She didn’t even look at him as she dug out a washcloth, wet it and started cleaning her face. Oh my god. Aaron had seen her like this too and hadn’t said a word.
Her face heated at the idea, but she did her best to hide it as she scrubbed at the dirt, doing her best to get it all, but suspecting she’d need a shower as she felt bits of dirt and rocks in her hair as she tried to smooth it back into place.
She glanced over at Matt who stood watching her, concern clear on his face.
“Will you do me a favor?”
“What?”
“Will you go see if there’s anyone around in the bunkhouse, and if the showers are open?”
“You can shower in here you know.”
“I know, but there’s more room in there. And then there’s the hot water too. I haven’t figured out the water heater on this.”
Matt rolled his eyes but turned toward the door. “I’ll be right back, and I’ll show you the water heater again before I go.” He said more but she suspected he was muttering to himself because she couldn’t make it out.
She gathered her towels, clean clothes, and her shower bag, when he came back to tell her the bunkhouse was empty, she was ready.
“Are you sure you’re up for this?” Matt asked as he walked with her into the bunkhouse.
Heather didn’t bother to respond, instead sending him a scathing glare that said more clearly than words that she was tired of him asking and to shut the hell up. Thankfully, he didn’t say anything more as they went inside, and she disappeared into the bathroom.
47
Jakesteppedintothebunkhouse, intending to snag a couple of sandwiches out of the refrigerator and take them to the trailer so there was food available when Lynnie got hungry. What he didn’t expect was to find Iceman sitting on the sofa, flipping through channels on the TV, when he walked in.
“I thought you were keeping an eye on Lynnie?” Jake said, fighting the urge to race out and make sure she was okay.
“I though you’d figured out by now that woman has a mind of her own,” her cousin shot right back. “I woke her to check on her a bit ago, she decided to use the bathroom and saw herself in the mirror, then decided she had to have a shower.” He waved one hand toward the door that led to the bathroom and communal shower across the room.
Jake looked at the door, then back to Iceman then turned and went into the bathroom.
“You in here, baby?” he called as he stepped in the door. He could hear water running and assumed she was in the shower. He didn’t want to startle her and have her slip and fall.
“Aaron?”
“Do you think Iceman would let anyone else in here while you’re showering?” He stepped farther into the room and saw her standing under the spray from the center showerhead. She stood facing him, water hitting her back. Her hands were buried in her hair, bubbles over most of her head. She grinned as he stopped and stared, unable to help himself.
“I’m shocked he let you in here.” She waggled her eyebrows at him before turning around and tilting her face up to the shower head.
Jake let his gaze play down her body, taking in every curve and making note of several bruises marring her skin, and wishing he could give those asshole’s matching ones for every single one she wore, but they were already gone, and he couldn’t. Knowing that Hex would make sure Mitch paid in pain for what he’d done to her helped, but he didn’t know if it was enough. He didn’t know if it would ever be enough.
“Was your point in all this just to tease me?” he asked even though she had her back to him and her face under the spray. He couldn’t help but watch the way she moved, the way she wiggled her ass, he was sure without any idea what it did to him. He stayed on the far end of the bathroom, fighting the urge to step into the shower with her. To pull her close and hold her, reassure himself she was there, and she was okay.
“I had no clue you’d come in and interrupt my shower, so how could my point have been to tease you?” she said as she reached for a bottle she’d set nearby dumped some in her hand then worked it through her hair.
“Then why the mid-day shower?”
She twisted around and gave him a look that said without words that she thought he was being stupid.
“I was filthy. I had dirt and rocks in my hair, not to mention smeared all over my face. I can’t believe you put me in bed like that.”
“I was more worried about making sure you were okay than that you were clean. I’m glad to see you’re feeling well enough to give me shit, though. How’s your head?” He wanted to ask more but knew her well enough to know she would only put up with so much hovering and he didn’t want her pissed at him. Not too soon.
“It hurts, but not as bad as before.”
“I was getting ready to bring you something to eat. Does anything sound good?”