Page 67 of Enemies in Paradise

That’s when I realize she’s wearing a towel.

Only a towel.

I step backwards, intending to let go of her, but there’s something behind my feet that takes my legs out from under me. I fall backwards, grasping for anything to hold on to.

But I’m already holding something.

Cassie’s towel.

My butt hits the floor first. In the split second before my head hits the floor, I see two things: the toolbag I’ve stumbled over and Cassie.

Maybeallof Cassie.

Then her towel lands on my head and we are both saved… Sort of.

Chapter 21

Cassie

Bear isn’t moving, andneither am I, because…

What. Just. Happened?

One minute I was in the shower. The next minute, the shower was everywhere but on me. I still have shampoo in my hair.

Water still shoots from the uncovered pipes under the bathroom sink, through the open door, all the way to my hanging rack of clothes and the cheap MDF dresser perpendicular to it. Everything is soaking wet, the water is threatening to spread through the entire apartment, and I’m naked.

And Bear still isn’t moving.

I pull my towel off his face—mostly grateful he’s unconscious so I can do this without trying to cover up—then gently lift his head and feel for any bleeding. When I don’t find any blood, Ituck the towel under him and lower his head to it. Only then do I run to the rack of clothes for my wet bathrobe, dodging the fire hose of water still coming from the sink.

One thing about being around Bear… he’s keeping my emergency training skills sharp.

Once I’m not completely naked anymore, I run to the freezer and grab a bag of frozen peas. By the time I make it back to Bear, his eyelids are fluttering.

“Bear?” I pat his cheeks to bring him back to consciousness. “Bear? Are you okay?” Water drips from my wet hair to his cheeks.

He moans and blinks.

“I’m going to put this ice pack under your head.” I lift his head with one hand, pressing his face against my chest to keep him upright while I slide the peas underneath him.

As I lay him back down, Bear’s eyes come into focus, drop to where my robe has fallen open to my cleavage, and go wide. He quickly moves them back to my face, but not before his cheeks turn bright red.

“Welcome back.” I let out a relieved breath and smile, mostly because I’m glad he’s okay, but also because he looks so embarrassed I can’t stop myself.

With the rushing stream in the background, this could be a very romantic moment.

If the stream wasn’t inside, drenching all my clothes, and if I wasn’t kneeling naked—mostly—over the guy who’s made my life miserable—mostly—since I arrived in Paradise.

First there were mice. Then squirrels. Now a flood.

I’ve got to hand it to Bear…he doesn’t give up easily.

I pull back my smile and focus on the next emergency to address. “Tell me where the main shut-off line is.”

“Cassie… I’m sorry… I didn’t mean—”

“—Bear, we need to turn off the water.”

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