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He looked at her, confusion apparent. “How do you know?”
“I can tell.” She shrugged. “This is what I do, remember? No offense, but you’re as tense as a crossbow. Your head hurts, you keep twisting and turning your head and neck, shrugging your shoulders, and you’ve been blinking a lot, like people do when they’re running on fumes. But I can fix all thatandI can practically guarantee that you’ll sleep tonight. Come on, aren’t you just the tiniest bit interested? I’m not offering to do anything kinky or weird.”
“I wasn’t thinking that.”
Heat flooded into her face. She’d been joking, but once the words were said she would have sworn he was thinking something along those lines.
And for one rash, split second she was thinking it, too. Obviously, her hormones were on an upswing. Sex at this stage of her pregnancy? With a man she’d just met?Sonot going to happen. “Right, I—I wanted to be clear. I charge a hundred dollars or more for my services and I don’t want you to get the wrong idea and think something else is happening. Not that you would.”
“A hundred bucks?”
“Yeah.” Oh, he was definitely curious now. “What do you say?”
“Darcy, this isn’t necessary. You don’t need to repay me.”
“Look, I know a massage doesn’t come close to making up for all that you’ve done, but it would help you and that would make me feel better.”
“Why is this so important to you?”
She could lie and say it wasn’t, but something about the look on his face compelled her to be honest. “Because I’ve been on my own since I was seventeen and I haven’t taken charity from anyone. I don’t want to start now.”
“Seventeen? Is that why you identified with Nick?”
Darcy shrugged. She was more than a little ashamed of her upbringing, which Stephen’s parents had combed through, then used to make their points for why she shouldn’t be with him. After hearing Garret talk about his family, she didn’t want him doing the same. “You may not see my staying here as a handout, but I do.” She placed her hands over her belly. “I don’t want Spike to think it’s okay to mooch off people. You’d help me save face with my baby if you agree.”
Garret regarded her a long moment, a sexy half smile pulling at his lips. “Well, we can’t haveSpikethinking that about his mother. What would I have to do?”
Darcy nibbled her lip, suddenly not sure her hormone-heavy body could handle him stripping down to his skivvies like her other clients. This was her job. One she did well with the utmost professionalism. But Garret wasnother ordinary client.
“Nothing drastic. We’re not set up here for a full massage, but I think your back and shoulders are the biggest problem so, um, just take off your shirt.” She wouldn’t ask for more. It was too intimate, too personal a thing, given the setting. Had they been in a more clinical environment she would be able to view him objectively as a series of body systems in various stages of distress. But with Garret on the couch, in his home…
He stood before she had time to do more than take in a steadying breath. He unbuttoned the shirt and for some reason the sight left her a little dizzy and thigh-clenchingly aware of him. Yes, she’d noticed how handsome he was, but a lot of guys were handsome. Stephen had been gorgeous with his Latin heritage. She’d worked on models. Even an actor or two. But with every button Garret released, she saw more of his chest and—whew!
A light dusting of black hair covered Garret’s upper chest and pecs before tapering into the waistband of his pants. He didn’t have a blatant six-pack, but his stomach was tight and firm, defined. He was beautiful. All big boned and raw sensuality.
She never got nervous when she worked on a client, but Garret was different. After everything that had happened between her and Stephen, she honestly thought it would be a long, long time before she noticed a man again. In any way. Before her pregnancy had started to show, she’d had invitations from guys saying they’d make her forget all about Stephen. She hadn’t been the slightest bit tempted, but right now…
Before she could entertain more thoughts about exploring all that exposed skin in a purely unprofessional way, she turned to arrange her oils on the coffee table. That done, she grabbed the sheet Garret had slept on the night before and spread it over the expensive leather, busying herself so she wouldn’t have to look at him. “Lie down when you’re ready.”
She found some gentle-sounding music on the television and waited until she heard Garret lower himself onto the couch. She peeked at the broad expanse of his back, the strength and texture of his skin. So much temptation. But there was no changing her mind now.
The first step was getting him used to her touch. Darcy grabbed the odorless massage oil, warmed it in her hands, then placed her palms on his shoulders and spread the oil on his skin. Careful to keep the pressure light, she smoothed it down his back, then started at the base of his spine and with increasing force, ran her thumbs up both sides. Just as she’d suspected. Tighter than a drum.
Starting at the dimpled base of his spine—so cute!—again, she stroked harder and felt Garret stiffen, as if he struggled to suppress a groan. Smiling, she repeated the motion, feeling him tense up whenever she got to the worst spot between his shoulders. Finally he gave in. A rough growl of pleasure emerged, one that had her holding her breath and suppressing yet another shiver.
“Darcy, that feels…good.”
“See?” Ordinarily, she kept her voice pitched low so as soothe and not startle her client. Doing so now didn’t require much effort given the surprising huskiness of her tone.
Moving outward, she found the trigger points in his shoulders and worked out the knotted muscles there. The poor guy was a mess.
Garret sighed and angled his head away from her, his eyes drifting closed. She could still see his profile, however, and after a few minutes, the tiny lines on his face eased. Guitar music played in the background, the strumming slow and soft. Beautiful songs that blended together with barely a break in rhythm.
Now that he was relaxed, she could introduce the scented oils. She left one hand on his back to maintain contact and grabbed one of the bottles she’d arranged on the table. Roman chamomile filled the air.
Darcy brushed her fingertips up his back in light strokes to spread the oil, then firmed her touch at the base and started up again. Reaching his neck, her palms slid over his shoulders and squeezed. Another sexy-rough sigh escaped him. The sound echoed through her and she tuned into the feel of his silky, black hair as it curled over her thumbs, the steely strength of the corded muscles beneath his skin. She shook her head slightly to snap her out of the sensual spell. This was amassage,not a seduction.
With renewed purpose, she moved her hands in long, rhythmic patterns, gently pulling and loosening the muscles, working out the knots with single-minded determination that she would help him sleep.
