Page 95 of The Exception

“Just think of it like going to a health spa.” I sipped my wine as I smoothed my hand down Queen V’s back. “Isn’t everyone always touting the benefits of cold plunges?”

“Since you’re so keen to extol its virtues, maybe you should go first.”

“Nah. Go ahead. You can use the kettle to heat the water if you want. I won’t think less of you.” I winked.

He chuckled. “Mm-hmm.” He stood, inhaling slowly. “This is going to suck, isn’t it?”

“Yep.” I saluted him. “Get used to it.”

He turned, his dark chuckle threading its way through the night air. It was chilly, and it would only get colder. Come morning, there’d likely be a thick layer of fog blanketing the grounds.

I lingered there a while longer then returned inside to wash the dishes. I grabbed my pajamas, dreading how long it was going to take to clean my wig. I only had a few that were similar enough in color and cut that maybe Graham wouldn’t notice if they weren’t exactly the same. Maybe I could buy a few cheap ones online and hide them under a baseball cap?

Or you could just tell him.

I could. But our relationship felt so fragile and new. We were still learning to trust each other, and revealing my hair loss required a level of vulnerability I wasn’t quite prepared for. I was still recovering from the fact that Graham had hacked my blog. I wasn’t ready to trust him with my alopecia.

Graham emerged from the bathroom, rubbing his arms with his hands in an effort to warm up. He was dressed in a dark-green Henley that brought out the color of his eyes. I dragged my eyes down his body to the gray sweatpants that hung low on his waist. Apart from his clothes today, I hadn’t ever seen him in anything but a tux or a bespoke suit, even at the penthouse.

It was like he was an entirely different person. Relaxed. Casual. At ease.

Was it the clothes, or was it the environment? Hell, maybe it was the fact that he was taking a vacation for the first time, maybe ever. Though, considering the work he’d done today, it wasn’t exactly restful. Even so, I could tell it had been restorative for him.

His eyes were brighter. His muscles looser. His smile came more easily.

“Well, that was invigorating,” he said, his hair still wet.

“See.” I grinned. “I knew you’d come to appreciate it.” I gathered my clothes. “You done in there?”

“It’s all yours.”

“Great. Thanks.”

I stepped inside the bathroom, and god, it smelled good in there. I closed the door and inhaled deeply, remembering the feel of his skin pressed against mine. The way it felt to be close to him.

I shivered, despite the fact that it was relatively warm. Graham must have turned on the space heater while he was bathing. And now, the room was nice and cozy.

I removed my robe and undressed, letting the tub fill. While it did, I washed my wig in the sink and hung it up to dry before climbing into the tub. When the water first hit my skin, it was a shock of cold, like always. Despite my haste, goose bumps still covered my body. Finally done, my hands shook as I grabbed a towel from the drying rack and wrapped it around me.

There.The worst was over.

I dressed and reapplied my eyebrows and eyelashes. God, this was going to get really old really fast. Then I pulled out my hair dryer, quickly drying and styling my wig. I only hoped the new wigs I’d ordered wouldn’t be delayed like Graham’s mattress. At this rate, we’d be lucky if it arrived before we returned to LA.

I squeezed my eyes shut.Merde! The bed.

We hadn’t shared a bed since that night on Knox’s yacht—and for good reason. But now, there was no avoiding it.

I sighed and stepped out of the bathroom. Queen V immediately lifted her head, glanced at me, and then rested it on her paws again. Graham was sitting on one of the chairs, Prince Albert’s head in his lap as he read a book. My heart pinched at the sight of them, and a sense of rightness and belonging settled over me.

“I’m going to bed,” I said, ducking my head, suddenly overcome with shyness. “Join me when you’re ready.” Why did the last word come out higher, making it sound more like a question?

He appraised me over the top of his book. “Are you sure?”

No.“Yeah. I think we can handle sharing a bed until your new mattress arrives.”

He tilted his head, assessing me, before returning his attention to the book. “I’ll be there soon.”

“Sure. Take your time.”I’ll just be freaking out beneath the covers.“I’m sure we’re both so exhausted, we’ll just pass out.”Shut up, Lil! Just shut up!

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