Page 142

The doctor warned that I can’t do anything strenuous, so joining Nardi in the tub is off the table.
Get it together, Cullen.
I didn’t think I’d lose control this quickly. With this many meds in my system, I thought I’d be completely numb.
“I’m in,” Nardi says quietly.
I turn and see that she’s covered in water. Only her head, bare shoulders, and injured wrist are sticking out.
“I’m going to wash your hair now,” I announce, walking over.
Nardi has her wrist brace balanced on the edge of the tub. She splashes her other arm back and forth in the water.
“Is it warm enough?” I ask, forcing myself to think about her comfort rather than her soft, naked body submerged under the hot water.
“It is.”
I reach for the removable faucet head and rinse her hair until it’s fully wet. Then I rub shampoo into her scalp. Nardi flinches.
“Does it hurt?” I ask.
“No, I just… I’ve never had a man wash my hair before.”
Pleased, I put special care into her scalp massage. “I’ve been curious for a while about something Josiah said.”
Her shoulder muscles relax. “What did he say?”
“That your ex boyfriend is the reason you’ll never get married.”
She pins her lips together, looking uncomfortable.
“He also said your ex is the reason you left Belize and came to America.”
The silence is deafening. Nardi’s mouth is softer than a flower petal and yet it’s her sharpest weapon. She’s always had acomeback for me and the fact that she isn’t using her usual sass now…
“So it’s true,” I say quietly.
“It was a long time ago.”
I pour more shampoo into my hand and massage it into her hair. She makes a pleased little sound and I peep her leg moving above the water. The curves I want so much more than a look at are just within reach.
Keep her talking or you’ll lose it, Cullen.
I clear my throat. “What happened?”
“We don’t have the kind of relationship where we talk about exes,” she mumbles, her body melting into the water.
“Our relationship is close enough that you’re naked in front of me, but you don’t want to talk about your past?”
She considers it. “Taking off your clothes and talking about the past are two different things.”
“In other words, you trust me with your body but not your heart.” I move my massage to the back of her head.
Her neck tilts forward, baring more of her skin to me. “Tell me why you’re pushing Cullen Tech on us now.”
“You’re negotiating.”
“You’re a businessman. You should know a good deal when you see it,” she mutters.