Total pages in book: 55
Estimated words: 50801 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50801 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
“It’s perfect.” Her smile is bright, and she throws her arms around me, hugging me close.
I fold my arms around her back, tucking my chin over her shoulder, relishing the way she fits against me.
“Speaking of,” I say after she pulls away and starts examining the lotions on the cabinet across the room. “You know that trip I mentioned a few weeks ago?”
“Yeah,” she says. “You said you were going to the Maldives, right?” she asks, putting down a bottle of lotion she picked up.
“Yeah, that's right,” I say, nerves tangling in my throat. “I rented a bungalow,” I continue. “It's got a couple rooms. I wanted to know if you…could come with me? It's two weeks from now, so hopefully that's enough time for you to get a week off?”
Monroe laughs, the sound loud and boisterous in the quiet room. “Yes, please sweep me away from the reality of this world to the freaking Maldives.”
My eyes widen slightly, and I tilt my head, looking at her with utter confusion.
Her laughter dies, a crinkle forming between her brows that’s adorable as hell.
“Wait?” she asks. “Are you serious? You're not joking?”
I chuckle softly, running my fingers through my hair and shrugging. “I'm serious.”
“You want go to the Maldives…with me?”
I take a step closer to her. “We’ve traveled together a million times,” I say. “Our moms carted us on family vacations every year. Why wouldn’t I want to go on a trip with you?”
“Yeah,” she says. “That's true…but it was…all of us.” She worries her bottom lip between her teeth.
“Did you not want to go on a trip that’s just the two of us?” I ask, my chest tight.
“No, of course, I want to,” she says, and relief uncoils inside me. “I just…it’s the Maldives. I could easily take the time off,” she continues, then shakes her head. “But Paxton, what about expenses? I have some fun money saved but not bungalow fun money.”
“I've got it covered,” I assure her, wondering why she’d even worry about something like that. “And I don't expect anything in return.”
“I can't take advantage of you like that,” she says.
“Monroe, you're my best friend. I’ve been lucky enough to make a good living from a career I love. If I want to splurge and go on a trip with you, it's okay. If it makes you feel better, you can buy me dinner.”
“The Maldives?” she asks, her eyes lighting up with an excited look.
“The Maldives,” I repeat.
She jumps up and down a little, a squeal escaping her lips as she claps before she throws her arms around me again. I catch her easily, my eyes closing briefly.
“This is going to be so much fun,” she says, pulling away and heading toward the open doorway. “I have to pack. No. I have to find a new swimsuit. Oh my gosh, I haven't been on a trip since we were seventeen and our parents took us to the Grand Canyon. This is going to be so much more fun!” She's speaking in a too-fast rush before she pauses, her smile deepening. “I know how I can repay you.”
“You don’t have—”
“Please?” she cuts me off.
“Fine,” I relent. “How?”
She motions to the table. “Let’s test this out.”
Heat blazes beneath my skin. “What?”
“You get unlimited body work, on me. We could start now. I bet you have some spots that could use some help.”
Fuck me, is the heater on?
“Uh…it’s okay. I feel fine.”
Monroe laughs. “It’s the least I can do,” she offers. “I’ll step out. You get undressed to where you’re comfortable and get under the sheet—”
“You just said your arms were jelly,” I argue. “We can try another time—”
“I’m fine,” she cuts me off. “The idea of a vacation with you has totally revived me. I want to repay you in any way I can. Please? You can be the first client in this amazing space you built.”
Shit, this is a turn I didn’t expect, but I can’t turn her down. Not when she’s looking up at me as hopeful as she is.
“Okay,” I say, my voice sounding scraped raw.
“Great!” She heads to the door. “I’ll be back in a few.”
I look around the room, suddenly feeling lost in it despite the fact that I’d designed it.
Lock it up.
This is Monroe’s profession. I can’t make it uncomfortable just because the thought of her hands on my body has me half hard.
I do my best to think of mathematical equations and ice baths as I strip down to my boxers and slide under the sheet. Damn, the massage table is comfortable. Thank goodness the guy who sold it to me knew what he was talking about.
A soft knock on the door has my entire body tensing, but I give the all clear and Monroe comes in.
“I was just realizing,” she says as she heads to her lotion station. “That I’ve never given you any real body work before. Just quick fixes.”