Chapter 5
Chapter Five
JOSHUA
Lexi’s eyes dart up from below my waist as our eyes meet.
“Enjoying the view?” I give her a lopsided half-grin as I take the towel from her outstretched arm and quickly wipe my face. Fuck, body wash in the eyes sure stings, as does my bleeding leg where Lexi’s cat just clawed me.
I’ve no fucking clue what she’s doing here, but fuck it, I’m not complaining. She’s like an apparition — a very welcome one.
She points to my dick, or it could be my knee. “You’re bleeding.”
I dry myself off quickly, wrapping the towel around my waist. “I’ll live.”
She turns around. “I’m so sorry, Joshua. I… um… I’ll leave you to, uh, get dressed.”
I don’t even have time to stop her. She darts out of the bathroom like a bat out of hell.
I want to be sorry, I really do, but I don’t have the heart. The way her cheeks flushed when her eyes dropped to my dick… fuck yeah, that didn’t just make my day, it made my whole year.
I pull the towel off, scrub my hair for a moment, then resecure it around my waist.
I didn’t bring any clothes into the bathroom with me, so I have no option but to leave the bathroom and head toward the open living area because the bedroom is at the front of the house.
Lexi has finally got ahold of her cat, and I thumb toward the bedroom with a smirk. “I’ll just put some clothes on and be right back.”
She just nods, embarrassment flooding her pretty face.
She looks like she wants to cry, and I don’t want that.
Turning her back on me, she busies herself drying the moggy off with a dishrag.
Obviously this is some kind of honest mix up because my dad and her boss had the cabin booked for the weekend.
Pulling on some fresh sweats, my heart races in my chest as I scramble to cover myself.
I half expect my apparition to be gone when I step out into the main room, but nope, she’s still here.
Mr. Snuggles is still protesting as Lexi finally lets him free and he darts away up the hallway again.
Clearly, Mr. Snuggles hasn’t learned his lesson not to snoop around a house he’s not familiar with.
I clear my throat and Lexi jumps a mile in the air. She’s still sopping wet, and my eyes involuntarily dip to her cleavage. Fuck me if her white blouse isn’t stuck there and her ample breasts are practically visible if not for her lacy white bra.
My cock immediately stands to attention.
“Alexis,” I start, running a hand through my hair. “Look, I’m sorry, there’s been some kind of mix up.”
She bites her lip, teeth pressing firmly down, that delicious blush spreading across her cheeks again and I save from smiling.
I should not be smiling. This is serious.
Well, she did inadvertently touch my dick with her hand, and share an impromptu shower with me fully clothed.
It would almost be comical if I wasn’t still in shock about her just appearing out of the blue.
My mind may have flashed to what it would have been like with her naked in there with me, and my dick sliding into that slick, sweet pussy that I’ve often dreamed about.
“Alison is sick and she said I could take the cabin for the weekend. We have a client, and she’s very needy…
well, she’s lovely, but kind of famous, and Ali was worried about rescheduling because it’s such a sought-after area and Monica loved the photos.
You know what it’s like with clients, you have to strike while the iron's hot and all of that,” she says without taking a breath.
“And I didn’t see the cabin was already taken until Mr. Snuggles ran into the bathroom and – oh my god…
” She slaps a hand over her mouth as if just remembering.
“It’s alright,” I say, trying to sound as calm as possible. “Clearly my dad didn’t tell Ali that he’d told me I could take the cabin, and Ali didn’t tell Dad she’d invited you. I’ll remember to thank them both later.”
Her mouth parts, but no words come out.
I laugh, palming the back of my neck. “I’m kidding,” I say, moving toward her slowly. Any sudden moves could see her fleeing like that damn cat. “No harm, no foul.”
“Joshua, I’m so sorry,” she manages, tucking a lock of blonde hair behind her ear. She’s fucking adorable. “I really should have seen your stuff when I walked in, but there was no car out the front?—”
“It’s out back.” I thumb behind me. “You wouldn’t have seen it. And you’re still soaking wet. Let me grab you a towel.”
I don’t notice how she looks down at herself, gasps, then folds her arms over her chest. She’s realized she’s basically flashing me. I’m not sorry.
“I’m afraid Mr. Snuggles is as much a disaster as I am,” she calls after me. Then she mutters something else I don’t quite decipher.
I jog back, handing her a fresh towel and she takes it gratefully.
She begins toweling her hair while I stand there like a jerk watching her.
“You’re fine, honestly. I was just surprised to see you.
It’s not every day I get interrupted by a beautiful woman accidentally showering with me. ” What the fuck am I on?
She looks at me quizzically, maybe to check if I’m poking fun, then she laughs. It doesn’t quite touch her eyes and I know she’s embarrassed. Heck, my heart is still racing like a runaway train.
“I’ll just grab a change of clothes from the car and be on my way,” she says.
On her way?
I don’t like the sound of that.
“If anything, I should be on my way, not you. I’ll find somewhere else to crash.”
“You don’t have to do that. I’m the one who came barging in on you.”
“Seriously, it’s no trouble. I’ll just get the Airbnb app up on my phone and book somewhere else. In the meantime, I was just about to make another cup of coffee. Would you like one? Or something stronger?”
“I have a bottle of wine in the car,” she says. “I think I may need a stiff drink after that.” Our eyes meet and she flushes again. “Not stiff… I meant, um, alcohol. A strong, alcoholic beverage.”
I chuckle. Oh fuck, she’s cute. “I appreciate you not running away screaming, if it’s any consolation.”
She dries herself off and when she presses the towel to her chest, I have to look away. “How about I go and grab your bags, and you can change into something a little more comfortable?”
“You don’t have to?—”
I hold up one hand. “It’s the least I could do after what we’ve been through together.”
“Thanks, Josh. I have a small suitcase in my trunk that has my clothes in it.”
“On it.” I turn my back, heading outside toward her neat little SUV.
Maybe this weekend won’t be a bust after all. Even though I’m going to be leaving soon, I know this memory will live in my spank bank for some time to come.
I find her suitcase and take it out with ease, along with a bag of groceries from the same deli I stopped at on the way in.
I smile when I see the same chicken salad at the top of the bag. She has good taste. I also swipe the bottle of wine on the back seat and head back to the cabin.
I prop the suitcase by her feet, trying my best not to notice how her wet hair looks just as sexy as it did when it was styled perfectly. Who am I kidding? This is a fucking dream come true.
“One suitcase, a bag of groceries getting warm, and your wine,” I declare. “I’ll pour you a glass and put the bag of stuff in the fridge.”
“You’re being too nice, honestly. I can do that.”
“No need. You should get out of those things. It’s going to be cold tonight so I’ll light the fire before I leave.”
She opens her mouth to speak, thinks better of it, then turns and wheels her little case across the room toward the bedroom I’m already settled in. She’s a little wobbly on her feet but I try not to notice.
I make light work of putting her groceries away. Then I pour her a glass of wine, popping an ice cube into the wine glass, then pull out my phone.
I search for Airbnbs for tonight and the next night. Nothing comes up. Shit. I know Lake Haven is popular, but surely there’s something for tonight at least. I change the search, but get no results.
I open Booking.com, and then Trivago. There’s nothing within a sixty-mile radius of Lake Haven. Looks like I’m going to be driving home. So much for the universe having my back and wanting me to take the weekend off.
While I should feel slightly annoyed that my plans have now changed, I can’t seem to regret the decision. Because I wouldn’t have the memory of Lexi doing what she did.
I realize, with a smile she can’t see, that the drive all the way out here was worth it. This could be the greatest day of my life.