I blink in surprise at her request. Definitely not the favor I’d been expecting. “Whatever you need.” I’ve never done that for a woman, and it feels oddly intimidating. And intimate.

  “Thank you so much.” The beaming smile that seems to be coming easier crosses her face. “Can I take a quick shower first and then do it after? Or is your nose hurting too much?”

  I brush off her concern. “It’s fine. Whenever you’re ready.”

  “I won’t be long,” Aurora says and quickly heads down the hallway toward her room.

  While she’s gone, I move the furniture back. Yesterday, she rearranged the couches so they sat closer to the giant gas fireplace built into the wall. I’ve just settled the coffee table in its place when she enters carrying a towel and a couple bright pink bottles.

  She glances around. “Is the kitchen okay? Otherwise, it’ll have to be the bathtub.”

  Since I have no idea what I’m doing, I don’t have an opinion. “Whatever you think is the easiest. You do realize I’ve never done this before, right?” I give her a self-deprecating grin.

  “Wet, lather, rinse, repeat,” she says with a matching one.

  “Smart ass.”

  Aurora’s smile falters for the tiniest flicker of time. It’s as though she’s not sure if I’m angry, but I keep my light-hearted expression focused on her, and she finally chuckles. I follow her into the kitchen. The awkwardness of not having a clue how this will go returns. I can’t tell if she’s experiencing it too. If so, she’s hiding it well, because she happily sets her things on the counter next to the sink before turning to me expectantly. I clear my throat and wipe my hands down my pants.

  “So, how do you want to do this?” I ask.

  “I should probably kneel on a chair. It might be more comfortable than trying to lean that far up on my tip-toes.”

  Before she can move, I cross to the dining room and grab one of them for her. She positions it in front of the sink and climbs up. There’s a long pause and then we both move to turn the faucet on.

  “Sorry.” I pull my hand back. “I’ll let you get the right temperature.”

  “I guess I’m used to Lucia,” Aurora says and then gets the water running. She tests it with a finger a few times until she seems satisfied. “The black lid is the shampoo and the other is conditioner. I use about a quarter size of each.”

  “Quarter. Got it.” I give a perfunctory nod.

  She lays her hand on my arm, and my nerves immediately settle. “I really do appreciate you doing this for me.”

  “I’m happy to.” And I am. There isn’t much I wouldn’t do for her.

  Aurora throws her shoulder-length hair over the top of her head and sticks it under the water. I roll up my shirt sleeves and step closer. The musky scent of my body wash wafts up in the steam. Mixed with it is also Aurora’s own fragrance. It’s a womanly scent that is all her.

  I’ve spent days with her. Every time she enters a room, she brings her flavor with her. I smell it when I sit next to her for meals. I smell it every time she just walks by me. Line her up with a bunch of other women, and I could pick out Aurora. Every single time. I would know the scent of her anywhere.

  That single thought calms me. I gently run my hands through her hair, wetting it completely. She startles slightly at my touch but relaxes. I take my time, enjoying the feel of the wet strands, that even like this seem soft beneath my fingertips. Once I dispense the right amount of shampoo, I start to lather it in. The fragrance is strong and fruity. Not the lemon scent I remember from before, but something new.

  The bubbles grow as I rub more of it into Aurora’s hair, my fingers dragging along her scalp in a light massage. She makes a small sound of pleasure. Images flash of the two of us in a shower. The water cascading down over our wet, slick bodies. My soapy hands palming her breasts from behind before I glide one of them down her belly until it reaches her pussy.

  Behind my zipper, my cock hardens. I will the arousal away, but it’s useless. Everything about Aurora attracted me three years ago, and it still attracts me. It isn’t just her looks. It’s deeper than that. It’s her strength. She’s had to be strong to endure what she has. Her stubbornness. How effortlessly it is just being near her.

  “You can rinse it out now.”

