At first, I think she’s laughing. Because, yeah, this whole situation is pretty crazy. I chuckle too, not caring that my clothes are drenched and I’m standing in a puddle of water the size of Canyon Lake.
I lean back toward the door and peer through her dimly lit room and into the dark hallway beyond. As loud as Tori was a few minutes ago, I think the sound machines in the kids’ rooms probably kept them asleep.
After closing the bathroom door with one hand, I caress her wet hair. It’s only then that I realize she’s not laughing.
She’s crying.
My heart seizes at the panic in her eyes and the fear fluttering her pulse at the base of her throat.
“Darlin’? Hey, it’s okay.” She’s shivering so hard, her teeth chatter.
Worse, though? She doesn’t respond. Just trembles in my arms and sniffles.
My eyes dart around the bathroom and stop on the robe tucked through a towel rod. Grabbing it with one arm, I shake it out and drape it over her slender shoulders before I set her on the edge of the counter. When I realize how threadbare the robe is, I snatch a thick towel and wrap her in it before I tuck her icy-cold body to me.
It’s a long, quiet minute before she says anything. “I’m so sorr-rr-rry.”
“No need to apologize,” I mutter softly in her ear, but the fear in her voice is still so stark, I realize I’d do anything to make her feel better.
With a gentle touch, I run my hand along her back. “It’s not every day a beautiful woman in distress needs me to rescue her. I like to think I bring my A-game. Ethan Carter at your service, ma’am. Rascally vermin are my specialty.”
That earns me a laugh, and I smile against the silky, wet skin of her neck.
I reckon a lot of people have phobias. My brother loses his shit any time a snake slithers around here. But I don’t tell her that because I’m not sure if her fear extends to all creepy-crawlies or just the arachnid variety, and I’d rather not point out the wide assortment of pests native to South Texas.
Anyway, it’s no hardship to hold her right now, so I can’t complain.
“I’m still sorry I freaked out there.” She sniffles and snuggles closer. “Thanks for not dropping me.”
“I would never drop you.”
Burrowing against me, she shakes her head. “I had a bad experience as a kid with spiders.”
“I’m sorry, honey. What happened? I mean, if you want to talk about it. You don’t have to.”
“It’s so stupid.”
“I’m sure it’s not, babe. Trauma that happens to you when you’re a kid can stick with you long after the scars on your skin have faded.”
She sinks into me and sighs. “I was playing with my neighbor. Her older sister babysat us while my grandmother worked, and I made the mistake of hiding in the shed along the back of the property. My friend must’ve gotten bored and stopped playing, so she didn’t hear me yell. Didn’t know I had gotten stuck and couldn’t get out.” Her voice is nearly a whisper when she says, “There must’ve been dozens of spiders in there, crawling all over me. I had bites everywhere when they finally found me late that night.”
“Oh, shit. That had to be terrifying.”
“I had nightmares for years. But the part that always crushed my stupid little heart was how embarrassed I was.”
“Why were you embarrassed?”
Groaning, she shakes her head. “I felt so forgotten. My friend forgot me. Her sister didn’t care that I had taken off. My grandmother didn’t realize I wasn’t at the neighbors’ until several hours later, so she didn’t know to look for me.”
That would hurt any kid. “Where were your parents?”
Shrugging, she gives me a sad smile. “Not sure. They traveled a lot when I was young. They were migrant workers. So I’d stay with my grandmother for months at a time.”
“What about your sister?”
“I’m guessing with my parents. I was probably around Mila’s age, so I don’t remember all the details. Just being trapped and bitten and freaked out.”
The thought of my daughter being in a similar situation nearly steals my breath. A confusing mix of rage and helplessness swirls in my gut, making me wonder what I’d do if that ever happened to Mila or Cody.
Fuck, I’d wanna kill someone.
I squeeze her tighter. “I’m so sorry that happened to you, sweetness. That I couldn’t be there for you.”
Another sniffle escapes her. “Pretty sure if we’d been friends when we were kids, I’d have made you eat mud pies, so count yourself lucky.”
And I’m pretty sure if I’d known a young Tori, I’d have been smitten from the get-go. “I love a woman who doesn’t mind getting dirty.” I give her my most charming smile with an innocent bat of my eyelashes.
“Lord, look at you.” She presses her hand against my whole face and laughs. “You’re too pretty to do that to a girl, Ethan.”
Snatching her off the counter, I pretend to gobble her neck. It’s the kind of thing I do with my kids. Tori’s laughing and flailing, except this time it’s because she’s having fun.
Her towel and robe are sliding off, but I don’t care. I’m not gonna steal a peek. Just want her to forget the bad stuff that happened when she was young.
“Baby, we gotta rinse you off.”
In the mirror behind us, glops of shampoo and bubbles glisten in her dark strands.
“No, no, I’m fine.” Her whole body stiffens as she shakes her head vehemently. “I can’t… I can’t get back in there tonight.”
I set her back down on the counter. “Hey.” I tilt her chin up and wait for her to look into my eyes. “First off, I’m not gonna make you do anything you don’t want. Ever.”
I caress her soft cheek with the pad of my thumb, and she relaxes in my arms and nods.
“Secondly, you have shampoo dripping down your hair, and you feel like a block of ice. While I’m more than happy to rinse out your hair in the sink, I think a hot shower would do you a world of good right now.”
She gives me an owlish blink before her eyes slide over to glare suspiciously at the stall as though an army of spiders might come marching out.
“Do you want to use my shower? I can make sure the coast is clear before you jump in, and tomorrow I’ll call an exterminator to inspect the house, just to be on the safe side.”
I’d normally think that’s a crazy length to go for one spider, but if it gives her peace of mind, I’ll do it. After hearing that story, I’d do anything to help her feel safe.
With another groan, she presses her damp forehead to my chest. “Gah! I feel like such a freak right now.” Her words get muffled by my t-shirt.
“If it makes you feel any better, Logan once dated this girl who got so hammered, as she leaned out of his car to puke, she peed in his passenger seat. Now, have you ever peed in someone’s car while hurling chunks all over the sidewalk?”
A snort of laughter makes her shoulders shake, and she peers up at me with a huge smile.
“See. I thought not. So in the big scheme of things, I’d much rather deal with my gorgeous, naked woman leaping into my arms, than the aftermath of Logan’s date.”
Her smile turns shy, the vulnerability in those golden-honey eyes piercing something inside me. “Ethan?” She nibbles her bottom lip. “Am I your woman?”
I hadn’t meant to convey so much just now, except it feels wrong to hide my feelings from her.
Suddenly, all that resolve to take things slow, to figure out what the hell is going on with my life before committing to this pull between me and Tori, seems foolish. Because have I ever wanted anyone more than I want her? As a friend or a lover? Never. How she’s engrained herself in my life in such a short time is a mystery to me, but I’m grateful nonetheless. I’m a dumbass for not seizing this chance with her sooner.
“Darlin’.” I press my mouth gently to hers, tasting her minty warm breath. “I’d love nothing more.”
