Page 100 of What a Wolf's Heart Decides

He pointed at the slate under their feet. “Pipes under the floor. The conservatory is a greenhouse. Solar panels on the roof capture heat and power the pump so the water never gets stagnant.”

She turned back to the bath. “It’s amazing.”

“I thought you might like to use it.”

She swung her head around again, her eyes wide.

“Alone,” he said, his damn neck prickling again. “We’re stuck here for the night and maybe tomorrow. I thought you might like a chance to get clean.”

She said nothing. Just stared.

He was an idiot.

It was an idiot suggestion.

Borderline insulting, even.

He should apologize. Except he owed her so many apologies he didn’t even know where to begin.

He took a breath.

“You don’t—”

“I want—”

They stopped, having spoken over each other. They both fell silent, and a certain bashfulness hovered in the air.

He gestured for her to speak.

A hint of something—mischief maybe—sparked in her eyes, and she tipped her head to the side. “All right. Turn around.”

“What?”

She made a swirly motion with her finger. “Turn.”

Slowly, he faced away. Somehow, he’d lost control of the situation and now Haley Michaels was in charge. She’d flown right under his radar, stripping his defenses.

The knowledge landed so hard he almost swayed on his feet. All his life he was taught the most dangerous opponents were those with sharper fangs or longer claws. The fast wolves. The wolves with superior Gifts.

Water splashed behind him.

His breath caught.

Yeah, his training had been dead wrong. The most dangerous opponents weren’t the strong ones.

They were the ones you never saw coming.

Haley’s voice reached him. “You can turn around now.”

Just as slowly, he faced her again. He thought he was dreaming before. Now he was certain.

Her blanket lay abandoned on the ground, and she was in the center of the bath, the tops of her breasts visible above the water. She’d piled her hair on top of her head, and a few damp tendrils caressed her neck. As he watched, she cupped water in her hands and splashed it over her face. It trailed down her neck and dribbled over her breasts.

And, damn, but he was suddenly jealous of water.

She swiped water from her eyes. “Do you want to come in?”

More than any fucking thing in this world. He shook his head and gave his left thigh a pat. “Best not to take this off.”

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