  I glance down. Aurora’s tilted her head enough to look up at me from the side. A tiny bit of shampoo suds clings to her temple. Her cheeks are pink. “Huh? Oh, sorry.” Feeling like an idiot for letting my mind wander, I quickly get all the shampoo out of her hair and then do the same with the conditioner. She blindly reaches out, and I grab the towel.

  “I’ll do it,” I tell her.

  Since my initial awkwardness is slowly melting away, I’m actually enjoying being able to take care of her. There’s an intimacy—a closeness—to this I hadn’t expected. How long has it been since Aurora has had someone look out for her? To see to her needs? Has anyone ever pampered her?

  “Do you have a brush or comb?” I ask once I’ve finished towel-drying her hair.

  She points toward the hall. “In my bathroom.”

  “Go get it.”

  Her glance is questioning, but she does as I say and moments later comes back to the kitchen. I hold out my hand. Aurora hesitates for a second before placing the wide-toothed comb in it. “I can do this, you know?”

  “Let me.” I transfer the comb to my other hand, and for a second time, I reach out with my palm up.

  Her gaze darts from my face to my hand and back. Then she places her small one in mine. I lead her out to the living room where I’d started the fire. Releasing my hold on her briefly, I pull several of the pillows onto the floor in front of the hearth. I prop myself up against the couch and then help Aurora get settled on a pillow between my outstretched legs.

  She casts a shy glance over her shoulder at me. “You really don’t have to do this.”

  Without a word, I gently thumb her chin so she’s facing the fireplace again. I pick up the comb and start pulling it through her hair, taking care with the tangles and not tugging too hard. Slowly, Aurora begins to relax. Her steel straight spine gives some and her tense shoulders loosen. Popping and crackling wood is the only sound. A sense of peace encompasses us.

  The warmth of the fire dries her hair quickly, but I don’t stop. Especially with the soft sighs she releases on occasion. Aurora’s hair shines in the firelight. The strands are like silk threading through my fingertips. The fresh, clean scent of her arouses me.

  I sweep her hair over one shoulder, exposing the creamy flesh. She tilts her head only a fraction, but it’s enough to set me in motion. My lips ghost across the back of Aurora’s neck. She sharply inhales, but then releases it on a soft sigh. I nibble the long line leading down the slope and back up. She leans into me, settling herself against my chest. I continue brushing kisses across her skin, nipping at her heated flesh. Her gasps for breath and the quiet noises she makes in her throat only spur me on.

  My fingers itch to palm her breasts. To glide across her stomach and dip beneath the waistband of her pants to cup her center. My muscles twitch with how much I’m resisting. My gut tells me that will only scare her away. Alessandro Costa is a giant barrier between us. Until he’s removed, things can’t go any further between us. No matter how much either of us wish otherwise.

  Instead, I place a final kiss to her skin before reluctantly dragging myself away. “Thank you for letting me take care of you.”

  Aurora half turns to look back at me. Her eyes are glazed with arousal. She licks her lips, whether intentionally or not, making it that much harder for me to control myself. I refuse to do anything else that I already recognize will cause her a great amount of guilt in the end.

  “I wish he was out of my life,” she says quietly.

  Unable to resist touching her a final time, I palm her cheek.

  “He will be. Soon,” I promise.

  Chapter 31

  Aurora

  * * *

  It’s getting harder and harder to resist Jack. We’ve practiced my self-defense techniques every other day, in which I’m slowly getting better. He’s helped me wash my hair a couple more times, and each time it ends with us sitting in front of the fire while he combs it dry. Which is then followed by lots of kissing.

  This morning, I found myself turning in his arms and straddling his lap. My butt still feels the imprint of his fingers clutching me. A shiver dances over me remembering the hardness of his cock pressed directly against my center. I’m getting divorced from an abusive husband. I shouldn’t feel guilty about anything I’m doing with Jack, yet there’s still the whisper in my ear that it’s wrong.

  I sense he understands how I feel, because he hasn’t pressed for more. I’m grateful, though both of us have been going a bit stir-crazy. I quickly finish putting my hair up and then I’m out of the bathroom and heading into the living room where Jack waits.

