Page 25 of Hiding for the Holidays
I shake my head as Asher pulls my shirt back down and helps me stand. “No, they’re old bruises.”
“Not that old,” Asher mumbles as he reaches out to wipe my tears away. He frowns, turning his thumb to look at it, then his eyes move back to my face. “Come with me,” he says, grabbing my hand and leading me towards the back.
My wide eyes meet Leo’s over my shoulder, and he shrugs as he and Grant follow us into the staff room.
Asher grabs my hips and lifts me onto the counter, the same was he did after I cut my hand. “Let me clean you up,” he says, grabbing some paper towels and wetting them as he wipes my face.
I kinda feel like a little kid getting her face cleaned by a parent, but it actually feels really nice to be taken care of for a change. I know my eyes are probably a little red from crying, and the coolness of the water feels nice on my skin.
“Close your eyes,” he commands. I do as he says, and he uses one hand to hold the back of my head still while he carefully wipes down my entire face, my forehead, over my eyes, and even my neck. I take a deep breath as I start to relax.
“Clara…” Grant says, sounding as if he’s in pain. I open my eyes and see them all staring at me with varying degrees of pain and anger.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, my fingers flying to my cheeks as if I’ll feel something there. I glance down at the paper towel Asher is holding and see it’s covered in a light brown color. That’s when it clicks,my concealer.
I gasp, my hands shooting up to cover my face entirely as I wait for their reaction.
Fingers gently curl around mine as someone pulls my hands away from my face.
Grant’s forefinger and thumb move to mychin as he tilts my head to get a better look at my eye. “Sweetheart, who did this to you?”
I clench my jaw, still clinging to this fake reality where my name isn’t Rosalie, and the man who was supposed to love me did not abuse me.
“Please tell us. I need to know you’re not in any danger.”
I swallow heavily. “My ex.”
His eyes narrow in anger, but it’s Leo who asks, “Does he live in Silent Pines?” I shake my head.
“Do you live alone?” Asher asks, and I nod.
“Come live with us,” Grant says, making my eyes widen in surprise.
“What?”
He drops his hand to my thigh as he speaks. “We have a spare room at our house. You’d be safe there.”
“I can’t,” I shake my head.
“Why not?” Leo asks, crossing his arms over his chest in agitation.
“You’re my bosses, and I barely know you. It’d be weird.”
“We won’t take advantage of the situation, if that’s what you’re worried about,” Grant says with a frown.
I jump down off the counter and shake my head. “Thank you for the offer. I appreciate it, but I can’t.” I move to my locker to find my concealer then lock myself in the bathroom to reapply it. The bruises don’t look that bad anymore, but they are clearly visible, especially when you’re looking up close.
I think about their offer to live with them. It honestly sounds like a dream come true. Living with three ex-military men as I try to stay hidden from my crazy ex? But I wasn’t lying; living with my bosses would be strange. Not to mention my attraction to all three of them was growing off the charts, and I worry about being near them all, twenty-four seven.
It was hard enough to keep my hormones in check when wewere working together. Seeing them sprawled out on a couch in grey sweats and tight t-shirts would be too tempting.
When I come out of the washroom, Asher’s waiting for me. “Here’s your pay for today,” he says, handing me an envelope, which I take and shove in my bag. “You ready to go? It’s after five.”
I’m thankful he’s not mentioning anything about my bruises or my ex, and I nod, throwing on my denim jacket and shouldering my bag as he does the same.
When we reach the parking lot, he puts his helmet on me, just like last time, then climbs on his bike and motions for me to climb on behind him.
The ride is even more enjoyable than the first time now that I know what to expect. But the vibrations of the bike between my legs don’t help my trying to dial back my attraction to this man. Several times I have to physically stop my hands from wandering down his body.
