Page 26 of Summer Affair

“Clear a space on your morning schedule. We have a high priority client heading your way.”

“Will do, boss,” Andrea replied as the five friends smiled back at him.

“Meddlers,” he mumbled under his breath.

“What was that?” Elle asked with a grin.

“Nothing.” He turned to head towards the pool house.

“Then go home and sleep. You look like shit,” Zoey called out as the friends chuckled.

He couldn’t be mad at them. He knew they had his best interests at heart. Besides, he was really tired. Probably too tired to work. No doubt he’d crash halfway through his shift.

Andrea was standing just outside the glass doors waiting. Her smile told him she’d heard where he’d spent the night. The worry was obvious.

“So, you’re the VIP?” she asked as he stepped into the cooler building.

“Guess so,” he mumbled.

She stopped him from walking past her, her hand going up to his chin. “What happened here?”

He frowned and then remembered Luke’s sucker-punch and shrugged.

“My ex-brother-in-law decided to go a little overboard last night,” he explained.

Andrea frowned up at him. “Did you punch him back?”

He shook his head. “Nope, which is why he’s the one sitting behind bars this morning.”

“Okay, I guess there’s more to this story,” she said, catching up with him as he headed towards one of the massage rooms. “Hey.” She laid a hand on his arm. “Is everything okay?”

He glanced up and down the hallway. “Did you really cancel your appointments this morning for me?”

“Just one. But I already had an idea you might be coming. When your mother called Elle and told her you were heading in here after spending the night at your sister’s hospital bedside, she and the rest of the Wildflowers jumped into motion.”

He rolled his head back and shut his eyes. “Busybodies.”

“They love you,” Andrea said with a chuckle. “And are worried at the same time. Still, we didn’t hear about your run-in with your brother-in-law.”

“Ex-brother-in-law,” he corrected.

She nodded. “Right. How about you tell me about it, after you change and lay on my table.”

“Fine,” he sighed. “Only because I know they’ll have someone watching the building to stop me if I try and leave without a massage.”

He glanced towards the glass doors and, sure enough, he could see Dylan and Brett standing by the pool chatting. Both of them kept stealing glances in their direction.

Andrea chuckled and then pulled him back to one of the rooms. “You know the drill. I’ll let you change.” She shut the door with him alone inside the room.

It wasn’t until he started sliding his shorts down that he realized that he’d be naked in the same room as the woman he wanted to sleep with. Sure, Andrea had given him plenty of massages in the past. But every time, he’d secretly wanted her.

And now they’d kissed and she’d told him she wanted to sleep with him. Which meant, this time, everything was different.

Chapter Eight

While Andrea had prepared for the massage with extra care, knowing Dean was her client, her nerves continued to build as she waited for him to change. Before he’d arrived, she’d dimmed the lights to a soothing level and selected a calming playlist, something she did for every client.

The scent of lavender and eucalyptus filled the air, creating a serene atmosphere. She hoped it would help him relax, especially after the difficult night he’d had at the hospital.