Page 21 of The Love Audit
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” He wrapped his large hands around my feet and began to knead the sore spots. The relief wasinstantaneous, making me let out an involuntary shiver. I leaned back into the couch, closing my eyes as the tension melted away.
“Hey, Jasmine.” Derek’s voice broke through the bliss.
“Yeah?” I murmured, not bothering to open my eyes.
“Do you smell corn chips?” His tone was serious, but I knew he was wearing that signature smirk. My eyes snapped open, and I bolted upright, trying to pull my feet away.
“I’m just playing with you, girl. Relax.” He laughed as he held on to my ankles. I shot him a glare before leaning back into the couch. This massage felt too good to give up over his antics.
“How does it feel?” he asked, his voice softer now. “Too much pressure? Not enough?”
“It’s perfect,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. “How did you get so good at this?”
“Do you really want to know?”
“Probably not.”
“My mom.”
“Auntie Janet?” The words slipped out reflexively, and for a moment, it felt strange to call her that after all these years.
“You remember how much she loves charity events and galas and blah blah blah…”
“Mm-hmm…” I murmured, already knowing where this was going.
“Well, I used to give her foot rubs when I was little.”
“Still a mama’s boy, huh?”
“Should I stop massaging your feet?”
“No,” I said quickly, making him laugh.
He moved on to my toes, massaging until I could feel the circulation returning. It was pure heaven.
“So how cool are the Pikes?”
“So cool,” I agreed. “They might be my new favorite people. I can’t remember having that much fun in a long time.”
“Yeah,” he mused. “Me, too.”
“Your ring was a big hit in the kitchen.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Oh, yes. All the ladies were oohing and aahing over it. I felt like Meghan Markle.”
“Would that make me Prince Harry?”
“With a tan,” I quipped, making him laugh. “How did you know my ring size?”
“The ring I bought you for your sixteenth birthday.”
“What? How did you remember that?”
“I’ve got a mind like a steel trap. That’s why I get paid the big bucks.”
Not for long, I thought, but I kept the thought to myself. I didn’t want to ruin the mood or my massage.
