Page 121 of Betrayed

“Want me to draw you a bath?”

A bath sounded amazing. I nodded and whispered, “Thank you.”

He stood up, bent down, and kissed my forehead. “I’ll be right back.”

I grabbed some clean clothes from the suitcase I was still borrowing and walked to the bathroom.

AJ tested the water as it filled the tub, creating a mountain of bubbles.

“You have bubble bath?” Disbelief filled my voice.

“No, sorry, I had to use shampoo.” He laughed.

I laughed with him. It was hard to reconcile the man I’d seen shoot someone earlier today with the man apologizing for using shampoo to give me bubbles for my bath.

“Andrew.” I waited until he turned back towards me. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Let me know if the temperature is too hot. I take scalding showers, so it’s hard for me to judge.”

I leaned over and put my hand in the running water and immediately jerked it back.

AJ took my hand and kissed my fingers. “Sorry, I’ll adjust it.”

Once the tub was full, AJ apologized for not having any candles, and asked if I needed anything before leaving me to relax.

I wasn’t prepared for AJ’s scent to envelop me as I eased myself into the bubbles. A quick glance at the shampoo bottle explained why—his shampoo was also his body wash.

Tension left my body as I sank under the bubbles and let AJ’s warm leather scent surround me like a warm hug.

A knock at the door made me yelp and sit up too quickly, splashing water everywhere.

“Are you okay?” AJ asked through the door. His voice cut through the fog in my mind.

“Yeah, I must have dozed off,” I called through the door, wondering how long I’d been asleep in the tub. “You startled me when you knocked.” Long enough for the bubbles to pop and the water to cool off.

“Sorry about that.”

“It’s okay. I’ll be right out.”

After drying off and getting dressed in cute PJ shorts and a matching tank, I joined AJ in the kitchen. The first thing he did was hand me a glass of water and two aspirin.

“Thank you.” I drained half the glass. “Sorry, I keep freaking out on you.”

“Blake, please don’t apologize. You’ve been through hell. I’d be worried if you weren’t ‘freaking out’, your words not mine, a little bit.”

His words brought more tears to my eyes.God, I’m a wreck.

“Come on, let’s get you to bed,” he said, standing up and extending his hand. “Let me know if you want more blankets.”

He’d put at least two on the bed with an extra one folded at the foot, so I didn’t think I would unless he turned the air conditioner on.

“I’ll be on the couch if you need me.”

Not wanting to be alone, I looked at the bed and fidgeted.

“I’d be happy to stay with you until you fall asleep, or longer. If you want.”

I wanted to be strong and independent.

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