  “Ready?” he asks.

  “You still haven’t told me where we’re going.”

  He smiles mischievously. “Then it wouldn’t be a surprise.”

  I’ve never been a fan of surprises. They don’t ever seem to turn out well for me. Jack must see my wariness. He closes the distance between us and clasps my hands in his. “You’ll like this one. I promise.”

  “I’m holding you to that.”

  He raises my arms and presses a kiss across the top of my knuckles. “I’d expect nothing less.”

  We head out the door and to the elevator. I glance back at the shallow pool we crossed over. “It’s still weird walking down a wood-paneled pathway in the middle of water. Inside a building no less. Whose idea was that, anyway?”

  “I’d been told that the architect got the inspiration from a movie he saw. Some billionaire had it outside their penthouse apartment and he thought it was a great idea.”

  “It’s certainly an interesting view to come across when you exit the elevator. I keep expecting to find goldfish swimming around in it, but every time I’m almost disappointed there isn’t.” I can’t help but chuckle.

  “I’ll see what I can do about getting some.”

  My head whips in Jack’s direction. “What? No, that’s crazy.”

  He throws his head back in laughter. “I’m only kidding. It’s far too much upkeep. But it would be fun to see.”

  “I really thought you were serious.” I playfully smack his arm. Oh god, what did I just do? I brace myself.

  “Aurora,” Jack’s voice is soft, but firm.

  I open eyes I hadn’t realized I closed to stare up at him. His expression is stormy. I swallow the pebbles in my throat. The elevator door opens. Jack gestures for me to proceed. I take in a shuddering breath. Neither of us mention what just happened, but there’s a new silence between us. Why did I have to go and ruin things?

  The car ride is uncomfortable. All the easy conversation has dried up that quickly. It’s all my fault. What started out as a fun trip has turned awkward. We drive through a section of town I’m unfamiliar with. Finally, Jack pulls into a parking garage and finds a spot. He shuts off the car and turns toward me.

  “You okay?” he asks.

  I nod shakily. I’m so angry with myself. His gaze studies me a moment longer and then he exits the vehicle. I wait for him to come around to my side. He helps me out and when I move to release my hold on him, Jack grips my hand tighter. Happy for his warmth, I don’t resist. There’s a sharp nip in the air, despite this being one of the warmest days we’ve had this winter so far.

  We step out onto the sidewalk and the sun shines brightly down feeding the illusion that it’s much warmer than it actually is. I tip my head back with my eyes closed and bask in the brightness. After a deep inhale of the cold air, I open my eyes and stare up at Jack who patiently lets me get myself together. Then we proceed forward.

  A few blocks later and my surprise is finally revealed. I cast a quick glance at him to find a half-smile on his face. He opens the door of the guitar store and I nearly run inside. He keeps pace with me as I walk around, admiring every instrument I come across.

  “I thought you might want to get a carrying case and any other equipment you might need. Especially if you’re going to start taking lessons,” he says.

  “Lessons?” I hadn’t really thought that far ahead.

  “If you want to.” He shrugs nonchalantly. “Then you’re already prepared.”

  I don’t know what to say. “Thank you. You don’t have to do this, you know.”

  “Let me spoil you. Please.” Jack gazes down at me with an intense expression.

  “Thank you,” I say again.

  “You’re welcome.”

  We spend the next hour roaming through the shop. The salesperson has kept a safe distance, since Jack growled the first time he approached. I’ve managed to touch almost every guitar in the store. I also manage not to choke at the price tag I found on a few of them. Please don’t tell me Jack spent this much money on mine. A tiny voice tells me he probably did.

  By the time I’ve finished shopping, Jack and I are carrying around a travel case, music stand, several lesson books, and a box of guitar picks. We take my things to the counter. My attention is caught on a flier hanging on the wall. I cross over to it and pause only briefly before ripping off one of the tabs at the bottom containing a phone number. It’s for someone offering lessons. I don’t know that I’ll manage to take them, but I’m feeling optimistic after this.

