Chapter 18
EIGHTEEN
B laine’s legs and back burned as he finished the last few minutes on his rowing machine.
He usually worked out first thing in the morning to start his day before showering and eating, but since his conversation with Xanthe he’d been struggling to focus on work and had decided to burn off some frustration in his home gym.
He’d never imagined he would have one of those. It was almost as weird—and amazing—as it was to wake up in this custom-built house overlooking the ocean and know it was his. Maybe money couldn’t buy happiness, but having it sure made things a hell of a lot easier.
Without waiting to cool down, he took a lukewarm shower. The dozen pressurized showerheads blasted water all over his body, but the low temperature didn’t cool his blood or the train of his thoughts.
His mind kept going back to Xanthe. And what it would be like to have those incredible silver eyes staring into his while he pinned her to the wall of this shower and buried himself inside her.
He wanted her to drop her guard. To watch the pleasure wash over her face. For her eyes to go hazy and soft with it. For her to wrap around him and surrender full control while he took them both to the edge and flung them over it.
He reached down between his legs and gripped himself hard. Stroked, eyes closed, jaw locked until release punched through him, hard and fast.
But it was ultimately hollow and unsatisfying.
The water continued to blast over him. He turned up the temperature and scrubbed himself all over, trying to clear his mind. But still his thoughts kept wandering back to Xanthe. Whatever this was brewing between them, not only was it not going away, it was getting stronger every day.
Dressed and ready, he started to head downstairs. Stopped in the upstairs hallway when Maddy appeared before him on the upper landing.
“Oh, there you are. I called you, but you didn’t answer,” she said.
“I was in the shower.” Thinking about ways to further complicate his life. Maddy looked good though, rested and relaxed. “What’s up?”
“Xanthe was just here.”
“What?” He glanced over the railing toward the front door below, just visible from where he stood. Couldn’t believe he’d missed her. “Is something wrong?”
“She didn’t say, just asked you to call her when you get a minute.”
“Is she still here?” He hurried past her and down the stairs.
Maddy shrugged. “She might be, I didn’t look.”
Blaine rushed past her for the foyer and jerked the massive front door open. His heart jumped when he saw her getting into her car. “Xanthe!”
She stopped. Looked up at him, rain dripping from the brim of her gray pageboy cap.
He shoved his feet into the pair of shoes sitting by the door, yanked it shut behind him and hurried toward her. “Hey. Sorry. I was in the shower. Everything okay?” If she was here, good chance something was wrong.
“Yes.” She closed her car door, her expression uncharacteristically uncertain. “I came by to thank you in person.”
“Thank me?”
“For the drone.”
Oh. So much for sneaking it in. “How did?—”
“A colleague reviewed the security video from last night. That camera hasn’t been working for months, but we just had it repaired.”
Ah. Damn. He’d chosen that one on purpose.
“It’s an amazing drone. That was incredibly generous of you.”
He lifted a shoulder. “I thought it would make it easier for you to track the whales. Especially Onyx and Nootka.”
A soft smile curved her mouth. A genuine one that lit her eyes from within, almost making them glow. And knowing that smile was for and because of him filled him with warmth. She was so damned stunning it almost hurt to look at her. “It absolutely will. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
She angled her head slightly, assessing him. “Why did you do it?”
“Seeing Onyx with her calf, and how much it affected you… I wanted to do something to help.” He shrugged. “Not that it fixes anything.”
“I think it might, actually.”
A slow grin tugged at his mouth, her meaning clear. He wanted to shift things between them. Wasn’t okay with her disliking him anymore. “Yeah?”
“Maybe. I’m just saying, it doesn’t hurt.”
He’d take it. “I’m happy to hear that.”
“Good.” She sniffed. Raised her chin.
“Does this mean you’ll let me take you to lunch now?”
“That might be pushing it.”
“Why? Scared you might actually start to like me if we go out to eat together?”
Her lips twitched. “Reverse psychology. Interesting choice of tactic.”
“I have a feeling I’m going to need my full tactical repertoire to win you over.”
“Is that what you’re trying to do?”
“Dunno. Is it working if I were?”
“Dunno. Guess it’s a good thing you’ve got a military background.”
He loved her sharp, clever banter. The way she challenged his thinking and kept him on his toes. “It’s served me well.” Saved him. Made him into who he was.
“I’ll bet it has.”
“Spend a few hours with me. I want to get to know you better.”
Oh, he was good, all sincerity wrapped in commanding masculinity. “All right. I’ll go.” She held up a finger before he could respond. “But this is a business lunch.”
“Business-slash-friendly lunch,” he countered.
She considered it a moment. Inclined her head. “Fine.”
It felt like a much bigger victory than finding out the resort proposal had been approved.
God, it was hard not to cup the side of her face in his hand and kiss that smart pink mouth. “I’ll clear my schedule.”
“What about Maddy?”
“She needs more downtime. And full disclosure, I’m expecting an important call anytime now, so I’ll have to take it if it comes in while we’re out together.”
“Okay, I appreciate the heads up. Want to meet me somewhere?”
“No, I’ll drive us.” He dug his keys out of his pocket, unlocked the Audi’s doors before taking her arm.
The instant he touched her, she froze and looked up at him. He stared down at her, mesmerized by the bright silver of her eyes, rimmed by thick dark eyelashes.
An intense jolt of desire rushed through him. Firming his grip, he tugged her toward his car. “Come on.”