Chapter 17: Playing with Fire

I’d already gotten a glimpse of most of the apartment, but Brennan was eager to show me around again. He opened a door I hadn’t noticed before, revealing his home office.

We made our way to the back of the apartment where another door led to a flight of stairs.

“Is there a second floor?” I asked, as we started to ascend.

“Actually, it’s the roof. Part of the penthouse perks.”

“Wow, fancy,” I teased.

Brennan opened the door, and we stepped out onto the roof. It wasn’t bare as I’d expected.

A picnic table sat under a large umbrella to the left, and potted plants were scattered around, adding a touch of green. In one corner, a round tub caught my eye. I walked over to it, grinning.

“You have a hot tub.” I ran my fingers over the logo.

“Yeah,” he murmured. “It’s warm…if you want to, uh, try it.”

“I don’t have a swimsuit. Actually, I need to go shopping tomorrow. All my clothes are in storage.”

“You can wear your underwear—or, you know, whatever you’re comfortable with. I have a washing machine and a dryer.

“I don’t usually have time for the laundromat, so I have a housekeeper who comes in, anyway…” He paused. “Feel free, it’s underused anyway.”

My curiosity won over my shyness, and I nodded.

“Okay.”

Brennan walked to the hot tub and lifted the lid off. He turned up the heat and switched on the light and jets.

“I’ll go get you some towels,” he said, heading back to the roof entrance. I dipped my fingers into the water. It was already hot, and the jets blasted against my hand with a surprising force.

I stepped back, pulled my dress over my head, and dropped it onto the ground. Then I walked back to the hot tub and climbed up onto the steps.

Just as I was settling down, Brennan emerged from the door, holding some towels and a glass of wine. He placed the towels over a deck chair then handed me the wine.

“Thanks.” I smiled, accepting it, keeping my hand above water but sinking until my shoulders were submerged. Brennan watched me for a moment before walking over to the edge of the roof.

“The door’s unlocked. I’ll come back up and put the lid on once you come in.”

Our eyes met. Brennan swallowed hard and clenched his jaw.

“You’re not getting in?” I asked.

Brennan looked away, his gaze sweeping over the rest of Tribeca. He leaned against his arms on the edge.

“I don’t want to do anything stupid,” he finally replied, pushing himself upright.

My stomach churned. ~What did he mean by something stupid?~

I brought the wine glass to my lips and tried not to down it in one go, but I did. I bit my lip and placed the glass down on the edge of the hot tub.

“We’re both adults,” I murmured. “I think we can restrain ourselves.”

Brennan made a sound, but I couldn’t decipher it. He walked to where the towels were and began to unbutton his shirt. I averted my eyes, suddenly regretting my decision to assert my ability to restrain myself.

He removed his suit pants, then walked to the edge of the hot tub and climbed in, wearing just his boxers.

Brennan sighed and sank into the water, letting his head rest against the edge as he closed his eyes.

“Actually needed this,” he said softly. “It’s been a crazy week.”

Guilt began to bubble within me, almost as strongly as the hot tub jets. I’d played my part in Brennan’s stress.

“I didn’t help,” I replied.

Brennan’s eyes flicked back open, and he looked over at me, confused.

“Hey, some of the best moments I’ve had this week were with you. Don’t take my grumpiness to heart. It’s not you.”

My hairs stood up on the back of my neck. I could think of a few pretty good moments too—ones I’d been trying to forget about since they had happened.

Then I remembered, Brennan had many good moments, with many girls. I sat up straight and sucked in a breath. Brennan noted my change in position and sat up as well.

“Everything okay?”

“Uh, yeah. Just wondering how many girls you’ve brought up here,” I said.

Brennan frowned slightly before a smile danced across his face. “Are you jealous?”

I shook my head, almost too emphatically to be believable.

“I just don’t like the thought of relaxing in someone else’s…juices.”

I cringed as the words left my mouth. I sounded like a prude, and I felt like one. Brennan chuckled and lay back in the water.

“Relax, the water is changed regularly.” He paused before looking directly at me. “And I’ve never brought a woman back to my apartment. Period.”

I wanted to ask how that was possible, but part of me didn’t really want to know. I sat back and rested my head against the edge again.

“So just me, huh?”

“Only you,” he replied.

I was sure the only reason he was comfortable with me being here was because I had been his PA for so long. We were comfortable.

I closed my eyes and found myself imagining his hand brushing my leg under the water. Such a connection would crumble my resolve. I’d be on him, straddling him.

The heat was beginning to get to me or maybe it was the two glasses of wine I’d had. I forced my eyes open and pushed the unwelcome fantasy away.

“So where are you planning on living when you leave New York?” Brennan asked, breaking the silence.

“With my dad for a while, I guess. Although he keeps telling me I need to do what I want, not what I think he wants.”

“Wise man,” he said. “I envy the relationship you’ve always had with your parents. It all seems so natural.”

I smiled. That was the one thing in life I was most thankful for. It hurt like hell now that Mom was gone, but because of our bond, I had a lifetime of amazing memories to fall back on.

“Yours is improving, B.”

“Only because of you,” he replied.

I turned my gaze to him. He was still reclining, eyes shut, his arm bracing him against the tub’s edge. I reached out, placing my hand on his.

“Brennan, you’re a good man. Every word I said at the wedding, it was all true. And it’s not just about them believing it. They’ll see it for themselves. Because they love you.”