Page 26 of Stolen Summer

He grabbed a flashlight from the table and flicked it on, illuminating the path ahead. We took the stairs to the second floor, and although little light shone, I could picture the white walls and wooden beams patterned on the high ceilings. We passed by open doors, each bedroom decorated with airy curtains I knew danced with the ocean breeze when opened. One side had stunning sunrise views, and the other had sunset views overlooking the water.

Cole’s room faced the ocean, but the view was obstructed by the hurricane shutters. If he hadn’t shown me the way, I would have guessed this was his room. The scent gave it away, awakening my senses. That and the dark, gloomy, foreboding drawings hung on the walls.

An urge to take the light from Cole and examine the art more closely rose in me so sharply I reached for the flashlight. My fingers grazed Cole’s, and a spark went through my hand. I jerked away, my gaze flying to his.

God, what had I been thinking?

I hadn’t. And that was the problem.

My throat cleared, breaking the silence as Cole studied me.

“There are towels in the bathroom,” he informed me, setting the sketch pad down on the bed.

I nodded, my tongue tied.

The more uncomfortable I got, the more Cole seemed to enjoy it. “If you want company, I’d be happy to?—”

“I’m fine,” I interrupted before he could finish his outlandish offer. “I’m more afraid of you than the dark.”

He snickered, passing the flashlight to me. “Wise girl.”

I shot him an impudent glare.

Plopping on the bed, he stretched out like a ferocious cat. “Make it quick. We only have a limited amount of hot water. Once it’s gone, it won’t be heated again until the power returns.”

How did I feel about Cole being in the next room while I showered? Only a measly door separating us?

Mixed feelings.

I hurried into the bathroom, shutting the door with a snap behind me. I stayed staring at the knob half expecting it to shake. It didn’t, and after I dragged a long breath in, I turned away from the door, using my flashlight to scan the room. I needed a better word than huge to describe the size of the bathroom. Massive? Colossal? Mammoth?

I bet Cole is huge.

And why the fuck had my brain gone there? Why was I suddenly thinking about the size of his dick? It made no sense. How had my brain connected a bathroom to male anatomy?

I groaned into my hands.

This had to stop. I wouldn’t allow any further inappropriate thoughts to encroach my mind.

Moving to the shower, I turned on the water and stripped, catching sight of my reflection and the smudges smeared on my face. “Asshole,” I seethed and stepped into the steam.

I should use all the hot water to spite him. Who did he think he was ordering me about? And this stupid bet. Why was I letting it taunt me?

So much for controlling my thoughts when it came to Cole. I felt like a stalker unable to stop obsessing.

I squeezed a glob of shampoo into my hair, making the mistake of breathing it in and regretting it. His scent flooded the shower. I could ignore this. I was strong. Smelling like him for a few hours couldn’t be that hard. The power had to come on soon. I couldn’t entertain the alternative.

Click.

I halted my movements, my sudsy fingers entangled in my wet hair, and listened. Had that been the door? I locked it, hadn’t I?

Now I wasn’t so sure.

“Cole?” I called loud enough to be heard over the shower.

“You should learn to lock the door,” Cole warned in a deep, sharp-edged voice. “You never know what kind of creep might stumble in after you.”

A normal person wouldn’t feel relief, and yet knowing it was Cole and not someone else eased the spring of panic. “What are you doing? If this is some kind of deranged lesson, I don’t need it.” Suds trickled down the side of my face.