Page 43 of Red Flag
Meditate.
I got into my bikini in the luxury changing rooms, rinsed myself in the shower and wrapped my towel around me, only to be met by Frank in the corridor, dripping with water in his swimming trunks. Girls swooned, screamed and waved whenever he was around.
Yet all I wanted to do was sneak past him.
“Livie,” he said with a smile, leaning back against the walloutside of the sauna, the handle only inches from where I stood. His eyes flickered over me before he caught himself with a startled blink. “Didn’t know you were back.”
“Only last night,” I said, holding the towel tight. “Jet-lag’sa bitch, though.”
“Indeed she is,” he agreed and looked over his shoulder back to the spa. “I thought I was done, but… if you’re going to stick around, I wouldn’t say no to some time in a hot tub.”
I laughed and shook my head. “More of a sauna girl, myself.”
He screwed up his nose. “Not for me. If you ever want some bubbles, though, let me know.”
I smiled weakly as he left. I’d have to shut that down at some point instead of taking the easy option of nodding along.
The sauna windows were covered in condensation, so I didn’t see who was in the little wooden room until the heat hit me.
Two other riders whom I had met but couldn’t recall their names and one of the managers. And NixonArmas.
Bearded. Damn it, I couldn’t tell if I preferred him with or without it.
There was very little space with all of the sweaty bodies, but Nix threw a thumb over his shoulder. “Room on the back bench.”
So I climbed up to sit behind him, checking the placement of my towel and that my legs didn’t touch his back.
I eyed the sand timer. They only had a couple of minutes left. I could handle that.
The three men continued their conversation in Spanish. Nixon’s head fell back, resting beside where I sat on the bench, eyes closed. My fingers were so close I could easily run myhands through his hair.
He didn’t contribute anything other than a grunt or a thoughtful hum, and only when I caught the others saying his name. His hums just drew my attention to his Adam’s apple, clearly jutting out from his thick pillar of a neck.
I crossed my knees, trying to stare straight ahead.
Eventually, the timer ran out, and the men got up and left. I shuffled in my seat, expecting Nix to move away.
He didn’t.
“Not a fan of bubbles?” he asked, eyes still closed. “Why are you lying to him, Livid?”
I gritted my teeth.
“You waiting for him to pull out the big guns? Michelin restaurant, champagne, flowers?”
“No.”
“Then what are you waiting for? You love the hot tub.”
I frowned. True, but how did he know that? I’d never been in one with him.
He rose a brow, waiting for me to answer.
What did he expect me to say? I wasn’t above using someone to make another jealous? I was suddenly uninterested in every man other than him anddespisingmyself for it?
“I came down here to sweat.”
A slow smirk spread across his face. “You’re in the right place for that,” he laughed and opened his eyes to look directly up at me. “I’m willing to help, of course.”
