by Laura Taylor
* * *
Emma settled into a huge bathtub filled with fragrant hot water fifteen minutes later. At first, she simply soaked her battered body, savoring both the heat of the water and the scent of the lavender bath salts that Mary favored. Soon, though, she began to scrub the accumulated filth of three hellish weeks from her flesh. Next, she washed her waist-length hair twice, drained the tub, and then stood under the showerhead to rinse away the last of the soap and shampoo.
She wrapped her wet hair in a towel, using a second one to dry herself before she borrowed an ankle-length bathrobe Mary had left hanging on the back of the door. After brushing her teeth, she smoothed moisturizing lotion into her skin. Her thoughts then shifted to David and what he might need. She set out a stack of fresh towels, a plastic-wrapped toothbrush and tube of toothpaste, a disposable razor and manicure scissors, and a bar of unscented soap for him.
In Mary’s guest bedroom, she retrieved the extra-large, terrycloth bathrobe that she remembered from a previous visit. For David’s sake, she was glad Mary’s brother had left it hanging in the closet. She placed the folded robe atop the bathroom countertop. After starting a bath for him, she padded barefoot into the living room, feeling cleaner than she had in more weeks than she cared to count.
She found him standing with his back to her at the heavily draped front window. A platter piled high with all manner of finger food and canned fruit sat on the coffee table, along with additional bottles of water, napkins, plates, and utensils.
Emma snagged a banana, peeled it, and took a bite while David continued to scan the front gate and interior courtyard garden of Mary’s house through a narrow gap between the drape and window frame.
“Is anyone out there?” she finally asked.
He stiffened, his tension evidenced in the rigid set of his broad shoulders and the stiffness of his spine.
“It’s just me, David.”
Exhaling a hard gust of air, he turned to face her.
“I didn’t mean to startle you … ” she began.
He waved off her apology. His heated gaze raked over her with a masculine thoroughness that very nearly off-balanced Emma. She felt naked, despite being clothed from throat to ankles.
“My God …” He broke off, looking stunned and confused as he stared at her.
“What’s wrong?” she whispered.
“Nothing’s wrong. I just didn’t expect … I mean, you’re …” He paused a second time.
“I’m not sure what you mean.” She felt unnerved, and she didn’t try to pretend otherwise.
“You’re …” Yet again, he seemed unable to complete the thought.
“I’m what, David?”
He heard the edge that had crept into her voice, and it seemed to shake something loose inside him. “Christ, I’m sorry. I knew you were beautiful, but you’re not just beautiful … you’re exquisite.”
She relaxed and flashed a lopsided grin at him. “Thank you.”
“I mean it, Emma.” He frowned. “What haven’t you told me about yourself?”
She shrugged. Unwilling to meet his gaze, she popped the last bite of the banana into her mouth and set aside the skin. She finished chewing and swallowed before she answered his question. “Not too much. You really do know all of the important stuff.”
“Not all of it, obviously. Talk,” he ordered. “Now.”
She sighed. “If you insist.”
“I insist.”
“There were a few other reasons I had to give up gymnastics,” she conceded.
David broke in. “Let me guess … too tall and over the top curves in all the right places.”
She nodded. “I started getting injured. My legs were too long, and I just couldn’t handle the equipment any longer. It’s not exactly designed for a giraffe.”
“A gazelle,” he corrected. “An elegant, long-limbed, sexy as all hell, knock-out of a gazelle.” He gave her a questioning look. “You could model for Victoria Secret.”
“No, that would be my cousin, Gabriela, although I was the first runner-up in the Miss World competition when I was eighteen. After all of that insanity finally ended, I enrolled in college and didn’t look back. That, Major Winslow, is my story, and I’m sticking to it.”
“Holy fuck, woman!” The words burst out of him. He couldn’t stop them.
Emma laughed so hard, her knees almost buckled. When she could speak again, she said, “The tub’s probably half filled by now, so you need to get in there before we accidently flood the place. I highly recommend a good long soak. It’s very therapeutic. And while you’re taking care of you, I’m going to satisfy my craving for some decent food.”
“Yes, ma’am.” David still looked faintly stunned. “Anything else, ma’am?”
She grinned up at him as she sank down onto the sofa, reached for a plate, and began to fill it with much needed sustenance. “I thought Marines were trained to handle the unexpected.”