Page 17 of You, Me, & Après-Ski
Crap on a catapult.This was entirely too romantic for my liking. Dozens of thick candles of varying sizes bordered the large space, and an abstract mural dominated the far wall in sweeping strokes of cream, onyx, and ruby. Two massage tables stood in the center of the room flanked by folding screens for privacy. The calming scent of eucalyptus from the lobby had vanished, replaced by the sultry aroma of warm vanilla.
I’m on a couples massage with Nolan Keller. Dios, save me.
Shoving my hands in my pockets to keep from biting my nails or, I don’t know, pulling out my hair, I eyed the massage table. “Er, this really isn’t necessary,” I said. “Apology accepted.”
A smile cracked Nolan’s stony exterior—the first real smile I’d seen from him—and my breath clogged in my throat. If a grumpy Nolan Keller got my heart fluttering, asmilingNolan Keller sent me into cardiac arrest.
“You seem like you could use an hour of relaxation. You work very hard, Val. Try to enjoy yourself.” Loosening his tie in a move that had me feeling hot and cold all over, he headed behind the screen to change.
I gulped and went to the opposite side, then removed my clothes and bra with quaking hands, leaving only my panties. I tried not to think about everything he was or wasn’t taking off over there. Wrapping myself in one of the warm towels on the bench, I padded out to the table. The floor must have been heated, as the stone felt toasty under my frigid feet.
Nolan walked out at the same time and I nearly fumbled my towel. The man belonged in a freaking museum. My eyes traced every inch of his taut abdomen down to the muscles forming a perfect V at his hips, wrapped in a towel, and back up to the chiseled expanse of his chest before I finally gained the courage to look him in the eyes. I anticipated his smirk, but instead, his gaze held a heat that dripped down my neck, over my arms, snagging on my half-sleeve tattoo. I clapped a hand over it. Him looking atthatfelt all too intimate, and I was grateful for the dim lighting to hide whatever emotions were surely written across my face.
I opened my mouth but thought better of it because I didn’t know what would come out. Probably something snarky or silly, and I didn’t want to be either of those right now. Heart galloping in my chest, I maneuvered myself onto the table, draping my towel like a blanket.
Nolan remained silent as he lay face up on the table beside me. For a wild second, my fingers ached to reach out for him. Instead, I slid them under my thighs to prevent them from making any traitorous moves in his direction. I was here to do my job. Nolan was my boss and absolutely nothing more than that.
“Doing okay?” Nolan’s deep voice, slicing through my internal monologue.
Thankfully, our massage therapists entered and saved me from having to answer—a man and a woman, both around my age. The man approached my table and the woman went to Nolan. “I’m Vipul and that’s Rose. If you need anything or if the room gets too cold, just let us know.”
Nolan propped himself up on an elbow like he wanted to say something, but Vipul had already started kneading my shoulders, and I stopped noticing anything else but the man’s expert hands. A sound that could only be described as a deflating elephant escaped me, and I clappeda hand over my mouth, cheeks flaming. I looked up to see Vipul’s demure smile. “I’m so sorry,” I murmured. “This is my first massage.”
“It’s all right,” he said. “Is it okay if I lift the towel and place the stones on your abdomen?” I glanced at Nolan. He had his eyes closed as Rose placed the stones on his chest, but his forearm flexed as he squeezed his hand into a fist. I nodded to Vipul and he placed hot black stones of varying sizes down my middle, his fingers continuing to work their magic on my perpetual shoulder knots. While it was painful at times, it was not unpleasant.
“I’ll ask you to flip to your stomach now.” Vipul held the towel aloft for me as I quickly turned over. I stuck my face in the weird toilet seat cushion thing and for the rest of the hour, I blocked Nolan out of my mind, reveling in the feel of the hot stones melting away the tension. As the soft sounds of waves crashed in the spa’s soundtrack, I focused on my breathing and entered into a serene trance. It was impossiblenotto relax as Vipul swept his hands up and down my back. I might have dozed off for a minute or two, because before I knew it, the hour was up.
“Thank you both,” said Rose. “You’re the last to use the room for the day, so feel free to take your time getting ready.”
Rose and Vipul left and I remained facedown on the table, afraid to move. After a count of ten, I propped up on my elbows.Oh jeez.Nolan sat on the table, facing me in all his Greek god glory. He was close, so close. His naked chest glowed with the remnants of the massage oil, his brown hair tinged with gold in the candlelight. Grabbing my towel, I sat up fully, if only to get a better grip on my sanity.
“Do you think Cressida will like the massage?” I asked.
“Yes, I think she will.” A muscle in Nolan’s cheek flared in warning. “Youmoaned, so I’m assuming Vipul was good at his job.”
A laugh escaped me before I could stifle it. “Nolan Keller, do I detect a hint of jealousy? If you wanted Vipul instead, all you had to do was ask.”
“What’s there to be jealous of?”
The statement would have been more convincing had he not ground his teeth into oblivion before answering. His eyes trailed up my exposed legs and rested where the towel parted at my upper thigh, and a deepneedpulsed between my legs. But even as he turned me on, he pissed me off. Because his words were true—what did he have to be jealous of? He had no right, and yet his actions told a different story. It was confusing and unnecessary, and I was done letting him have such an effect on me.
Before the accident with Antonella, I would stuff those kinds of feelings away. Bury them deep. Avoid rocking the boat or upsetting anyone. I’d done that for years, and it resulted in one of the worst days of my life. Even though I was working on reclaiming my power, part of me always defaulted to the habits of that scared, compliant girl.
But not today.
“No.I will not let you ruin my zen moment,” I said. “This is the first I’ve felt at peace since you graced us with your kingly presence. Thank you for inviting me. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Nolan’s jaw set in a hard edge and I left him sitting there as I retreated behind my privacy screen. I dressed and exited the room in ten seconds flat, keeping my head down so I didn’t catch another glimpse of his perfect body and utterly lose my mind. I refused to dwell on his strange behavior and territorial attitude. None of it made sense. He wasengaged. Unavailable.
So why did it feel like he wanted me?
I shook my head. That couldn’t be right. It had to be something else. Or I had to be misinterpreting. Because whatever it was, it surely could not be thatNolan Kellerwas attracted to me.
Chapter 9
NOLAN
Afterthemassagefiascoyesterday, I’d blown off Val’s plans for today under the guise of work. I did have work—but I also had an appointment with Phil, the head of security.
