Page 26 of The Lord's Compass
Well, that stopped him mid-track.
“Yes?” he said without turning around.
“I slipped because I was reaching for the soap. It is still too far. Do you think you could pass it to me?”
He passed a hand over his eyes. Oh, was he being tempted today. He supposed he deserved it, but this was about to break him.
“Of course,” he said, hearing the strain in his voice. He looked back and saw the soap – that lemon soap that haunted him – sitting there on the washbasin. He grabbed it and passed it to her quickly, nearly dropping it in his haste.
He could tell that she was laughing at him – enjoying this, even. The little minx. She wasn’t so innocent after all, was she?
“Thank you,” she said, her voice soft and velvety, and he nodded and walked out the door, although one thing was for certain – he would never forget the way she looked in the water – nor the way it made him feel.
Never.
* * *
Faith could have languishedin the bathtub for hours, but, of course, the water grew colder and she eventually had to emerge.
She dressed as best she could before opening the door and telling Eric she was finished. He came in without a word, deftly fastening the back of her gown for her.
“I suppose we can ask them to come and empty the tub now,” she said, and he shook his head.
“I’ll quickly wash first.”
Guilt filled her at the amount of time she had taken within. “The water is cold!”
“No matter,” he said, but she bit her lip anyway, wondering if the man had ever had a cold bath in his life. If he said he was fine, though, then so be it.
“I shall leave for you,” she said, taking a step away, but he stopped her, a steely edge to his voice.
“Absolutely not.”
“But—”
“Faith, it is not safe for you to be alone,” he said, obviously trying for patience. “Have you not already learned that?”
She felt properly chastised but annoyed even so.
She sighed. “Very well,” she said, moving to the side of the room, lifting her book off of the nightstand as she took a seat with her back to him, her spine sternly lifted. “Please tell me when you are finished.”
She heard the rustling of his clothes, the splash of the water when he entered, and the yelp he tried to muffle when he realized just how cold it was.
Faith laughed slightly, but it was difficult to find too much humor in the situation.
For the truth was, being here with him, in this room, as he bathed was causing a commotion within her, one that – were she being honest – scared her.
She could remember Eric’s kiss as though it just happened, and the more time they spent together, the more she forgot about his womanizing ways.
But she best remember, or else she could find herself back where she began – broken-hearted. A situation she never wanted to find herself in again.
There was one idea, however, that began to niggle at her. One that suggested maybe, just maybe, she could have fun and satisfy her urges without giving away her heart.
Her body liked that idea. Even if her head told her it would never work.
She just had no idea which one would win out.
CHAPTER9
