Page 35 of Dodge

He grunted and pulled an old pair of swimming trunks from his bureau. He would prefer spending time in the hot tub alone, but this time of night, there may still be people around. Betsey declared the pool and hot tub a no-nude zone after catching him skinny-dipping, and he wasn’t about to disrespect the woman. He remembered at the last minute to grab a towel and then headed to the back door that led to the deck.

The pool water was smooth as glass and lay undisturbed in the fading day. Overhead, stars winked into existence as the light waned into dark. The bubbling noise told him someone else occupied the hot tub. His desire for solitude almost had him turn around to leave, but the pull of heated water soothing his aching back overrode that want. His steps were quiet as he walked barefoot to the raised pavilion that housed the hot tub, but he stopped when he saw the dark springy curls wound in a loose bun above the ties to a swimsuit top.

Fauna. Fauna was here.

Fuck.

His mouth dried up, and his body flashed on full alert. The heart in his chest revved from idling to a hundred miles an hour. He had to open his mouth to get enough air into his starving lungs. He stared and debated between running away before she noticed him and joining her in the steaming, bubbling water. His back wanted the relief. His body did, too, but a different kind. His brain stalled as the two desires battled themselves.

Helpless, he watched as Fauna realized his presence. She sat up and, in a slow-motion movie, turned her head elegantly to fix her eyes on his. The moment they locked gazes, something loosened in his chest. He was free-falling and couldn’t stop himself.

Her face softened, and she smiled as if it was the most natural thing in the world to see him here. It had been days since he last saw her, yet she greeted him like no time had passed. “Hi, Dodge. You can join me if you want.”

The husky tone of her voice hit him low. He should have apologized for disturbing her. He should have casually excused himself and left. He should have done anything else but get in that tub with her.

He lifted his leg over the edge. “Thanks.” His body settled against the opposite side of the six-person tub, and he sighed as the heat seeped into his muscles. Yes, he could do this. Just soak for a little while, have a light conversation, and go to his room. Easy peasy.

Yeah, right.

“You look tired.”

Her voice sent a thrill through his belly. He leaned his head back and ignored it. That and the shimmering image of her sitting across from him in what looked like a peach-colored bikini. “I am tired. It’s been a heavy week at the garage. I’m booked out for three months on custom paint jobs, and I’ve had to pull double duty in the regular shop to keep up with the everyday stuff. Nice problem to have, I guess, but my back is not happy with it.”

Her laugh sparked another wave of longing inside him. “I hear you. For years I ran around a kitchen, heaving full stock pots, chopping vegetables, stirring, and sautéing. I thought I was in good shape and had stamina to die for. Nope. I’m sore from lifting and hanging all those lamps today, and I’ll probably be sorer tomorrow.” Her nose scrunched up. “Issorera word?”

He huffed a small laugh. “I don’t know. Maybe.”

“Well, it is tonight.”

Silence ensued for a few minutes. Dodge’s body relaxed further into the water, and the tension melted in the heat. He let his arms float freely in the lightly churning water, and the hum of the tub soothed his nerves. He heard her give a sigh as she, too, let go. “You shouldn’t be doing work like that by yourself, sweetness. I could have come to help you get that done.”

“You said yourself you’re working overtime at the garage. When exactly are you supposed to have time to come see me?”

“I’d make and take the time.”

“What would Mallory say about that?”

A muscle in his neck cramped under sudden tension. “She doesn’t get a say-so. Yeah, she’s still at my place, but we’re not together again.”

“Is she aware? She came by the restaurant today looking for a job and only halfway filled out the application. I got the impression that she didn’t like me much and only begrudgingly asked for a job because she needs one, not because she wants one. I wondered if it was because she thinks I’m competition or something.”

He thought about that for a moment. “I’ve tried to be honest with her from the start. I don’t understand it myself. I care about her and probably always will, but I don’t love her. I can see her tryin’ to get back with me, but I can’t go back to being with her. At one time, I hoped we could work out a life together. But it doesn’t matter anymore. In the end, she cheated on me. Left me. Over and over and over again.”

“Love dies when it’s not fed.”

He raised his head in her direction at the statement, but all he saw was her silhouette under the pale moonlight. The cramp knotted harder, and he winced at the sudden pressure.

“I know that look. Here, let me help.” She moved closer and faced him, leaning over to dig her strong fingers into the hard spot. It hurt like hell but relaxed as she worked it.

She sighed. “Chase and I got together at the culinary academy. We started out great—two friends who became lovers. We were going to take over the restaurant world and set it on its ear. I discovered his love had conditions, mainlymehelpinghimsucceed, notmehelpingussucceed. When I said I loved him, I loved him. When he said he loved me, it actually meant he needed me. It was like I was there to support him and make him look good, and when I stopped doing that, he turned on me. Not equal partners. Make sense?”

Dodge thought it did in a roundabout way. “I can see the difference. I’m sorry that happened to you.”

She shrugged. “I’m over it. I just wished I hadn’t wasted any time with a man who had no real feelings for me. At least I woke up and got out. If I’m going to have my dreams come true, it’s up to me to make that happen. I’ve got more challenges than most people because of being Black and being a woman, but I’m also more determined.”

Dodge leaned his head back to rest it on the hard edge and give her better access. Her hands felt so good on his skin that he was loath for her to move away from him. “I admire you, Fauna. You’re a smart and beautiful woman with a great gift. I’m really sorry the world can’t see that and appreciate you.”

“Thank you for saying that.”

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