  “Just in case,” I tell Jack.

  We trek back to the car with purchases in hand and Jack loads everything in the trunk. He turns to me. “Are you hungry?”

  “I could eat.”

  “Good, because I know this great place with fantastic food around the corner. You up for a short walk?” he asks.

  “Sure.”

  Jack slides his hand in mine, the rough abrasion sending the familiar shiver down my spine. He’s always finding ways to touch me, and I soak up every single one of them. From the soft, glancing touches to the arousing intentional ones. Words of caution always whisper in my ear, but I ignore the things.

  A short time later we come to a forest green storefront with brown wooden door. I tilt my head and my eyes catch the sign hanging over it. Donnellys. I cast a questioning glance at Jack.

  “Is this your family’s?”

  He pulls open the door for me. “It is. I told you it was a great place.”

  My gaze stays locked on his for another second before I take a hesitant step inside. He brought me to his family’s restaurant. Does that mean he’s introducing me to them? I’m not sure I’m ready for that. The scent of beer is strong. There’s also a hint of savory in the air.

  The interior is well lit. There’s a darkened wood bar to the right and open spaced seating with several tables scattered about. A wide doorway at the back opens to a larger seating area filled with more tables. Quite a few are occupied and heads turn at our entrance.

  “Jack,” several patrons call out.

  He waves and returns their greeting. A warm hand lands on my lower back. His touch settles the nerves that are fluttering around in my belly.

  “Why don’t we sit at the bar.” He guides me over to it and helps me up onto the high back stool. A familiar man strides up to us.

  “If I would have known you were coming, I would have let you take over back here.” Paddy throws a towel over his shoulder. “Don’t forget, you owe me.”

  Jack sends him a rude gesture. “You don’t have to tell me that every time you see me.”

  Paddy merely grins. “Sure I do. Especially because I know how much it bugs you.”

  “Jackass,” he mumbles under his breath.

  My gaze ping pongs between the two of them in wide-eyed fascination. There’s this weird love/hate dynamic they seem to have. I don’t really know Paddy, but he and Jack are just so different. Then he turns his gaze to me.

  “It’s about time he brought you ‘round,” he says. “Although, I don’t know what someone like you is doing with a sad sap such as my brother here. There are two other Donnellys, one of us far better looking, to choose from.” Then, he winks and walks away.

  I sit, frozen, in shock. What was that all about?

  “Ignore him. He was born an idiot.”

  My lips press together to avoid laughing. Jack sounds so disgruntled. “I hope that means he doesn’t hate me,” I say.

  He turns to me in surprise. “Paddy doesn’t hate you.”

  “I wasn’t sure. He always has this look on his face the few times I’ve seen him. As though he’s not particularly fond of me.”

  Jack cradles the back of my neck. The gesture is so calming. I love when he does it. It should feel dominant. Instead, it makes me feel safe. His eyes bore into mine. “You have nothing to worry about. Everyone who meets you will fall in love with you.”

  My breath catches. I can’t tear my gaze from his. Am I reading more into his words than he means? It’s a casual phrase. One I’m sure I’ve said before. But this? It feels like more. So much more.

  Chapter 32

  Jack

  * * *

  Aurora sits in front of the fire practicing her guitar. I can’t help but grin at the soft curse she lets loose after hitting a wrong note. She doesn’t give up, though. Merely tries correcting herself and keeps going. It seems to embody her whole attitude. She’s trying to pick herself up and carry on.

  Paddy had sent over a list of inventory we were short on, so I’ve been sitting at the kitchen table placing an order. I could have sequestered myself in my office, but I enjoy listening to Aurora. My phone rings, and I drag my gaze away from her. “Hello?”

  “I just received an anonymous email with bank statements showing withdrawals from Alessandro Costa’s account that match deposits made into Casimir Wójcik’s,” Emilio says without preamble. “There are also detailed transactions dating back at least five years, showing payments made into an account of a business previously owned by Mikhail Popov. You don’t happen to know anything about that, do you?”