Page 24 of Erik's Salvation
“You’re welcome to use it.” He said the words with ease, but she didn’t miss the slight tensing of his jaw.
Excitement lit her chest at the prospect of taking a bath, but she shook her head. No. Bathing in her gorgeous neighbor’s beautiful tub wasnotappropriate. “That’s okay. A shower will warm me up just fine.”
He almost looked relieved. Like a bath would have taken too long, and he wanted her out of his place quickly.
He ran a hand through his hair. “I’ll get you a dry towel and something to wear.”
The second he disappeared, another cold shudder rocked her spine…because he’d been providing warmth even from across the room?
No. That was crazy…wasn’t it?
A few seconds later, he returned with a towel and a pile of clothes. “They’ll be too big for you but hopefully will tide you over until you can get back to your place.”
The words were spoken quickly. Then he walked out just as fast, closing the door after him like he couldn’t bear to look at her in his space any longer.
CHAPTER8
Erik stepped out of the garage and back into his house. He moved to the hall and dropped Hannah’s keys onto the side table. He’d planned to stay here while she showered, but it had been torture. All he’d been able to think about was her upstairs, in his shower, water cascading over her naked body…
So he’d chosen the storm.
He pulled his wet sweatshirt over his head before entering the kitchen and reaching for the leftover tub of soup in his fridge. There was no way he was letting the woman leave his home unfed, not with her diabetes.
He put the soup on the stove, then pulled out his phone and made a call.
“Jared speaking.”
“Jared. It’s Erik Hunter.”
There was a short pause before the guy spoke. “You’re shitting me, right? Erik fucking Hunter? Are you back in town?”
Erik placed two bowls on the table. “Yeah. Have been for a month. I need a favor.”
Jared laughed. “Let me get this straight, you fuck off for almost a decade and the first call I get when you return is to ask a favor?”
“Yeah. Is that a problem?”
“Nope. Just clarifying. What’s the favor?”
He grabbed two spoons from the drawer. “My neighbor’s car broke down about a hundred yards from my place. I need you to fix it and return it to her.”
“You got it. Send me the address.”
“Thanks. And Jared, send me the bill, not her.”
There was a short pause. “Is this a lady-friend neighbor?”
“None of your fucking business.” He opened a bag of sourdough bread and put a few slices into the toaster.
Jared chuckled. “All right. Send through the address and I’ll go out there as soon as this storm eases.”
“Thanks.”
Erik shoved his phone into his pocket just as the soup began to simmer. He lifted the pan and spooned the liquid into the bowls. He and Jared had gone to high school together, and while Erik had gone to the military, Jared had become a mechanic. Even from the start, he’d been the best damn mechanic Erik had ever used, and he was betting nothing had changed.
He’d just set the buttered toast onto a plate when footsteps sounded on the stairs. When Hannah stepped into the doorway, Erik felt like he’d been sucker punched. The sensation was so real, he wanted to keel over to catch his breath and allow his lungs to work again.
She wore his hooded sweatshirt, which almost hit her knees, but her legs were completely bare. Her hair was wet and hung around her shoulders, making her look even younger than her twenty-three years.
