...“What did you find?” she asked, opening the door just a crack.

Will gaped at her, his eyes wide and mouth hanging open as he took her in fully. His Adam’s apple bobbed, his hands clenching and unclenching around the garment. “I…um…” he stammered, his gaze fixed on her chest. “You’re not, um…”

Monica felt her cheeks burn with a red-hot blush. Even though she had herself completely covered, she realized she was probably giving him more than an eyeful for the time period. “Sorry.”

“I meant to say you’re not dry. You’re wet, soaking wet.” He glanced further down her body, then up at her face, which didn’t help her embarrassment in the least. Another hungry glance like that from him and she would be soaking wet. “I didn’t expect that.”

“Hold on.” She fumbled with a silver comb, an antique even in the ’40s, and struggled to pull it through her long, tangled locks. “Let me comb out my hair first and I’ll be right, um, with you. If you’d mind.” She gave a hard yank and nearly tore her hair out at the roots. Teeth gritted, she continued to struggle, wishing she had her travel-size rosemary and mint conditioner from Aveda.

“Just two more…” The comb slipped from her grasp and hung from her mess of hair. “…seconds. Almost…there.”

Rather than leave, Will stood in the doorway, still holding a pair of pajamas, with his eyes fixed on her. The initial shock had worn off into intrigue and a hint of concern. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

“Fine.” She swiped nervously at her hair and raked the comb’s teeth against her shoulder, leaving behind a line of red marks.

“You’re going to hurt yourself, Monica.” Will pushed the bathroom door fully open and stepped in behind her, reaching for the comb. “Hold still.”

“Really, it’s not a big deal.”

His hand closed over hers, warm, reassuring, and completely unexpected. The contact froze her in place, leaving her full attention on their reflections in the mirror.

“Now, then,” he said, “hold still.”

“This is really…” Unnecessary didn’t seem to fit what she felt inside. Life would go on if she told him to get out now, but she didn’t want him to leave. She wanted him to stay, to give her a hearty slice of forbidden fruit—and feed it to her.

With a closed-lip smile, he looked as though he knew her thoughts. Gently he pushed her hand away from her head and began to untangle her hair, starting from the ends and working his way up to her scalp. She watched him concentrate, completely focused on her and her alone, which made her conscious of her unsteady breaths. Her toes curled against the soft rug beneath her feet, hands struggled to remain flat against her warm, damp towel, but she couldn’t keep herself still. She needed something to do, a way to preoccupy herself, remove her body from the sensuality of his touch.

“Tilt back your head.”

For a moment she fought the urge to obey him, but he ran the tips of his fingers along her shoulders and she allowed her head to roll back. He raked through her hair with the comb, then with his long, steady fingers, massaging her scalp.

Stroke after stroke he sent tingles through her body, a wave of invitations to lean back against him, close her eyes, and enjoy the feel of him. Each time she blinked she swore she felt herself falling. Faster. Deeper. Further away from home, from the suffocating restraints of her good senses. From Alan, who would have had the sense to rummage through the linen closet for detangler and hand it to her through the open door.

Suddenly she stood away from him and reached for the comb. “That’s enough,” she said quickly, her heart racing.

“Did I hurt you? I was trying my best to be careful.”

Her nipples had never felt so tight and painful before, which made her only more aware of his affect on her.

“I’m fine,” she said, adding, “but it’s cold in here. Can you shut the door so I can get dressed? It’s already late and I need a good night’s sleep for tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?”

“So I can get out of here.”

Will bowed his head and reached for the doorknob. “Yes, I suppose that’s true.”

“I don’t want to be in your way, Will.”

“Monica—”