Chapter 19
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Xander pulled into an open parking space in front of Ray’s Diner. After putting his SUV in park, he turned to her.
Freya held her breath, and her chest squeezed painfully tight. Her gaze fixed on the vehicle’s on-screen display that announced the next song on the radio. Her stomach churned with nerves, and her hands twisted in her lap. Holy crap, she’d do anything to have the seat swallow her whole.
This was it. This was where Xander would make his gracious exit. Not that she blamed him. Not at all. She’d completely frozen back at her apartment. She wasn’t even sure what idiotic excuse she’d used to brush off the pictures.
No, she’d flat-out lied to him. To his face. And the worst part? He knew it.
“Frey, can you look at me, please?” His soothing tone had her frown deepening. Of course he was going to let her down easy. Politely. He was nice like that.
With a resigned exhale, she turned to him and reluctantly met his gaze. When he took both her hands in his and squeezed, her eyes widened in surprise. Not what she was expecting.
“Relax, baby. We don’t need to talk about anything you don’t want to. How about I go in and pick up some food for us to bring back to my place. If your knee’s still hurting, I can go in, and you can stay in the car. Want anything in particular?”
For a moment, words failed her. The last thing on her mind was food. Clearing her throat, she stammered, “Um, a salad?”
He nodded, still holding her hands. “I was going to get a chicken cobb with extra chicken and balsamic on the side. Want the same?”
Why was he being so nice to her? There’s no way he’d bought her story about the photos being a prank. Right? “Sure, that sounds good, but no extra chicken and the white wine vinaigrette instead. Um, please.”
“You got it,” he said, giving her hands a soft squeeze before releasing them.
As he reached for his door, guilt rushed over her. She may not be ready to talk about the photos, but he didn’t deserve her blatant dishonesty.
“I lied to you,” she blurted as he pushed his door open.
He turned back to her with raised eyebrows, and the words tumbled from her mouth.
“Back at my apartment. When I said the photos were no big deal, I lied. They are a big deal.” They terrified her.
“But I don’t know what they mean or who they’re from, and I’m scared to tell you about it.
” Because he’d look at her differently after he found out what she’d done.
And, dammit, she loved how he looked at her.
Closing his door, he faced her. Her heart tripped when he gently pushed a lock of hair behind her ear and cupped the side of her face. “I know you lied, baby, and it’s okay—”
“It’s not,” she protested, shaking her head.
“You may have lied with your words, but I could see the truth in your eyes.” His thumb caressed her jaw.
“I promise, it’s okay. So long as you’re safe, we can talk about those photos whenever you’re ready, whenever you’re comfortable.
I meant it earlier when I said I’m all in, Freya.
I’ll use every resource I have to find out what’s going on and to keep you safe. You can trust me. When you’re ready.”
“I do trust you,” she murmured. “I just don’t know . . .” Where to even start or how to begin explaining.
She leaned into his hand, closed her eyes, and exhaled.
Her eyes flew open when he pressed his lips to hers. “Whatever’s going on, we’re in this together. But when you’re ready.” He flashed her the sweetest grin. “Now, how about we table the heavy talk, and I’ll go get our food. Did you want anything to drink?”
Forty-five minutes later, they were unloading their food onto Xander’s dining table. Delicious-looking salads and a trio of mini cobblers—blueberry, peach, and strawberry-rhubarb.
Balance, right?
Her stomach growled loudly, and she slapped her hands over her stomach as heat washed over her face.
“Well, that answers my question,” Xander said with a chuckle. When she tilted her head, he clarified. “I was going to ask if you wanted to hit the hot tub first.”
She shook her head, pointing at the cobblers. “I’m tempted to eat those before the salad.”
“I don’t blame you, but either way, you have to share them with me.”
“Share?” She tapped her lips with her finger as she eyed him up and down. “What’s in it for me?”
He closed the distance between them and hauled her against him, all the while being careful of her sore left side. “Whatever you want, baby,” he said with his lips inches away from hers.
Grinning, she pressed her lips to his in a soft kiss.
This was a million times better than the nerves and doubt, than the fear that he was going to call things off because she was too much.
Granted, the worry still lingered deep in her gut, but Xander’s earlier words, not to mention his firm lips on hers, went a long way to reassure her.
Before things could get too heated, before she could sink into him and get lost in their kiss, she pulled away and shot him a wink. “Oh, I’m sure I can think of something.” Her stomach rumbled again, and she cringed. There went her attempt at being sexy. “But food first.”
While they ate their salads, Xander kept their conversation light.
He knew she’d been rattled by the pictures, of him seeing those fucked-up photos, but he didn’t want to push, didn’t want to rush her.
However, that didn’t mean his mind wasn’t whirling with every conceivable scenario. But he’d be patient.
