Emma chortled and turned the camera back to her face. “I know, right? Here, let me take you into the bedroom. I haven’t seen it yet.”
“If it has a bidet, I’m moving in.”
“That’s all it takes for you to move in?” Tyler quipped from the bathroom.
Emma’s heart jolted. “Ignore that please,” she whispered to the camera, then held it out in front of her as she crossed the threshold. She barely made it three steps before she froze and looked up in awe.
Skylights stretched across the entire ceiling, exposing the night sky. She moved the camera in a wide arc. “I don’t even know what to say about this.” Emma tore her eyes from the twinkling stars and scanned the room. An antique writing desk stood against one wall, and then . . . there was the bed. Sleek, matte black pillars rose from each corner, framing the sleeping space with an air of minimalistic sophistication. The canopy was clean and geometric, and thebedding–allsoft greys and whites. Crisp and inviting.
Emma turned the camera back to her. “So, there you have it. Wish you were here.” She blew Vaughn a kiss and pressed the red square.
Tyler appeared in the shadows next to her, and the air in the darkened room grew thick.
“Perfect,” Tyler murmured behind her. “What did Vaughn think?”
“He may be having a stroke.”
“Understandable.” Tyler’s voice rumbled through her. Emma cleared her throat and walked past him to peek into the bathroom.
Three lights patterned around twin oval mirrors glowed softly, making the space feel reverent. Mosaic tile. Double sink. Wide glass shower with double heads and wall sprayers.
“It’s a car wash,” Emma whispered. “I’ve always wanted a car wash shower.”
Tyler chuckled, and she jumped. He was standing behind her. His breath whispered against her neck.
She had to tell him.Either he would tell her he felt the same, and then this magical shower and bedroom would get a lot of use, or he wouldn’t. And it would be the most awkward night of her life. But, based on the fire licking her bones, it was already going to be torture.Nothing to lose.
“Tyler—”
“There’s a hot tub!” he called from the other room.
Emma re-entered the bedroom and found Tyler pointing out the sliding glass doors onto the patio, grinning.
“We don’t have suits.” Emma strode toward him. The hot tub was on. Steaming. Looking out over the Rockies under the most perfect night of stars.
“You could get in first. I won’t watch. Then you can turn your head, or don’t, and I’ll jump in.”
Emma blinked, looking at his profile silhouetted by the light in the other room. “You’re saying we should skinny dip?”
Tyler shrugged. “Why not?”
Emma opened her mouth, then closed it.Why not?She could think of a million reasons why not. But one very compelling reasonwhy.
“I’ll grab dessert.” Tyler retreated, leaving Emma alone in the bedroom. Her hands began to tingle. Was she actually going to strip naked and walk out onto a rooftop patio in a room half-covered with windows?
Yes.Yes, she was. Her body felt like she’d just downed an energy drink as she pulled off her shirt before she could change her mind. She laid her clothes over the writing desk, then pulled off her bra and underwear. Her nipples pinched against the cold as she slid the glass door open.
This was insane. The pebbled deck numbed the soles of her feet as she cupped her breasts and ran toward the hot tub. If Tyler was watching, she didn’t want to know. She carefully ascended the steps and stepped into the hot water.
Emma sighed as she lowered herself into the corner seat, then pulled the hair tie off her wrist and pulled her hair into a bun on top of her head. When she was safely obscured by the water, her shoulders finally relaxed. This was the right choice. The chilled mountain air pressed against her cheeks like a mask, and she tipped her head back, staring at the stars.
Music wafted from somewhere down the street. She couldn’t hear it well enough to determine the style, but it didn’t matter. This was perfect. Almost.
Movement caught her eye and she turned to face the mountains, crossing her arms and resting them on the edge of the tub.Turn your head or don’t?Every cell in her body screamed that “don’t” was the correct option in this scenario, but she couldn’t move.
The sound of his feet against the deck sent blood rushing through her ears. He was standing behind her. Six-three.She’d felt his hard muscles under his shirt.The surface of the water wobbled as Tyler stepped into the hot tub.
“Good?” she asked, her voice catching. She covered it with a cough.
