Page 32 of Power Play Pursuit

I pause, taking in the sight of him holding my vitamin C serum in one hand and the retinol serum in the other, and a laugh bursts out of me. Never in a million years would I have ever thought I’d be in James Adler’s apartment as he rifles through my beauty stuff.

“Just the right number,” I shoot back, a smile still teasing my lips. “That’s enough inventory for one night. Let’s get you to bed.”

“Yes, please,” he says, standing up with a smirk. “By the way, I didn’t know the private nurse gig was your thing. I’m into it.”

I roll my eyes. “You wish. I’m only here because you need a babysitter. And since I’m respons—”

He tuts, cutting me off, and I smile.

“Fine, since I’msomewhatresponsible for what happened, it works.”

“Right. Let me show you around first, and then we can get me to bed,” he says with a wink.

His apartment has the same layoutas Aaron’s, although a bit bigger. He has four bedrooms while Aaron has three, plus two full bathrooms. Everything is nicely decorated and smells like clean linens and vanilla.

“You’re really into diffusers and candles, aren’t you?” I muse, spotting more.

“Oh, yeah. Nothing worse than the stench of hockey gear,” he says. “Even though I don’t really bring it home anymore, I kept that habit.”

“I like it.” I pick up a cotton-scented candle, then set it down.

“Here’s my room,” he says once we reach the end of the hallway. It’s the biggest of the four, and I’m pretty sure I spot an en suite closet and bathroom. “Maybe we should sleep in the same bed. You know, just to be cautious.”

I burst out a laugh, partly because I know he’s just playing, but also because I’m glad to see him back to his old self. “Not gonna happen. But I’ll set my alarm to check on you.”

He studies me for a second, then a small smile appears on his lips. “Take whichever room you prefer,” he says before retreating into his own room and shedding the jacket of his tracksuit.

I quickly avert my gaze. “Okay, thanks.” I grab his medication from my bag, placing it on his nightstand. “The doctor said you can take two of those if you wake up feeling pain, okay? I’ll go grab you a glass of water.”

“I can do it,” he says. “I can still walk, you know.”

“I know you can,” I say with a smile. “But I’m dying to take another look at that kitchen.”

He rumbles out a laugh. “Right. I forgot I was hosting the best pastry chef in town.”

I step back into the hallway and let out a small sigh when I see his glorious kitchen again. I run my hand along the cold white marble, and my eyes widen when I glimpse the state-of-the-art oven. Wow. This is beyond incredible. After opening a few cupboards, I finally find a glass and fill it with water from the dispenser on the fridge.

“So, what’s the verdict?” he asks when I come back. He’s sitting on the edge of his bed, his shirt off, and I almost drop the glass.

“Um.” I avert my gaze. “It’s amazing. Do you love to cook or something?” Please say no, or I might combust into a pile of ash on the ground.

“No,” he says, a hint of amusement in his tone.

Thank heavens.

“But my grandma used to bake, and she taught me a few tricks. The apartment came furnished with that cool kitchen. Maybe you can make use of it.”

A thrill courses through me. “Are you kidding? I’d love to.”

One corner of his lips tilts into a crooked smile. “Perfect.”

“Well, I’ll let you get some sleep,” I say, carefully placing the glass on the nightstand. “I’ll check up on you during the night, but if you need anything or don’t feel good, call for me, okay? I’ll leave my door open.”

He nods, and my eyes fall to his perfect chest. Darn it, why am I looking? Probably to see whether that commercial was a lie. Unfortunately, with the way he’s sitting, I can’t really check out his abs.

“Thanks, Elizabeth. For being here. I really appreciate it.”

A smile tugs at my lips. “I’m happy to. Sleep tight.”

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