She stiffened when he moved them into the spacious marble stall, moaning a little when the spray hit her, then gave an adorable growl and buried her face in his chest as the water soaked her back.
It didn’t take her long to warm up, though.
He held her for several minutes, until she felt like a rag doll in his arms, loose-limbed and pliable.
Then he reached for the scented body gel he’d put in here earlier, just for her.
The name had caught his eye in the gift shop earlier this week. Sweet Seduction. When he’d sniffed it, the spicy scent with a hint of sweetness beneath had reminded him of Kate. He’d had bottles of bath gel and body lotion sent to his apartment.
He poured the gel on a puffy and lathered her back. He didn’t linger, because they were both tired, but he did make sure he stroked a few key areas several times.
He stayed away from places he knew would be tender, using his hands to wash her between her legs rather than the puffy. And he didn’t linger, even though her hips rocked forward as if she wanted him to.
After he’d maneuvered her around so he could wash her front, he used the same gel on himself. Yeah, he’d smell like a girl, but at least it’d remind him of her when she wasn’t around.
“I’m thinking about spending some time up at the spa this week. Can I stay with you?”
She didn’t say anything right away and for a second, he thought she might have fallen asleep on her feet.
Then she rubbed the back of her head against his shoulder. “Sure.” Twisting around, she looked up at him, her eyes barely open. “I’d like that.”
As he bent to kiss her, he felt like he was sealing the deal. Hopefully, she’d sign on the line as well.
“Kate, I’m so glad I caught you before you went to work. I have great news. The producers want to meet you immediately. I know we talked about you coming up to visit the theater this week but I’ve been talking you up since the woman they’d wanted to hire as my assistant took another show. I know it’s short notice, but would you be able to come up to the city tomorrow for an interview?”
Tuesday morning, Kate had a brief moment of panic as she froze, mouth hanging open as she tried to think of the words she needed.
Tyler looked up from across her dining table, eyes narrowed as she finally got her tongue unstuck. “Dinah, hi. Tomorrow?”
Her former professor began to laugh. “Sorry, sorry. I know I sound like a crazy woman but honestly, I’m hoping you’ll say you can be on the next train up here. I need you, Kate. Like yesterday.”
Well, she couldn’t exactly say no to that, could she? She took a deep breath and took the plunge. “Sure. I can be there.”
She’d call in sick to work. Tomorrow was Wednesday, never particularly busy. Then again, Joe thought every day was busy.
“Oh, that’s wonderful. If you can get here by ten, we can talk a little beforehand. Do you have a pen? Let me give you the address.”
A minute later, Dinah rang off and Kate sat staring at the address just off 53rd Street and Seventh Avenue that she’d scrawled onto a piece of paper Tyler had handed her, along with a pen.
Her heart raced as panic tried to overtake her.
She felt Tyler’s gaze on her but she couldn’t meet it.
This job was everything she’d ever wanted. Everything she’d studied for, dreamed about.
And it meant leaving Tyler.
“Kate? Everything okay?”
No, it wasn’t.
She couldn’t do it all. She’d learned that lesson from her mother. You had to pick and choose carefully or you’d regret your choices for the rest of your life.
She’d already made a huge mistake with Arnie—
“Kate.”
Her gaze refocused on Tyler, who stared at her with concern written all over his face.
“I’m fine.” She forced a smile, but Tyler wasn’t buying it. He continued to stare until she felt compelled to spill the whole story.
“That was my professor from college. I’d called her a few weeks ago about potential jobs in New York.”
“Right after you broke up with your fiancé, I assume.”
“Yes. I figured if I was going to make a change, I might as well do it big, right?”
His expression didn’t change as he nodded, watching her like a hawk. Waiting for her to continue.
“I really didn’t expect anything to come of it.”
Why did she feel like she was apologizing? She had nothing to apologize for.
“And tomorrow?” Tyler prompted.
“The producers want to meet me.”
“So this is a done deal?”
“No.”
“But you want the job?”
She opened her mouth to say yes but the word wouldn’t come. “I’d have to think about it.”
“Why? Isn’t this exactly what your degree is in?”
She sighed. “Well, yes, but it’s a huge decision. I’d have to move to New York City and find a place to live that won’t bankrupt me. And even though I love the city . . . I’m not sure I want to live there.”
Tyler leaned back in his chair, in a position she knew meant he was formulating a response. “But this job, it’s a foot in the door.”
“It’s off-Broadway, but yes, if I’m good enough, I could move up the ranks.”
“I don’t think there’s any doubt you’re good enough.”
Tears welled at the confidence in his voice. He believed in her.
“You’ll need pictures for your portfolio. Do you have one? What about a resume? Is yours current?”
Her head began to spin as Tyler rattled off questions. So much to think about. And why did it feel like he was pushing her at this job? Was that her guilt talking?
“Tyler, wait. I appreciate all the ideas, but I don’t have enough time to do more than update my resume. I can’t take new photos, there’s no time. Although I have two pieces—”
“What about Sabrina? Maybe she could model for you tonight. Or I’m sure Annabelle would be willing.”
Her brain hadn’t gotten that far yet but she immediately latched on to the idea. “That’s brilliant. I’ll text her and see if she’s free tonight. But . . . Shit. I don’t have studio space and I can’t—”
“No problem. We’ll do it at the spa. We’ll find a bare room and I’ll get Greg to come up and take them. He’s handy with a camera.”
Once again she was speechless. An Oscar-winning Hollywood producer was going to take photos for her portfolio so she could show it to a pair of up-and-coming theater producers who might hire her as a costume manager’s assistant for an actual off-Broadway show.
And the man she loved was helping her get a job that could potentially break them up.
“I’ll call Greg now, see what his plans are. Why don’t you contact Sabrina and see if she can make it tonight. If not, call Annabelle.”
She had to bite her tongue to keep back the words that wanted to escape.
“Who died and made you boss” probably wouldn’t be a good thing to say, because he was right. About everything.
Still, she couldn’t help but feel he was pushing her away.
Tyler stood, drawing his phone from his pocket and walking toward the front window. “Hey, Greg. I need a favor for Kate.”
She remained at the table, struck dumb by Tyler’s efficiency as he steamrolled Greg into driving up to take the photos then making sure they had a room at the spa ready for them.
At one point, he turned to her and raised one eyebrow. She knew what he was thinking. Why the hell wasn’t she on the phone getting in touch with Sabrina?
Good thing Sabrina’s number was plugged into her phone or she wouldn’t have been able to remember it. Her brain was running at full speed, tripping over everything she should be doing to prepare for tomorrow.