They’d both been stuffed after lunch and shared the peach cobbler, saving the other two for later. Now, after quickly changing into his swim trunks, he double-checked the temperature of the hot tub while Freya changed.
One hundred and one degrees. Perfect.
He found a mellow playlist on his phone, connected it to the outdoor speakers, and set the volume to low. He placed a couple of bottles of water on the table beside the steaming hot tub and climbed in.
He groaned as he lowered into the water. Aches he didn’t know he had screamed in relief. He leaned back against one of the jets and sighed. Closing his eyes, he sank down and let the water work its magic.
After a few moments, he heard the sliding door open and close, and he peeked his eyes open.
His jaw dropped, and he was struck dumb. Hell, he may have even drooled a little.
Holy shit, she’s stunning.
Her bathing suit was one of those tank top two-pieces.
The top was an ocean blue that made her eyes pop.
The bottoms were simple black bottoms. Everything was covered, nothing crazy low cut, no ass cheeks hanging out.
Not even a sliver of her stomach showed.
Yet Freya was hands down the hottest woman he’d ever seen.
“Sorry. Looks like my closet was all out of skimpy bikinis.” A sheepish smile lifted her lips.
He shook his head as his gaze took in every inch of her. From the top of her raven-black hair to the tips of her hot-pink-painted toes. His dick twitched. “You’re gorgeous, baby. Pretty sure you could wear a garbage sack and still be the prettiest woman in the room.”
A soft blush stole over her cheeks as she stepped toward him. “Charmer.”
Rising, he gestured to the opposite side of the hot tub and held out his hand. “Steps are over here.”
After helping her into the hot tub, he showed her where the various jets were and happily watched as she tried each out.
Apparently, when you were five-two, finding the optimal seat and jet configuration was tricky.
At six-four, he’d never given it much thought.
Sitting too low in the water was never a thing.
Once Freya had found her spot—the corner opposite him—she leaned back, closed her eyes, and sighed. “Holy moly, Xander. This was a great idea. Thank you.”
She was too far away, but he couldn’t complain about the view. Not at all. She was utterly relaxed. And so damn pretty. “How’s the knee?”
“It was getting achy, but this feels lovely.”
“And your side?”
Her eyes were still closed, but the edges of her lips twitched up. “It’s good. Promise.”
A comfortable silence fell over them. The sounds of the swirling water and the soft music provided a calming backdrop.
After who knows how much time passed, he asked, “What’s on your docket this week?”
“Just work.” She sighed, opening her eyes.
He grinned at her drowsy look. “You hanging in there?”
She nodded and moved to the seat on her right, which was higher and had her shoulders and tops of her breasts peeking out of the water. “Thought I was going to fall asleep on you there.” She chuckled. “Again.”
“Go for it.” He spread his arms out. “I’ll happily volunteer to be your pillow anytime.”
“I may take you up on that.” She grinned as she stretched her legs out in front of her.
“With Hazel gone, Miriam redistributed her clients to the rest of us, so this week is going to be crazy. But the good news is that my rental car is supposed to get dropped off at work sometime tomorrow afternoon, so you won’t have to keep driving me around.
” She grimaced. “Speaking of, if it’s not too much trouble, would you mind taking me to work one more time tomorrow morning? ”
“You know I don’t mind.”
“That’s because you’re a sweetheart.”
Again, that soft smile that did him in bloomed on her face. “What time do you need to be at work?”
“Eight.”
Sitting up, he raised his arms and rested them along the hot tub’s edge. The cool air was refreshing, and goosebumps covered his skin. “Want to join me at the gym beforehand?”
Her brow furrowed and she side-eyed him. “What time?”
Goddamn, she was cute. “Five thirty.”
“In the morning?” Her eyes went owl wide.
He chuckled. “I take it that’s a no?”
“You better believe it.” Her gaze traveled over him. “How often do you work out?”
He shrugged. And so what if he also flexed a little? “Most mornings.”
She snickered while her eyes continued to wander over him. “So you’re saying today was the first morning you missed in how long?”
“I’d say at least a month.” He grinned. She had his number. “But, Frey, waking up with you this morning was worth it.”
She met his gaze, and her eyes heated. “Yeah?” The one word was breathy and sent a bolt of desire through him.
“Hell yeah, baby.” Holding her gaze, his pulse kicked. Lowering his arms back into the water, he murmured, “Come here. You’re too far away.”
She moved one seat down, still out of arm’s reach, and sent him a saucy smirk. Minx.
He tsked, shaking his head. “Nope. Still too far away.”
She moved one more seat closer.
He crooked his finger at her. “Get over here.”
Grinning, she pushed off her seat, and he snagged her by the waist, hauling her to him and across his lap.
Water sloshed over the side of the hot tub, and she laughed. “Look what you did!”
With her perched on his lap, he framed her face with his hands. “Totally worth it,” he murmured before claiming her lips.