Page 96 of An Introvert's Guide to Life and Love
He snickers.
Cracking open one eye, I say, “You could charge three hundred bucks an hour for these hands.”
“That much? I should get new business cards.” He massages some more. “Hands for hire.”
“Sounds dirty.”
“Hey, please don’t sully my professional name.” He sits back and I feel his fingers disappear from my hair.
“Don’t stop!”
He grins wickedly—and ridiculously—and I flick water at his face. He grabs my wrist.
“We’re not making a mess in here, young lady.”
I point at my head and he laughs, resuming my head rub. His strong fingers stray down to the nape of my neck and my shoulders,but—other than the fact that he’s massaging me while I’m naked in the bath—he keeps things strictly respectable.
“I just had a brilliant idea,” I say.
“Do tell.”
“Baseball games happen all the time, right? Like every day?”
“Pretty much.”
“I could take Gramps to a Rays game before I leave. Cheer him up a bit. He said he hasn’t been to a game in decades.”
“I bet he’d enjoy that.”
There’s a pause as Daniel shifts his position to massage my forearms and hands. Screw three hundred—this man deserves five hundred an hour.
“You know, the Rays stadium is pretty big. It might help to go with someone who’s familiar with it.”
I turn to raise an eyebrow at him.
“Are you saying you want to come hang out with me and Gramps?”
“Mallory, please.” He gives me a look, like he’s about to say something likeOf course I want to spend more time with you, and my heart speeds up, but then he says, “I’ll take any excuse to go to a Rays game.”
I laugh. “That would be great. I mean, I barely know one end of the baseball bat from the other. I’m sure Gramps would appreciate having someone there who knows what’s going on.”
“It’s a deal.” The dryer buzzes, and Daniel hands me the towel. “I’ll let you dry off. Come through to the living room when you’re done.”
I do as he says. My shorts and tank top are nice and toasty. Daniel’s sitting on the couch, but he stands and hands me a glass of water.
“Thanks.”
He motions for me to sit, taking a seat beside me.
I sip my water, my damp hair against my neck a potent reminder of what just happened in the bathroom.Daniel washed my hair.A hot flush creeps up my chest and neck.
We settle back against the couch, leaving a full foot of space between us. I stare around his place, my curiosity getting the better of me. It’s so minimalist chic.
“You didn’t have a professional designer do this, did you?”
He lets out a surprised laugh. “Flattered. But no.”
“Well, I can tell you have an eye for this kind of thing.”
