Soft Lies and Hard Truths by Dalia Dupris

Author:Dalia Dupris [Dupris, Dalia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FIC027020 FICTION / Romance / Contemporary
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2023-10-23T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Miguel

The television is on, but it doesn’t make any sense for me to pretend that I’m concentrating on anything besides the fact that my Leah, the woman I have pined for, is naked in my bathroom. When soft moans emanate from the other side of the door, I groan and spring up from the sofa. Now would be a good time to do fifty push-ups. Dropping to the floor, I assume the correct exercise position, legs back, arms straight and supporting my upper torso. Down and up. Take a deep breath and repeat. Anything to rid myself of the image of the luscious woman of my dreams, skin glistening with warm water and bubbles, stepping out of the tub, looking like a goddess sent from Heaven to tempt my resolve to do the right thing.

Twenty minutes later, I’m drenched with sweat and experiencing muscle fatigue when the bathroom door squeaks open.

“Oh crap.” I’ve been so busy visualizing her curves that I forgot to hang a T-shirt on the outer doorknob. Jumping up from the floor, I sprint to the bedroom, grab the first shirt I see and rush to hang it on the doorknob seconds before Leah’s fingers reach out and grasp it.

This is going to be one long night. Being here with Leah is a dumb idea. If I’d had a lick of sense, I’d have checked to see if there was at least one room available despite my father’s assertion that he needed the room I had originally checked into. Had his statement been his way of letting me know how little he thought of me or was it accurate? If I had given it a second thought, I would have touched base with my mother, but none of that matters now. As uncomfortable as the situation is, I’m pleased to offer Leah a way to decompress after the challenges she’s been experiencing, first, with Raymond and, now, with her father.

In the kitchen, I grab a paper towel and swipe the perspiration from my forehead before chugging down a bottle of water. I can’t complicate her life further by telling her how I feel. At least, not now, but her being here is a huge trial. One bed for two people—one of who happens to be in love with the other person—would be a test for even the most disciplined man.

I have to keep my hands to myself and not share what’s in my heart. Opening the front door, I peer into the dark night and let the brisk air cool me down. No streetlights out here, so all I see are the stars and sometimes the moon. I remind myself that I’ve been in love with her for a ridiculous number of years. What’s one night together in a romantic suite?

Shaking my head to clear it, I acknowledge that it wouldn’t matter if we were in a two-star motel; my desire for Leah would be the same.

Time to suck it up and develop a fool-proof strategy to get through this night.

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