Chapter 23

"I'll be staying with you," he murmured.

Her spine stiffened and she stared down at the floor of the tub. Damn, even his big feet were sexy. "I don't think so."

Theo sighed. "I know things might - no, will - get awkward, but, Star, I can't leave you alone. If by some sick twist of fate this is real, and if you did change inside the house, you'd be so vulnerable - I couldn't have that on my conscience. Not as your former lover, not even as a family friend." Tenderly he rinsed the suds from her hair then picked up a bar of soap and began to wash her skin. Everywhere he touched, she felt as if she were on fire, and the wetness between her legs had nothing to do with the water.

She wanted to argue, but he was right. Besides, nothing had ever felt quite so good as standing here with him. She even forgot all about the dull throb of her ankle. "Okay. Thank you."

Then she made the mistake of looking up. He was staring down at her, his lids heavy, his lip caught between his teeth. Her hands