It was.
She accepted that. Wanted that. The only question was the one he’d pointed out: When?
“I have to get back,” she said, wishing the when was now even though she knew it wasn’t. She needed to check on Carol, see about supper. Thank goodness Nancy had volunteered to stay with Carol tonight, because Sela was fast running out of steam. She wanted to curl up under a quilt on her couch, in front of a fire, and catch up on the sleep she hadn’t gotten the night before.
He tilted his head toward the shower. “Want a shower before you go?”
She stared up at him, her lips parting. He couldn’t have offered her a new car and tempted her more. A shower! For two months she’d been washing off with water carried from the creek and heated in a kettle in the fireplace, which wasn’t very efficient. Washing her hair was a big deal and required waiting until she had the time to sit beside the fire to dry it. She worked hard at basic cleanliness, and now hot running water was the ultimate in luxury to her.
He almost smiled—not quite, but almost. “If you could see your face. I take that as a yes. Towels and washcloths are there.” He indicated the linen closet. “I don’t have any fancy-smelling soap or shampoo—”
“I don’t care!” she said hurriedly, already reaching for the buttons on her shirt. She stopped, blushed, and dropped her hands before she found herself stripping in front of him.
“Take as long as you want.” He went out and closed the door.
Sela peeled off her clothes so fast she almost tore them. A shower! She was going to have a wonderful hot shower!
Ben threw on his shirt, then took the dog and went outside. He didn’t quite trust himself to be in the house, knowing he had a naked woman in his shower—and not just any woman. Sela. Quiet, gentle Sela, who kissed him back with a fire that still had his balls aching. It wasn’t just the way she’d responded, but the concern she’d shown over the annoying but definitely not serious cut on his shoulder, and the gentleness of her touch as she tended to him. All his prior wounds had been treated either in the field—not gentle—or in a military hospital—still not gentle. She hadn’t been treating a wound, she’d been taking care of him. He couldn’t remember the last time, if ever, he’d been taken care of as himself rather than as a soldier, part of a fighting force.
Talk about a surprising turn of events. From the second he’d seen her walking up the driveway, things had happened fast.
Shit. Sela had balls. Not actual balls, which he intended to eventually prove for himself, but when she wanted something she was apparently willing to do anything to get it. She hadn’t even been asking for herself, but for the people around her, who would never know what she’d offered and perhaps didn’t deserve that kind of sacrifice.
Sacrifice? He’d make damn sure it was neither a sacrifice nor a payment. He’d do what she wanted, no strings attached. Whatever happened afterward would happen because they both wanted it.
He didn’t want to deal with the townsfolk, community folk, whatever the fuck they were. Wears Valley wasn’t a town. Whatever it was or wasn’t, he still didn’t want to deal with them, but he was committed now and obviously they needed the help. Despite himself he was concerned about the old couple, the Livingstons. They’d have a tough time emotionally dealing with what had happened, and would need help getting past it and feeling secure in their home again.
He looked at the dog, bounding around and sniffing at everything. He hadn’t wanted the responsibility or the company of the dog, but he’d gotten used to both. He patted his thigh and the gangly pup bounded over to him, body wiggling with delight. Ben crouched down, scratching behind both ears. “I’ll miss you, boy,” he murmured, “but there’s a couple of old people who need you more than I do.” There was a concept; he hadn’t realized he needed the dog at all. “Reckon you could be happy being spoiled rotten? I don’t think you’ll get in much hunting, but you’ll have all the attention you could want.” Maybe the Livingstons wouldn’t want a dog to take care of, though having a mountain cur in the house keeping guard might be just what they needed to make them feel safe again. All he could do was ask.
And, fuck, that meant he’d have to do some hunting for them, to help them keep the dog fed. That was what was wrong with getting to know people. It was like getting caught in a damned spiderweb, with more and more strands getting wrapped around him.
One of those strands was in his shower right now. He kept stroking the dog, but his thoughts had zeroed back in on Sela. When he’d mentioned the shower . . . the expression on her face had been priceless—and arousing. He’d seen joy, wonder, and desire, her soft dark eyes filled with longing. For a shower.
He had a hard-on. Again. Gingerly he straightened to give his dick room to stretch out, and realized that he wouldn’t be able to walk away again. He wanted her to look at him that way. Admit it, own it, act on it.
He looked at the house, every hunter’s instinct in him on alert. There was a naked woman in his shower, and he wanted to be in there with her.
Chapter Sixteen
Ben and the dog walked Sela down the steep driveway to where she’d parked her SUV. He carried his shotgun, his gaze alert and his head on a swivel, constantly looking around him. He was far more alert than she’d been on the walk up, she realized, and he was armed. She had simply walked up without taking much notice of her surroundings. The community patrol would learn from him but she should, too. It was everyone’s responsibility to help keep the valley safe.
She felt wonderful. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t washed every night with soap, but there was something about standing under warm flowing water that was downright miraculous. She smelled like his soap and shampoo, both of which were plain Jane without any perfumes added, and that was pretty great, too. She had sat in front of the fire and finger-combed her hair while it partially dried; she could have stayed indefinitely, but knowing her responsibilities waited for her made her antsy.
When they reached her SUV she took the remote from her pocket and unlocked the doors. She gave him a slightly guilty look. “I used your toilet, too,” she confessed, her tone a little shy but jubilant, too. “And flushed.”
“I know. I heard. I’d have been surprised if you hadn’t.” He slanted a look at her and this time she definitely saw amusement. “Flushed, that is.”
Before she knew it she’d lightly punched him on the arm, then realized what she’d done and clapped her hand over her mouth. She could feel her face heating. “I’m so sorry,” she mumbled behind her hand. “I didn’t mean— I don’t . . .” she trailed off, because it was ludicrous to say I don’t hit people when she had just now hit him.
“Give people love taps?” he asked. He looked down at her and hooked his arm around her waist, pulled her against him. “It wasn’t even much of a tap, I barely felt it. That said, my feelings are hurt and you have to make it up to me.”
His . . . feelings were hurt? She was momentarily bewildered, then like the rising of the sun she realized he was flirting with her. Flirting! Ben Jernigan! Warmth flooded through her and a smile bloomed across her face. Rising on her toes, she wound her arms around his neck and brushed a light kiss across his mouth. “Does this make you feel better?” she asked, giving him another kiss. Even as she did she was astonished all over again that he was holding her, that she was kissing him. So much had changed today, things she hadn’t imagined would ever happen no matter where her imagination had taken her.