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“Happy to. You were out cold, and I didn’t want to disturb you by waking you. I think you needed it.” We both stand there in silence, staring at each other for a moment. I reach my hand up toward her neck, softly running my thumb against the edge of her jaw. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For being so open and vulnerable with me last night. I know I didn’t deserve that after the way I treated you this last year.”
She leans her face into my hand, her eyes fluttering closed for a second. “You do deserve me and my friendship. I’m just hopeful we can move forward like we used to be?”
“Yeah.” I slowly nod my head, a warmth spreading through my chest as I lean forward, pressing my lips to hers. I inhale softly, my eyes closed as I let my lips linger on hers briefly before pulling back. I want more. Ineedmore. It’s all I can do to step back, but I know that now isn’t the time.
“So, what’s on your agenda today now that I’ve officially crashed your getaway?” I open the cabinet and grab a mug, pouring myself a generous cup of coffee. “I can stay out of your hair, chop wood, or find some project to work on.”
“Don’t be silly.”
“I’m serious. I didn’t come up here to be a pain in the ass, as unbelievable as that might sound. I know you work hard and you deserve time away.”
“I like that you’re here. I’d like for us to spend time together and just be like we used to be. To talk and be open?”
I lean against the counter and sip my coffee. I must’ve really been a completely selfish, unaware asshole this last year. I know I wasn’t pleasant, but seeing how she’s begging me for the bare minimum makes me realize just how self-absorbed I’ve been.
“Of course. Hey, come here.” I put my mug down and step forward, reaching for her arm to pull her against me. I wrap my arms around her tightly as she does the same. I kiss the top of her head. “I’m so sorry, Doll, for not being there for you, for pushing you away. You mean more to me than anyone. I would love nothing more than to just chill with you today.” I pull back, holding her upper arms. “We can lie around and do nothing for all I care.”
“I’ve got a better idea.” She smiles. “How about we take a dip in the hot tub?”
Oh fuck.
“I forgot your parents put a hot tub in.” I laugh nervously. “I didn’t exactly bring any clothes for that activity, though. Stupidly, I didn’t bring any other clothes at all.”
“Who said anything about clothes?” There’s that little grin again.
“Fuck,” I groan as I step back, my body already responding to the thought of her with no clothes on. “You trying to kill me?”
“Come on,” she teases, reaching for the edge of the blanket. “I promise I won’t look when you get in.”
“Yeah, that’s not my concern.” I laugh as I step back further. “You’re the one with the body.” My eyes can’t help but drift down. Her oversized, long-sleeved pajama shirt and pants cover her literally from neck to ankle, but I’m still very aware of what’s underneath.
“Fine, I’ll wear the undershirt you had on under your flannel yesterday.”
“Somehow you in a soaking-wet white shirt is worse.” I laugh at her attempt to fix the problem.
“Come on, you said you’d hang with me, and I want to soak in the hot tub. We’re adults, so we don’t have to make it weird. We can behave.”
“Can we?” I rub the back of my head vigorously. “Fuck, okay, fine. You wear the T-shirt and I’ll keep my underwear on. I’ll just go commando on the ride home.”
“Deal. Where’s your shirt?”
“In the bathroom. Let me grab my jeans then go make sure the hot tub temperature is good and brush the snow off the cover.”
I tug on my jeans and my boots, grabbing my coat and gloves and praying the freezing cold temps keep my mind preoccupied enough, because I just agreed to pure torture. I grab the shovel from the bed of my truck, clearing a path to the hot tub for Dolly and cleaning off the cover. I turn up the heat a touch, the water already feeling very warm as steam rolls off the surface.
“Ready?” I turn around to see Dolly with two towels in her hands and my T-shirt hanging down her thighs as she steps off the porch and down the path. I hold her hand as she kicks off her boots, climbing inside the hot tub.
“Ohhh, that feels so nice.” She sinks down slowly, slipping beneath the surface until just her head is above the water.
I remove my coat, pants, and boots—the winter cold biting straight to the bone as I quickly climb in.
“Oh damn, that does feel nice.” I sink beneath the warm water across from her as she leans her head back against the edge. Her feet kick out slightly and I grab them, pulling them into my lap as her breasts break the surface.
Goddamn, I’m in serious trouble.
