Page 89 of Without You

“Not aww. Not aww, Maria.” I snap in her face. “Listen to me, okay? Get the stars out of your eyes a second.”

“Okay, okay. Not aww. But I can’t guarantee not having stars in my eyes because that man is fine.”

“He kept asking me out but I kept turning him down and then he asked for my number yesterday but said he knew I lived here in Benton but he doesn’t live here he was just passing through so now I’m like what in the heck is he doing here in Benton at this salon to get a massage from me! I think he’s like a stalker or something,” I end my rambling but I’m far from finished.

Maria presses her lips together to stop from laughing directly in my face. “Stalker?”

I shush her and continue my rambling. “Shush! You don’t know! It was… weird! He knew I lived here in Benton but I’d never seen him before! Then we ended up having breakfast together.” She raises her eyebrows and I shake my head and hand quickly. “Not like that. Get your mind out of the gutter! I mean, he and I ate at a café because that’s where he changed my tire. I had no bars or service and couldn’t reach anyone, then he was there and helped and of course I’m grateful but this is just… I feel like I should be worried. Should I be worried?”

“Worried about…” she hedges.

“Is he going to chop me up into little bits and pieces and leave me for dead?”

“Probably.”

When she sees my eyes widen in fear she slaps her hand on her forehead. “Of course he isn’t. If you want, I’ll keep an ear out and make sure I don’t hear any screams coming from the room. Well, unless it’s screams of pleasure. Then I’ll just pretend I haven’t heard a thing.”

“Screams of… pleasure? Maria! I’m with Brody.”

“Brody… Redding? Are you serious?”

“Yes.” I smile. Just saying his name and telling someone that I’m with him settles my anxiety. I’m on a roller coaster of emotions here.

“I hate you right now. First, you have Elijah in there, naked, giving you sex eyes and you also have Brody, the hottest bachelor in Benton, and probably all of Tennessee, in your bed at night? Never mind. I’m not going to save you if I hear screaming,” she harrumphs good naturedly. “In all seriousness, I honestly don’t think you have reason to be worried. Is it a little strange? Yes. But mainly it sounds like homeboy’s got a crush on you and is making a move. Good luck.” She grins, flouncing out of the back room.

“Wow. Thanks for the help,” I grumble.

I take in a deep breath and walk to the massage room, knocking lightly.

“Come in!”

I peek my head in to make sure he followed instructions and is lying down on the massage table, covered. Once I confirm that it’s safe to enter, I close the door quietly behind me, turn the lights down low, and turn on soft music. I pause before turning on the essential oil diffuser, realizing that everything up to this point could be considered romantic in any other setting. I straighten my shoulders and remember I’m here to do a job and he knows that and turn on the diffuser.

Folding the top sheet back, I take a deep breath and open the different bottles of oil for him to decide which one he prefers. He chooses the oil with very little scent to it and I begin by pumping a bit of the oil onto my hands, rub them together, stand by his head and place my hands on Elijah’s naked shoulders. He’s been wearing a cap every time I’ve seen him and this is the first time I get a look at his hair. Dirty blond, cut short with a few curls. It’s nice and looks incredibly soft.

“Tell me if the pressure is too much at any time, okay?”

“I will.”

“Good so far?” I ask quietly as I rub over his shoulders, down his back and up again. I continue, pressing my thumbs into the knots in his shoulders and repeat.

“Definitely,” he moans.

I’ve been trained not to talk to my clients unless I’m discussing their massage so I focus on my hands, making sure that I’m working his upper back, shoulders, and neck. Aside from when he told me I was giving him the right amount of pressure, he hasn’t said a word. His breathing is smooth and deep and I briefly wonder if he fell asleep. When I shift to his lumbar, though, he’s very obviously awake. I fold over the sheet more to expose the top of his butt cheeks and his head flies up and he turns to look at me.

I take a quick step back, my hands in the air. “You mentioned having a lot of lower back issues. I don’t have to, though.”

His eyes are wild and very clearly concerned and there’s no way I want to make him uncomfortable so I take a tentative step forward, shift the sheet so it’s covering his butt once again, and take a step away once more. “This okay? I can work on it this way.”

“Actually, I don’t need my lower back worked on today.”

“Oh. Okay? Do you want me to continue?”

“Yeah. That’s fine. Maybe more on my neck and shoulders?”

“Sure.” I move to the top of the table once again, bending over him as I work figure-8s and kneading with my thumbs. “What about your legs?”

“Um, maybe not.”

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