Deeper (The Real Fling) (6 page)

“Adriana?” Val called through the door.

Hanging her head, she sobbed, “Can’t…get…sweater…off.”

“Coming in, yeah?”

“Yeah.” Wiping her face, she tried to hide her tears.

He backed into the bathroom. The sight of him in shorts and nothing else felled her. He was stunning, with thick muscular thighs and well-defined calves. She couldn’t believe he didn’t dance. His back was even better, sinewy layers of strength culminating in a narrow, firm waist.

“You can turn around.” She swayed in place. “How can it be only bruised? It hurts so bad.”

Val walked toward her, and Adriana bit her lip. Talk about washboard abs. He didn’t have an ounce of extra meat on him. Satiny skin on muscle and bone. Not one inch wasn’t used to perfection. Hesitantly, he locked eyes with her and seemed to search her expression for something. He was waiting, but for what?

She’d been so busy admiring his form and shaking away her pain that she hadn’t noticed initially. When she did, she refused to react. In fact, she kept her eyes locked on his but through her peripheral vision she saw enough.

Rough, angry, purplish-red scars cut into Val’s smooth skin on his shoulder, arm and right leg from long, fairly recent surgeries culminating in a tremendous amount of stitches.

“What?” His mood had darkened. He tilted his head, almost daring her to ask.

Hoping to dispel the sudden tension, Adriana looked up at him through her lashes. “I think you’re lying.”

He slanted his head in question.

“That body was made for dance.”

“Maybe, but not on stage.” Hunger glazed his eyes as he knelt in front of her. “Let me see what is going on.” Locking eyes with her, he cautioned, “Remember, breathe.”

She steeled herself for his touch.

“It will hurt more when you hold your breath like that.” He paused as if to say,
Don’t even bother questioning how I know.

She took in tiny, shallow morsels of air and let out even shorter puffs.

“Deeper breaths.” Slowly, he threaded her left arm out of her sweater, then her head, and shed it off her right arm.

Any movement of her shoulder painfully cut into her. She wanted to scream, but instead bit her lip so excessively she was surprised she didn’t draw blood. Tears snaked down her face.

He tugged on her thermal. “Want me to turn around?”

Shaking her head, she willed the pain away. “Got. Bra.”

He swept her undershirt up and over the left side and slowly eased it off her right arm. His expression turned somber as he examined her shoulder.

“That bad?”

He cradled her face in his hands, wiped her cheeks with his thumbs, and kissed her. First between her brows, then the tip of her nose, and finally her mouth. “We will get through this. I promise.” His voice was soft and low. “It is exactly what I thought. Badly bruised. It will be sore for a while. But you will heal quickly.”

“How do you know?” She hiccupped.

“Your personality.”

“What?” She inched her cheek up and stared at him.

“You are feisty.”

“I’m from New York, we’re all feisty, and that’s the nice way of saying it.”

Amusement lit his eyes. “But you are strong, yes. You have a quick metabolism which means you will heal rapidly.”

“How do you know I have a quick metabolism?” She sat up straighter.

He inspected her body, lingering on her ass. “You are muscular. Solid.”

Adriana cringed. Was he saying she was a big?

“What? Look at your legs. They are gorgeous, and your muscles are well-defined. You clearly workout, right?”

“I do.”

“And you can eat anything you want, yes?”

She bobbed her head.

“You will be better tomorrow. If not, we will go to the medical center. It’s the best.” With a furrowed brow, he looked away from her.

They must’ve taken care of him. Had they done his surgeries? Did he have a skiing accident?

“But right now the hot tub will do us both good.” His brow cleared instantly. “With bra or without?”

“Huh?”

“With the tee and a bra or just the shirt?”

“Oh. Better keep the bra dry.”
Shit
, did that mean he was taking it off now? Adriana turned her back to him.

“Okay.” He looped the tee through her right arm, placed it over her head and weaved her left arm through without causing pain. Once she was covered, he unclasped her bra and removed it through the armhole of her shirt.

Yeah, he had sisters. Only a man with sisters would know that trick. “Thanks.”

