Page 34 of Next to You

“But.” I continued with a decisive nod, determined to make him agree. “I’m not used to being taken care of like this except for by my mother. I’m feeling overwhelmed right now—a good overwhelmed, thebestoverwhelmed. I want you to agree right now that you’ll let me take care of you whenever you need it. However, I want to do it. Please.”

“You’ve taken care of me already, Lucy. I feel like we’ve fallen into that pattern naturally, don’t you think?”

“Yes, but I appreciate you taking care of me last night more than words can express, so I had to say my intentions out loud.”

“I understand,” he said, his voice deep, rumbly, and brimming with emotion he was trying to hold back. You intend to take care of me.”

“I do.”

“Then I should let you know that I have a lot of intentions when it comes to you.”

“Like what?" My whispered question danced in the air between us.

“First of all, I intend to take care of you. I want you well again.”

His nearness made my head spin. He did not attempt to hide that he was watching me and liked what he saw. We had an undeniable magnetism, and fighting it was nearly impossible.

I gripped the blanket in my fist to hold myself back. Every instinct I had screamed at me to throw myself into his arms. That this was right, this was necessary. This was everything I’d ever needed. But even though I trusted them, I couldn’t follow them. Not yet.

“Finish your toast, sweetheart. Come to the bathroom when you finish. I’ll start the bath.”

I watched him walk away with a rekindled flame of hope burning into my heart.

Chapter 13

Lucy

Spencer had been so good to me that I couldn’t help but wonder if he was even real. Like, perhaps I froze to death in my car, and this was heaven. Or maybe I had lapsed into the best coma ever, destined to dream of Spencer for the rest of my unconscious life.

But the cold bite of the wooden floor against my bare feet told me I was, indeed, awake. When I opened the bathroom door and saw a shirtless Spencer standing there waiting for me, the waft of steamy air was a sure sign that I would remember tonight forever because he looked even better than I remembered.

He stood shirtless. Shadows from the lantern hanging by the door cast a stark contrast between the pronounced muscles of his abs and chest, making him look like he was carved out of granite.

Luckily, I managed not to gasp out loud at the sight.

His massive body filled the doorway while one big hand rested on the frame. The perfect sprinkling of dark hair covered the muscled expanse of his broad chest. My helpless eyes drifted down through the line of black hair running between his abs to disappear beneath the low-slung waistband of his plaid pajama pants.

The thought of getting dizzy again so he would have to catch me was tempting, but I resisted.That would be wrong, wouldn’t it?

A smirk floated across his lips before setting into a benign smile. He knew I was checking him out. But to be fair, I wasn’t trying all that hard to hide it anymore.

“I’ll leave you alone to change.” His voice was dark as sin. He didn’t want to leave. I could tell by the muscle ticking in his jaw and the way his eyes roved over every inch of my body before he switched places with me and backed away. “Yell when you’re done.”

I nodded in answer, entirely at a loss for words.

My heart rate skyrocketed, and my lingering headache throbbed in my temples from the rush of emotions coursing through my body. I wanted his hands on me. I wanted more of this feeling, more of being cared for by a man who wouldn’t push for something sexual in the end. Every other man I dated found my migraines annoying and steered clear of me until I felt better. Or they handed me my meds before running for the door as if my headaches were the ultimate cockblocker.

I studied my face in the mirror before changing into the simple black tank suit.

Who was this woman staring back at me who finally had hope in her heart?

“Ready,” I called out and pushed the door open. And I was. I was ready to see where this thing with Spencer could go.

He appeared in the doorway, back under control. “I’m not going to try anything. I swear I just want to help you.”

“I know that.” Never once had that thought crossed my mind. I would have laughed if he wasn’t so earnest.

“Do you need help getting in? Is the dizziness still gone?”

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