Page 56 of Try Me

First Shower

Pearl

Pearl watchedDeclan’s back as he soaked the dishes in the sink. She could see his reflection in the window. His mouth was a thin line, and his jaw flexed. The silence filling the cabin buzzed with tension.

She swore he’d been about to kiss her when something had made him reconsider.

If he had leaned in and pressed his lips to hers, the game would be over.

Two days ago, she’d thought she’d be able to pull off a fake relationship with Declan Bishop. But forty-eight hours and three kisses later, Pearl had to admit that she’d underestimated the world champion surfer’s appeal.

He was the sexiest man she’d ever known. Her attraction to Declan was not going away. The opposite was happening. The longer she was around him, the more she wanted him. She could hardly remember why she couldn’t have him.

Her career, she reminded herself. She didn’t want to repeat her mother’s mistake of letting a man wreck her life. Not even a man like Declan with a perfect ass and a face carved by angels.

He turned around to find her staring at him. He raised an eyebrow, and for a moment Pearl thought he could read her mind. Then he raked a hand through his hair and stomped across the room to his bag. After rummaging through the contents, he came up with a small package wrapped in pink paper.

“You can have first shower,” he said, tossing her the package.

“You swiped this from the hotel?” Pearl asked, looking down at the square of soap. “Wow. I’m impressed.” Pearl tossed the soap back to Declan, hitting him in the chest. “You go first.”

“You sure?” he asked.

“Yeah,” she said. “Make sure there aren’t any more roaches.”

He laughed. “Okay,” he said.

“Go,” she said, gesturing toward the door.

Declan grabbed a towel from the closet and headed outside.

Pearl busied herself tidying the small space, but it didn’t take long. She put away the dishes, wiped off the counter, and found linens for the single bed. After she made the bed, she sat down on the coverlet and put her head in her hands. After their showers, they would bunk down for the night.

She ran her hand over the thin mattress, picturing Declan stretched out on it wearing nothing but a smile. Maybe he could forget she’d been hired to date him for one night. One night wouldn’t ruin anything. One night would be…

Her thoughts trailed off as she glanced out the window and saw an unobstructed view of Declan standing naked under the hose.

Pearl gasped as he ducked his head under the water. Naked, he was even more glorious than she had imagined. She knew she should turn away, but she couldn’t force herself to stop looking. She crept closer to the window, watching as he soaped his hair. His body was more perfect than an anatomy model.

He tilted his chin to rinse his hair, then turned.

Pearl’s knees went weak, and despite her best intentions, her eyes dropped between his legs. His thighs were powerfully built, and between them he was impressively big and thick, and unmistakably turned on.

Pearl clapped a hand over her eyes and leaned her back against the wall. Reciting the names of the muscle groups to distract herself, she squeezed her eyes shut.

Rectus femoris. Vastus lateralis. Vastus medialis. Vastus interomedialis. Oh my.

She peeked back out the window. Her eyes followed the trail of flaxen hair at Declan’s navel up and over his chest.

Rectus abdominis. Pectoralis major.Oh, my.

Pearl reached for the curtain and snatched it closed before her eyes could stray back down between Declan’s legs again. It took several more deep breaths and a recitation of the major muscle groups to get her heart rate under control. Her face was still flushed when she heard the door creaking open.

Declan breezed through the cabin, whistling “Love Me Tender.” Dressed in a T-shirt and shorts, he smelled of mango soap.

“It’s all yours,” he said, rubbing a towel over his wet hair. “It’s cold, but it’s worth it.”

It hadn’t looked cold. It had looked hot. Sizzling hot.

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