They went downstairs. Adriana’s phone was ringing and buzzing simultaneously.

Uh-oh.
Her stomach bottomed out. As conflicted as she was about hanging with him, she didn’t want to leave just yet. She retrieved her phone from her jacket.

“Is it her?”

Shaking her head, she answered the phone. “Hi, Mom.”

“Adriana.” Her mother exhaled. “Oh my God. Are you all right? I was so scared.”

“I’m okay.”

“Where’ve you been? Jackie’s going crazy.”

“She called you?” Adriana clutched her phone so tightly her fingers went numb. “What the fu—? Oh gosh. Sorry, Mom.”

“She was worried.”

Adriana paced in front of the fire, trying to burn off her anger. “She wasn’t worried. That’s bull.”

“Where are you?”

“I’m with friends. I’m so pissed at her.” Adriana stomped her bare foot on the thick carpet. Definitely not as satisfying as she hoped it would be.

“Adriana, slow down. What friends? I thought you and Jackie went alone? What happened?”

“I ran into a friend while skiing.” Val was in the kitchen. “Jackie hooked up with some guy, and they skied so fast I couldn’t catch them. Then I fell.” Her breath hitched. Why was she always fine until she heard her mom’s voice? It wasn’t this visceral with her dad, but with her mom it was instantaneous. “I’m sorry you were worried. I’m all right.” Adriana sat on the couch. “I’m so glad I don’t have to see her at work anymore.”

“Oh, Ade, that’s awful. Are you sure you’re all right?”

“Yeah, my shoulder’s bruised. I’ve been icing it ever since and it’s feeling better,” she lied.

“Good.” Her mother sounded calmer. “What do you mean you won’t see her at work anymore?”

Adriana hung her head. “Jackie got emailed the reorganization chart while we were at lunch today. Apparently, I’m being let go next week. Can you believe that? No promotion, Mom. Fired.”

“Oh, honey. I’m sorry. It’ll be okay. Something else will come along. But where are you? Who’s this friend?” There was an edge to her mother’s voice. Adriana had to be careful. Her mom was a natural detective.

Adriana scrabbled. “You don’t know her.” Val was by the glass doors. She scrunched her nose and gritted her teeth at him. He raised his brow and scratched his chin. “I know her from the gym. We take this dance class together.”

He grunted.

“She’s really nice.” Adriana winked at him. “Jackie’s probably going to hang with that guy she met anyway.”

Val went outside.

“I can’t believe she called you.”

“She seemed worried. Said you didn’t answer your phone.”

Adriana looked at the phone. “She didn’t call, but cell service is screwy up here. It didn’t ring until now. Did you call me before this?”

“No.”

“I’ll text her. Is Daddy okay?”

Her mother chuckled. “He knew you were fine.” Adriana could almost see the happiness in her eyes. “He said it immediately. ‘She’s fine. She’s with friends.’”

Adriana blinked a yes silently, then realized her mother couldn’t see her. “I am.”

“Why don’t you come home?”

“I can’t change my ticket. Too expensive.”

“We’ll pay for it.”

“No, Mom. I can’t let you do that after all you’ve given me. Besides I can’t get out of the mountains until the snow stops.”

“I’m worried. I’d feel so much better if you got that shoulder looked at.”

“Don’t be. I’m fine. Valerie knows a lot about injuries. She’s been taking good care of me.” Val was back inside, closing the sliding glass doors.

“Honey, take the credit card number just in case.”

“No. I’ll be fine. I’ll call you on Sunday when I’m back. Love you.”

“Love you too, sweetie. Be careful.” They hung up.

Adriana put the phone to her lips and paused. She’d lied and gotten away with it. Or had she? Her mother was pretty sharp. Maybe she knew and just let it be. She texted Jackie. Short and to the point.
I’m fine. With friends. Have fun. Please don’t call my parents again. Thanks.
Adriana dropped the phone on the end table. With shaky hands, she ran her fingers through her hair.

Val was standing near her with the goofiest smirk on his face.

She flicked her chin up at him, silently asking
What?

