Page 78 of The Deputy's Secret Double

He palmed his phone on the nightstand, hoping there were no security alerts that he had somehow slept through, but heard an explanation for the lack of JJ.

He heard water sloshing from the bedroom’s attached bathroom and let out a breath of relief.

Then he got to smiling again.

Price rolled out of bed and went to knock on the bathroom door.

“Yeah?” JJ called.

“Can I come in?” he asked, hand already on the doorknob. He waited though as she took a beat to respond.

“Um, sure.”

The bathroom was full of steam. The bathtub was full of JJ and bubbles.

Price eyed both with a grin.

JJ’s face was already flushed from the heat, but he thought he might have seen it turn a deeper shade of red. She collected an island of bubbles and pulled them closer to her chest.

“I know we showered last night but, well, I felt like I needed this too.”

Price laughed and put his hands up in defense.

“Hey, I’m not judging your need to soak. In fact, the idea doesn’t sound half bad…”

He nodded to the spot opposite her.

She shook her head but laughed.

“I don’t think so, sir. You’re just going to have to wait your turn. I’m a one-person bath kind of woman. Especially when this woman is in desperate need of Icy Hot on several places.” That blush seemed to flare to life again. She lowered her voice a little. “Plus, I’m not pushing my luck with Winnie being around. I don’t know about you, but I’m not that eager to scar a teenager like that.”

Price laughed.

“I guess you’re not wrong there,” he said. “Can I at least chat with you while you soak?”

JJ looked surprised.

“Chat with me?”

“Yeah. Like you said, I like talking. I especially like talking to you. Can I sit?”

That surprise was still there but she nodded.

“Just don’t try any funny business. This is a casual, platonic soak.”

Price pulled his towel off of the rack and folded it into a seat next to her on the tile. It made him a good height to lean his elbow on the lip of the tub. He put his head on his hand and stared across the water at said casual, platonic soaker.

JJ rolled her eyes.

“Maybe saying yes was a bad idea,” she commented.

Price shrugged.

“I’m just admiring the view, is all. Can’t blame a guy for that.”

Where he thought she might complain once more, JJ simply rolled her eyes again. A small smile played at her lips though.

It was nice to see her like this.