Page 51 of The Risks of Reuniting

I swallow hard over emotion that rises. "I know."

"You don't have much time to win her back, you know, assuming that's your end game."

"I know," I sigh. "I've done everything wrong so far, and I'm not sure where to go from here."

Rachelle rubs her arms and shivers. "Well, seems to me like you have an opportunity right now. I'm getting cold and I'm heading back to our room. She's sleepy, and might need someone to keep her standing upright." She tosses me an exaggerated wink and I grin. "And warm," she adds.

She pushes up out of the tub as gently as possibly, and I smile at her knowing she's purposely trying not to wake up Chloe. She's successful, and she quickly wraps herself in a towel and tosses me a wave over her shoulder as she leaves. Cesar has stopped singing and is watching everything with avid interest. Smart man that he is, he follows Rachelle's lead and stands to leave. He lets me know he'll be back to drain the tubs in a bit and then dries quickly, giving me a thumb's up as he heads back to our room.

Now I'm alone with the only woman I've ever loved, and suddenly I'm terrified that she's going to be ticked off about that fact when she wakes.I don't want her ticked. I want her soft and sleepy and with her weapons of war put away.

I stand and step out of the tub. The air quickly chills my skin and I dry as fast as I can. Then I gather up our food trays and set them by the gate, planning to come for them later. With my towel wrapped around my waist, my hair still damp and sticking up, I make my way slowly to the tub where Chloe is out cold. Her lips have a slight blue tint, and I can see goosebumps on her thin arms. I know just the person to warm her up.

CHLOE

Something soft touches my forehead, then my cheeks, dances down my nose and caresses my ear. I smile, enjoying the light touch, and waking slowly to find Holt's face close as he traces my features with his fingertip. I frown, confused, and wondering if I'm dreaming this. The chill of the water around me and the empty sky above me serve as reminders of where I am. I look around to see that we're alone. The others have abandoned me to Holt, who looks pleased with this development.

I sit up and blink myself fully awake.

"How was your nap?" he asks, his voice low and soft, intimate like this setting.

It does things to me when he talks like that, and I have a sudden urge to reach for him and press my lips to his. No more games, just connection. I know he wouldn't fight me off, and that knowledge has me tossing him a carefree smile and standing up.

"I can't believe I fell asleep," I say. "How long was I out?"

"Not long. Only ten minutes or so."

He hands me my towel and offers me a hand to lean on as I step out of the tub. I'm perfectly capable of stepping out, but I take it anyhow and a slight tingle races up my arm at the contact. He's strong and steady, and my feet land solidly on the dirt as he helps me wrap my towel around my shoulders. He steps back as I dry myself and I make quick work of it.

"Can I walk you back to your bunkroom?" he asks.

"It's a two minute walk," I tease, pleased with him asking.

He nods. "Gives me two more minutes with you."

Oh. Good answer. I'm not sure what to say, so I smile and slip on my shoes as we head out the gate and into the night. It's not so late that the place is shut down for the night, but it's a Saturday which means anyone not needed is out touring the city, so it's quiet and we don't pass anyone along the way.

Sure enough, in less than two minutes we're at my bunkroom door. It's shadowy here, and I turn to face him, hugging my towel around my shoulders, and look up to see what he'll do next. I kind of like this development too.

"Thanks for your help today," he says. "It feels really good to have met that goal."

I bite my lips. "It felt really good to help you meet that goal."

"It feels really good to be around you again," he says quietly, and I don't pull away when he steps a little closer. "Really good."

I pull in a deep breath. "Same."

A smile pulls at his mouth and my eyes watch in fascination as his hand moves to caress up my arm and come to rest on my shoulder over the towel.

"Would you go somewhere with me tomorrow? We can invite the others too if you want."

I look up to find his head bent over mine, blocking out whatever moonlight might've sneaked through the clouds.

"Where?" I ask.

"You can't leave Lima without going to an Inka Market." He traces his fingertips up the side of my neck and back down, watching the progress as he does. "Shopping day?"

"Only if they sell overly priced items to unsuspecting tourists," I reply, feeling a little dizzy at the touch.

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