“Valerie?”

‡

The tub was bubbling and
brewing with enthusiasm. Snowflakes pierced through the clouds of steam like shooting stars. Beyond the tub was a wall of evergreens which looked close enough to touch them. Towels waited under the eaves of the house on a cedar bench near the lit fire pit.

Carefully, Adriana aligned her footsteps with Val’s, the snow squishing in between her tired toes felt surprisingly good. He stepped into the tub, which could have fit six to eight people comfortably, and clasped her waist.

“I can get in,” she warned him.

His brows drew together but his lips curled up a touch. “Are you really going to start that again?”

What was the big deal?
Let him help.
“Fine.”

He lifted her and she settled in next to him on his right. Tucking her floating T-shirt into her waistband, she reveled in the sensations. There was something wickedly erotic about the paradox in elements, the steaming heat of the water, the crackling fire, the frigid wind and snow blowing on her face, and the handsome earthy man next to her.

Alongside of the Jacuzzi were a bottle of wine and two glasses. Val must have set it up while she was on the phone. He poured the wine and handed her a glass. “What are you thinking about?”

“That this feels good.” She took a sip. “And I’m glad I came.”

“Me too.” He blinked once.

Being near him was intoxicating. Every cell inside of her seemed to be drawn to him with a pressing urgency. Adriana shifted closer to him.

Val took her glass and put both his and hers on the ledge. He slid away from her a bit. “Sit back as close to the jets as you can handle. Your shoulder has to be getting stiff. Actually, your whole body must be. Once the right shoulder feels better, move around to get the rest of your back. The heat and force will work through the knots.”

He spoke tenderly, but Adriana couldn’t hide her disappointment. The last thing she wanted now was an exposition on the benefits of a hot water massage.

“It will ache,” he continued, “but help.”

“Thanks.” As she closed her eyes, she moved her shoulder against the spout, doing her best not to wince. Damn, it hurt. She leaned her head back on the edge of the tub and counted the snowflakes that landed on her cheeks.

“Do not forget to breathe,” he rumbled.

Eventually she got used to the throbbing, the wine’s sedating kicked in or the edge on the ache had dulled, she couldn’t tell which, but being there was easier.

When she eventually opened her eyes, he was staring at her, mesmerized by whatever he saw in her face. She tilted her head as if to ask,
What?

He edged away again. “She called your parents?” There was no way that was what he was thinking about. He handed her the glass of wine and took a drink from his own.

“My dad knew I was okay, but she had my mom worked up.”

“You can stay here as long as you want. I…I like the company,” he said softly.

“Oh? Don’t tell me you have trouble finding company. I saw the women circling you guys.”

He scrunched his nose. “Not my thing.”

“What is your thing, besides chocolate and brandy?” Adriana glanced at him as she sipped her wine.

Val’s furry lashes lowered as he considered her question but made no move to answer.

She popped her shoulders out of the hot water. The falling snow and light breeze cooled her down. “If this isn’t your home anymore, how long are you staying in Vail?”

Every line in his body wound up tight. “Not sure.”

“Why?” She put her goblet down and bobbed her shoulders back under.

“I have some things to figure out.” Anguish, turmoil, and grief swirled in some horrid brew in the dark depths of his eyes. Whatever had happened to him, one thing she knew for certain, it had almost killed him.

She forced herself to meet his stare without blinking, absorbing what she could while wishing she could siphon his sorrow and spill it away for good. “Can I help?”

“You already are.” He put his glass with hers.

“How?”

“By just being here.” He tucked a loose hair behind her ear. His voice was so low it vibrated through her chest. Why wasn’t he kissing her? He’d lean in and push back. Stare and look away.

Whatever was going on within him, Adriana couldn’t ignore her hunger any longer. She pressed her mouth to his. He backed up briefly and seemed to be about to say something, but she quieted him with another kiss more demanding than the last. The feel of his soft lips surrounded by the scruff of his unshaven skin was thoroughly sexy. She ran her tongue and finger around his mouth, playing with the edge of smooth and prickly, then leaned in and kissed him again.