Page 32 of Save Me

Chapter 15

Eric strolledout of the shower, wearing nothing but a towel around his hips. She wanted to jump off the bed and tear it off him, but the expression on his face stopped her.

“Is the honeymoon over already?” she asked, the corner of her mouth turning up.

He smiled weakly. “I was thinking you’d liked to do some shopping while I run a few errands. You can take my credit card and hit the Strip casino shops. I hear the Venetian has a few nice ones, or maybe the Paris?”

“Don’t you like what I’m wearing now?” she asked, rolling over to display her nude body.

Eric’s lips parted, hunger lighting in his eyes. “I love it. If I didn’t need to meet a medical supplier, I’d literally be jumping you right now.”

Andie pouted and got on her knees. She reached over to run her hands over his chest. “Why don’t I go with you?”

There would be plenty of time for solo errands later. And even though they hadn’t worked out all the details, Andie was going to be his PA. She’d have to get to know his suppliers eventually. It would be part of her job to help with purchasing.

But Eric’s expression didn’t lighten. He opened and closed his mouth a few times as if trying to find the words to tell her no.

Andie backed away from him with a frown. “What’s wrong? Why don’t you want me to go?”

He took a deep breath. “I just think shopping would be a lot more fun. But you don’t have to do that if you’re not up for shopping. You can catch a movie or go to the spa. Enjoy your R and R before you start as my physician’s assistant.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. He might have been a better poker player, but she could still read him like a book. “What don’t you want me to see?”

Eric’s shoulders lowered a notch. He held out his hand. “Well, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Andie satin the passenger seat of the car, staring at the modest ranch house Eric had driven her to.

She turned to him. He was watching the place with a doleful expression. “Where are we?

He leaned closer to the steering wheel, gripping it in both hands. “This is my mother’s house.” Eric squinted at the mailbox. “Well, it’s the Sanchez’s house now, I guess.”

Oh. This was the house he’d gambled away.

The expression on his face was breaking her heart. She reached out and took his hand. “I would never have wanted to live here.”

It worked. He burst out laughing.

“I didn’t want to live here either. My mother didn’t expect me to. She preferred my upscale apartment high rise, although she wouldn’t consider something similar for herself. She was too set in her ways. Or at least that what she always said when I offered to help her find one.”

“Then this isn’t your sacred childhood home?”

“No, I didn’t really have one of those.” He took another long look at the house before putting the car back in drive.

“Where are we going?”

“Back to the hotel.”

“I see.” Andie peeked at him from the corner of her eye.

He adjusted the mirror and sighed. “Why don’t you tell me what’s on your mind?”

She bit her lip. “I don’t want to overstep.”

He glanced at her. “Don’t hold back. That’s not you. You’ve always said what’s on your mind. I love that about you, so spill.”

Eric was right. She’d never minced words with him, but that had been back when she’d been the girl he hooked up with and nothing more. Their relationship had been intense, but they’d never had deep personal conversations. On occasion, something had slipped out about her background. That had been inevitable. But Eric had always held back. She knew why now, of course. The fallout of his gambling and the guilt over losing everything must have eaten him alive.

But we’re married now. From this moment on, they were sharing their lives. And there was something he probably needed to do before they could leave Las Vegas behind them.

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