Page 49 of Words of Love

“Like I said,” he muttered. “You’re ruthless.”

“Which means you have no choice.” She pulled another pillow under her head and settled onto her side facing him. “Keep your eyes closed. I want you to think about how you’re feeling physically. Are you cold, warm, uncomfortable, at ease? Are your muscles relaxed or tense? What’s the pace of your heartbeat? Is your breath deep or shallow? What do you hear…I mean, besides my voice. What do you smell? Process how your body feels in its current environment.”

She almost expected him to scoff and mutter something about getting back to work, but he remained silent, his eyes closed. The firelight burnished the tips of his eyelashes with gold. His hands rested loosely on his abdomen, strong and tanned against his worn T-shirt.

“Are you doing it?” she asked.

He murmured a noise low in his throat, a kind of rumble that she somehow felt right to her very center.

“Don’t fall asleep,” she warned.

“I’m processing.”

“How are you feeling?”

His forehead crinkled. “Itchy.”

“Itchy.”

“Yeah.” He opened his eyes and fumbled around underneath him. He pulled out the unicorn pillow. Flecks of glitter fell from the silver horn.

“Glitter is itchy.” He scratched his lower back.

“Okay, that’s legit.” Brooke set the pillow aside. “What else? Start withI feel…”

“I feelwarm.” He settled back against the pillows and closed his eyes again.

“Good! What else?”

“I feel relaxed.”

“Excellent.” Pleased, she skimmed her gaze over his body. No visible tension that she could discern. “See, this isn’t so hard. What’s the pace of your heart?”

“My heart is racing.”

“Oh. Well, maybe that’s because of all your show shoveling.” She resisted the temptation to press her hand against his chest and feel hisracingheart for herself. “What do you smell?”

“You.”

Her breath caught in her throat. Before she could reprimand him for being facetious, he opened his eyes and looked right at her. Maybe it was a good thing he was reclusive. He could captivate anyone with those penetrating dark eyes. If he were actually sociable, he’d have all of Bliss Cove spellbound.

Instead…it was only her.

“You smell like strawberries and powdered sugar.” He shifted onto his side, and his voice turned slow and lazy. “You smell like sunshine, snow, and rainbows.”

Her own heart thumped so heavily it echoed in her bones.

“Hmm,” she murmured. “You’re more poetic than you let on.”

“Secrets of the blanket fort.”

“You’re getting off topic.” She infused a mildly scolding note into her voice. “Secrets aren’t part of the exercise.”

“I’m processing your scent.” His eyes crinkled with warmth. “And how you look with your hair spread over the pillow and your cheeks pink with a blush that I can see even in the dark.”

A soft heat filled her. She reached out and touched his chest, seeking the beat of his heart against her fingertips.

“Tell me what you’re feeling.” She pressed the area between his pecs. “Right here.”