together?” he said against the top of her head.
“I think I’d better take a long soak in the tub instead,” she said ruefully.
He massaged her bottom, lifting her on her toes. “Sore, huh?”
“Oh, yeah.”
“I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking. Twice was enough, I should’ve kept my hands to myself that last time.”
“It was that third time that earned you your freedom from the Fiat.” She stroked his ribs, moved her hands around to his back, and dug her fingers into the deep groove of his spine.
She felt his lips move against her hair. “In that case, consider your sacrifice worth it.”
“Somehow I thought you’d say something like that.” But she was smiling, too, as she rubbed her nose against his shoulder. “It’s nice to know where I stand in your priorities.”
He paused, then asked cautiously, “Was I supposed to say something really sweet right there?”
“You were, and you’ve failed in the romance department.”
Another pause; then he nudged her with his erection. “Doesn’t this count?”
“Considering you’d have that even if you were alone, no.”
“It would already have gone down by now. You’re what’s keeping it up. See, I am romantic.”
He was getting her back for her crack about the recording, but the slight shaking of his shoulders gave him away. She looked up into blue eyes that were sparkling with barely contained laughter, but since she was about to disgrace herself by giggling, she forgave him for it. She gave him a slap on the butt, then moved away to pick up the robe. “Get cracking, big boy. Are you hungry now, should I order room service?”
“I could definitely use some coffee, so you might as well order food at the same time.” He checked the clock. “It’s almost ten, anyway.”
That late! She marveled at how well she had slept, but it also reminded her that her mystery caller could call at any time. While Swain was in the bathroom, she checked her cell phone, which she’d put in the charger the night before. The phone was on, and the service line showed a nice strong signal, so she hadn’t inadvertently missed a call. She took the phone off the charger and slipped it into the pocket of the robe.
She called room service and put in an order for croissants and jam, with coffee and fresh orange juice. Swain hadn’t professed a preference for anything other than traditional French fare for breakfast, so she went with that. In food, too, he’d proven to be remarkably sophisticated and adaptable. There was a lot he hadn’t told her about his past, but then, she hadn’t told him everything about herself, either, and probably never would. He was healthy, he was heart-whole, and for the moment he was hers. That was enough.
He poked his head out of the bathroom. “Do you want that soak now while I wait for room service, or do you want to wait until afterward?”
“Afterward. I don’t want my soak interrupted by food.”
“I’ll shower now, then.” He disappeared back into the bathroom, and a moment later she heard the shower running.
He came out just ahead of the arrival of their food, looking spiffy in black trousers and a simple white collarless shirt with the cuffs rolled up over his muscular forearms. He signed the check, while Lily stood with her back to the room looking out the window, then he showed the waiter out. He had just turned back from the door when Lily’s cell phone rang.
She sucked in a deep breath and took the phone out of her pocket. A quick look at the window showed that the caller’s number had been blocked. “I think this is it,” she said, and flipped the phone open. “Yes, hello,” she said, switching to French.
“Have you reached your decision?”
On hearing the mechanically distorted voice, she signaled to Swain with a quick nod and he came over to put his head right next to hers. She lifted the phone the tiniest bit away from her ear, so he could hear, too.
“I have. I’ll do it, but on one condition. We must meet face-to-face.”
There was a pause. “That is not possible.”
“It will have to be possible. You’re asking me to risk my life, but you aren’t risking anything.”
