The Ex Factor Read Online Free PDF

sweet.” She smoothed her hair, and her fingers met grit. “Ugh. I’m a mess.”
    “Me, too. You’re welcome to take a shower.”
    God, he’d already tensed up, reverting to the cold business persona. “You’re not going to make good on your earlier offer?”
    The hardness set in his features melted. “Do you want me to?” he asked softly.
    “I know this is very new, and a little weird—for both of us.” She meant to reassure him, but it sounded wrong. “I don’t want it to be. So no pretenses, okay? Just be yourself, and I’ll be myself.”
    He paced away like a lion in a zoo. “Easy for you. You’re sweet and likeable. I’m kind of, uh, the opposite.”
    She followed and held his shoulders. Beneath her hands, his tension eased, so she stroked his hair. “I don’t believe that. I think you need someone to take care of you.”
    With a wry smile, he shook his head. “I’m pretty self-sufficient.”
    “In most areas, I’m sure.” She traced her fingers down his mouth. “But some things generally require two people to make them memorable.” She drew his head to hers and lightly kissed him.
    “Good point.”
    Ah, there was that mischievous sparkle in his eyes. “I’m an intelligent woman.”
    “Oh, I know.”
    Another pleasant surprise. He said it with no trace of sarcasm, no condescension. Instead, respect. So elated, she wanted to give an impromptu imitation of Aretha and strip for him while singing R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Don’t push it so soon .
    “Excellent. So, where is the shower?” She couldn’t wait to strip him. Get a good look at him, finally, and maybe a repeat of earlier. Unless he has something better up his…shorts .
    “Right this way.” Grasping her hand, he led her up the stairs. Halfway down a wide hallway, he reached in and hit another switch. “Voila.”
    Simple yet elegant. He opened the closet opposite the double sinks, removed two oversized white towels, and guided her to the more spacious area. A glass-encased shower sat across from a large bathtub set in a tiled platform, a wide window overlooking the ocean and an impossibly fluffy white rug stretched beside it.
    Drawn to it, she crossed her arms. “Oh, you need candles. Lots of candles.”
    “Would you believe I’ve never used that once?”
    “Are you serious? What a waste.” She sat on the tile ledge. Mm, definitely big enough for two. And Jacuzzi jets. “Want to break it in tonight?”
    “It probably takes awhile to fill, though two faucets helps.”
    “We can keep ourselves occupied in the meantime.” She slid off a boot and dropped it to the floor, then the other.
    He pressed his lips together, and she could practically see the ideas whirling through his head. “Be right back.” He shot out the door.
    “Okay then.” A twist of the knobs, and the faucet gushed. While it filled, she moved the soaps and shampoo to the ledge and crouched beside the vanity to search for a candle, even a flashlight. Nothing. “Damn.”
    At a clinking sound, she looked up.
    Arms filled with a new bottle of wine , two glasses, an ice bucket and—hallelujah—candles, he grinned. “Brought some supplies.”
    She rose and relieved him of the candles. “Ah, yes, the necessities.”
    He twisted his torso to reveal a long lighter protruding from his back pocket.
    “You remembered. Extra points for that.” She plucked the lighter, patted his rear, and set to work arranging and lighting the candles. “Worth sacrificing the wine we forgot on the beach, huh?”
    Long legs stretching from the corner of the ledge, he dipped his hand in the water, then turned off the valves. “Definitely much nicer. Great idea.”
    She eased onto his lap. Before kissing him, she said softly, “I’m full of them.”
    Apparently, so was he. Their kiss deepened and, without breaking it, he unzipped her hoodie and caressed her breasts.
    She shrugged out of the sweatshirt and inched his sweater up and over his head. Her hands followed the expanse of his