“Anytime.” He winks and stands up from the ledge of the tub as I melt into a pile of goo. How can a man make something as simple as a wink so damn sexy? He holds his hand out to me and I take it before he helps pull me out of the tub. As I’m stepping over the ledge, my heel gets caught on the lip and I stubble right in to him, letting out a small yelp.

“You’re making a habit of running into me lately. If you want me to hold you, just say so,” he jokes. A playful grin stretches across his face.

“Well, when you’re so good at catching me, how can I resist?” I quip back, but then I immediately chastise myself. What the hell was that? Am I flirting with Alex? Removing myself from his arms, I attempt to put some distance between us, but with the backs of my legs against the tub, there’s not much room for me to move.

We’re both caught up in each other, not saying a word, just taking each other in. It’s both awkward and comforting in this strange way. He has the kindest blue eyes that constantly pull me in. Eyes that make you want to trust him. Eyes that let you see into his soul and tell you that he’s a good person deep down. A person you can depend on and trust with your life. A person that is the total opposite of someone I know well.

Cal.

Cal’s eyes are always calculating, looking to take the advantage in everything he does. You can peer into them and tell there is something seedy about him. He’s not a person you can trust or depend on if it doesn’t line up with his needs and goals. Everything he does has strings attached and comes with an agenda. And lucky me, I’m married to him.

MOVE.

This is dangerous.

That’s what keeps running through my mind over and over as I’m stuck in this place with Alex. Unfortunately, my brain signals aren’t reaching my legs and I stay rooted to my spot, staring into caring eyes that are begging me to open up. I’m the first to look away.

“I think I better get back downstairs. I’m sure Aaron is here and he’s always on a tight schedule.” My voice comes out in a whisper while my eyes stay trained on the floor. I know if I look up, I’m a goner and I won’t move from this spot.

“Yeah, sorry.” He clears his throat, catching my attention. He reaches up and rubs his jawline, right over the scar that runs the length of it. “I’m going to step outside to make a phone call. Come get me if you need anything, okay?” I nod and he spins around and leaves.

I take in a deep breath. The first full breath I’ve taken since I fell out of the tub, which feels like hours. My mind can’t make sense of this foreign feeling I’m having for a person of the opposite sex. It’s not just his sex appeal that gets to me. It’s the way he says my name, the way he watches me, the concern he shows for me, the way he seems to care. I’ve never had any of these things in the men I’ve dated, and especially not from the man I married. Closing my eyes, I let out a deep breath before opening them and making my way back downstairs.

The rest of the afternoon was uneventful. Grace behaved herself in front of Aaron as he went on and on about proper etiquette on the campaign trail. I suspect most of this was meant for me as I’ll be accompanying him, but he did tell Grace some of the do’s and don’ts for interviews. Basically no naked baby pictures, no wild teenage stories, or anything else that would undermine his campaign.

As I expected, Grace left as soon as Aaron was gone. She didn’t so much as mutter a good-bye either. Just marched her prissy ass out the front door and slammed it shut. Good riddance is all I could think. Hopefully it’ll be another six months before I’m forced into another encounter, but I know that’s unlikely given the career path Cal is on right now.

With no one around to see me, I plop down on the couch in the most unladylike fashion. Absolute silence meets my ears and it’s a wonderful thing. With my eyes closed, I’m just getting to that sweet spot where I’m almost asleep, thinking a nap after the stressful day would be nice.

Suddenly, I hear a low voice in my ear say, “Elizabeth,” real quickly. It scares the shit out of me. I spring up and bump my head right into a hard surface. The pain radiates throughout my skull. Putting the palm of my hand over my sore spot, I look over to see what the hell I hit my head on. That’s when I see Alex rubbing his chin, looking to be in a little discomfort as well.

“What the hell was that? Do you normally shout into someone’s ear like a creeper when they’re sleeping?” I’m stunned by my blunt words. I never swear, not aloud anyway since I’m told that’s unbecoming behavior. But right now I can’t be bothered with being a proper lady as my heart is still pounding feverishly against my sternum.

“I hardly shouted. I was trying to wake you up nicely, but clearly that backfired,” he says drily. He rubs his chin a few more times before his hand drops and he reaches out to me. Grabbing my chin, he angles my head to the side to examine the damage. “You’re gonna have quite the lump. Are you okay?”

My skin is on fire from his touch and my brain is spinning its wheels trying to come up with a response. Pulling away ever so slightly so he’s not touching me, I say, “Nothing a little aspirin won’t fix. What did you need anyway?”

“I just wanted to check on you and see what was on your agenda for the rest of the day.”

I shrug. “I don’t have anything else planned, but being cooped up in this house with my mother-in-law for two days has me feeling a little antsy. I was hoping a quick nap might help, but clearly that didn’t work out.” I look at him pointedly as I rub my sore spot once again.

He tries to stifle his laugh, causing me to glare at him. His hands go up in surrender. “Again, I’m sorry. Would you like to go for a small hike to get out of the house? Seems like you could use some fresh air.” The hopeful look on his face makes me smile just the smallest bit and my heart swell. He’s so cute. But then it dawns on me what he requested and the small smile vanishes.

“I’m sorry, but I’m not much of an outdoorsy person. In fact, I don’t think I have anything ‘hiker’ appropriate.” I give him an apologetic look. I may go for the occasional run to stay slim, but I’m by no means an adventurous hiker. No way.

He shakes his head before saying, “Nope, that’s not going to work.” Without waiting for me, he leaves and goes upstairs to my bedroom I assume. Sluggishly, I follow him up a minute later. When I enter, I see him opening and closing my drawers.

“Hey! Get out of there! You can’t just go through my stuff like that!” Who does he think he is? Oh God, did he open up my underwear drawer? The thought alone has me blushing.

“Here.” He holds out some yoga pants, a tank top, a hoodie, and some tennis shoes. “I’ll get changed real quick and meet you back downstairs, okay?” My mouth hangs open from his determination to get me out there. Taking the clothes from his hand, I watch as he exits the room, closing the door behind him.

I’m not exactly sure how I feel about this whole hiking thing. If I’m honest, I’m afraid it’ll be rather awkward. He’s supposed to be my bodyguard of sorts and I know next to nothing about him personally. Will we walk in silence? Am I expected to make conversation? I’d really rather lay down on my bed and take a nap, but I know he’ll be on me in a few minutes if I don’t show up.

Making my way downstairs in my athletic attire, I spot him at the bottom looking at his watch. His impatience almost makes me laugh. “Cool your horses, Alex. I’m right here.” He spins around at the sound of my voice and dazzles me with a smile. My breath catches at the power of it. It’s like a punch in the gut, beautiful in all its flawlessness. I think this is the first time I’ve seen a full-out smile from him. No, I know it is because I definitely would have remembered something so spectacular before. Clumsily, I descend the rest of the stairs and stand before him. “So, where to?”