Sasha extended a hand and eased the box of bath bombs from my grip before rising to his full height. I tracked the move, my gaze shifting with it.
“For the record, you drop one of these in a hot bath, and they fizz, releasing essential oils and nourishing powders that aid in your relaxation. Just thought it might be something nice for your downtime. I’m sure after a long night tending bar, you could use it.”
A rush of air flew past my lips. “That was really thoughtful. Thank you.”
“It’s nothing.”
How could he not see that it was everything to me? That the gesture meant more than the physical item?
No one had ever taken the time to put me first. Not once.
“Can we start over?” Sasha asked, hope written on his face.
I ducked my head. “I’d like that.”
Without another word, he turned on his heel and strode to the door, opening it before stepping through and closing it behind him. The next thing I knew, he was knocking from the other side.
A smile snuck onto my face at how seriously he took what appeared to be our re-do.
Stepping forward, I twisted the doorknob, only to come face-to-face with Sasha leaning in, one hand on the doorframe. Hungry eyes scanned my form, and he let out a low groan.Voice rough, he uttered, “Goddamn, Gemma. You look fucking delicious.”
A sound that could only be described as a giggle worked its way up my throat. It was so foreign that I slapped a hand over my mouth in shock.
The sparkle in Sasha’s blue eyes betrayed he was pleased by my reaction.
He made me feel like someone new, someone without dark shadows lurking around them, and I found myself wanting to be that person.
Embracing the persona he brought out in me, I tossed him a wink and a smirk. “You clean up pretty nice yourself.”
“Oh, this old thing?” He plucked at the fabric of his jacket, downplaying what I could tell was an expensive suit.
“The hair too.” I huffed out a laugh, remembering how ridiculous I’d thought he would look with a man bun and realizing how very wrong I was. He looked hot as sin.
Beaming, Sasha touched the side of his head. “Oh, so, youdolike it?”
“It’s growing on me.”
“You wanna grab your coat? Our reservation is at six.”
I nodded, stepping aside to grab a silver wrap that was laid over the back of the couch.
“My dark angel,” I heard murmured from behind me.
Spinning around, I eyed Sasha. “What was that?”
“Nothing.” He rubbed a palm over his chest. “Just can’t stop thinking about how beautiful you look tonight.”
Accepting compliments wasn’t something I did well. Most likely, it stemmed from nearly four decades’ worth of comments pointing out every flaw I possessed until, at some point, I began to believe there weren’t any decent qualities to be found.
I watched men flirt every day at the bar, their smooth lines designed to get women into bed. But that’s not what Sasha wasdoing now. The intensity in his eyes told me he truly believed that I was beautiful, and for the first time, I found myself believing, too.
Before I could thank him, Sasha spoke again. “Can I make a request?”
Dropping a hand to my cocked hip, I huffed playfully, “Kinda in the middle of your last request.”
Laughter boomed from his chest, falling over me like a weighted blanket, offering comfort.
“You are very right about that, but let’s call this Request 1A as it pertains to the original request.”
