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When I looked back he was busy filling the jugs with water.
“You’re serious?” I gaped.
He let his actions speak for themselves and placed two jugs next to the bath and pulled off his sweater.
Look away, I thought, but I was as hooked as a voyeur when Adam stripped out of his clothes and stepped into the tub with his back to me. He didn’t sit down but used the jugs to shower himself.
God, he was nothing but male temptation with his caramel skin and tribal tattoos across his shoulder blades.
“Can I use your shampoo?” he asked.
All I could muster was a weak “Uh-huh” that made him glance back over his shoulder.
“Is something wrong?” he asked.
“No…” I shook my head and finally broke my stare, only to look back over when he bent down to pick up my shampoo. “Geez…” It slipped out of me and, embarrassed, I turned and pulled out the last clean t-shirt I had in the sports bag.
“What’s wrong?” he asked and poured water down his body. Never before had I been envious of water, but the way it slid down his magnificent body was enough to make it a first.
“It’s nothing, I just realized I have to wash clothes tomorrow. Do you think Onava has a washing machine somewhere?”
“Maybe out back. There’s a shack connected to the cabin. That’s where I found the tub.
Wearing my t-shirt, I crawled into bed and took time to comb my hair while sneaking glances at Adam, who was drying off with a towel. He dressed in some clean boxer shorts, sweatpants, and a tank top before he started laughing.
“What’s so funny?”
“I just figured that now we’re kind of even. I’ve seen your butt on film, you’ve seen mine in real life.”
“I wasn’t looking,” I said, embarrassed.
His laughter told me he knew I had and he was just about to say something when Max started barking, alerting us that someone was outside.
“What is it, Max? Is someone out there?”
“It’s a bear,” I said nervously and pulled the duvet higher.
Max looked dangerous with his hackles up and his deep warning growls.
“Okay, let’s go check it out, Max.” Adam snatched his jacket with a grim expression.
“Are you crazy? I’m telling you it’s big bears. Just stay inside. Why would you go out there?” My voice was high-pitched and my eyes bulging.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine,” Adam said.
“No, you won’t.” Fear was suffocating me with the soundtrack of Max’s angry barking and growling. “What if the bears kill you? Stay, Adam.Please don’t go out there!” I pleaded.
“Relax, Chloe.” He approached the bed and sat down to face me with concern on his handsome face. “Take my hand.”
I didn’t just take it. I grabbed it and clung to him. “Stay with me,” I begged.
“You’re shaking.” He lifted his hand to touch my tensed-up neck. “Chloe, are you having a panic attack?”
Fear had a tight iron band around my neck and my voice quivered when I spoke. “If you go out there you’ll be attacked and if you get injured I can’t help you. I don’t know CPR and I can’t call an ambulance without a cell phone signal,” I rambled
“Take a deep breath,” he instructed, and I followed his guidance of filling my lungs with air. “Now say thank you to your fear for making you alert.”
“What?” I asked with eyes darting to the door and windows. “I can’t talk to my fear! It doesn’t work like that.”
