Page 68 of Changing Lanes

“I wanted to.” His eyebrows dip with determination I don’t fully understand. “And you’re welcome. So, it’s settled then? You’ll be my assistant?” At my silence he urges, “What else do you have to do today?”

“Wash my hair?” It comes out as a joke but washing this mop is no laughing matter. That shit takes forever and is a real arm killer. I already feel a bone deep soreness from last night setting in.

Beckett’s eyes spark with mischief as he leans down to rest his lips a breath from my ear, saying, “I can do that for you, too. Shower with me and I’ll wash everything.”

As usual, Beckett has to go and fuck things up. The guy just can’t help but play around.

Twisting my head to the side so my lips mimic his just below his ear, I murmur, “We both know I’m more than capable of taking care of my own needs.”

Large palms flatten against the wall next to my head.

“You can never give me an inch, can you?”

Scoffing, I push him back. “Not when you’re constantly talking shit.”

“Who says I’m talking shit?” He frowns, making me squint up at him.

Isn’t he always? That’s what Beckett does—he riles up my hormones before stirring the cauldron of bubbling estrogen, trying to piss me off.

But this morning, I can’t deny he’s being different. So far anyway. I just don’t know how long it’ll last.

“You can’t bullshit a bullshitter, baby.”

His scowl deepens as I shove past into the hall between our rooms and surprisingly he lets me go but not before calling to my back, “We leave in twenty.”

“We’ll see about that,” I mumble as I shut the bathroom door.

And lock it.

CHAPTER 16

Paige

Forty minutes later, Beckett finds me sitting cross-legged on the counter in an oversized tee and my favorite pair of shredded shorts. Through fresh eyes I watch him approach as I lift a steaming mug of chai tea to my lips.

“We could save a ton of time if we start showering together, you know? Not to mention all the water we’d be saving. It’s the green thing to do, really. We’re being irresponsible when you think about it.”

A smirk tips my lip as I set my tea down. “Uh huh, sure. And do you? Think about it?”

His eyes scan me and even though I’m fully dressed, I shift to cover what he can’t even see. What I hope he never finds.

Somehow it feels like he already has though. Things are changing. There’s been a shift. A weight’s been lifted from the heavy strain between the two of us. It’s lighter. He’s lighter. I’m lighter—lighter than I’ve been in weeks, months, maybe longer.

More serious than I’ve ever seen him, he joins me at the counter. Standing against the smooth surface, Beckett grabs my legs, slowly unfolding them to fit on each side of his hips before bringing his hands up to my face and saying, “It’s one of my favorite hobbies.”

I shove his shoulder making him crack a smile. He doesn’t bother removing his hands though and I grin against the pads of his thumbs.

“Let me put something on that and we’ll head out.” He nods to my forehead.

“You don’t have to baby me. I already took care of it. And I’m not going. My face is jacked three ways from Sunday. I don’t need anyone gawking at me.”

Finally dropping his hands, he settles them on my thighs that are still spread around his and scoffs. “People gawk at you anyway. Your face is perfect, it’s just a little banged up right now.” My cheeks warm from his words. There is nothing perfect about me but it still feels good to hear him say it. “But if you don’t want anyone staring at you, consider it done. I thought that was already established but if you need me to say it, fine, nobody but me will so much as look your way.”

My eyes narrow. “Does everyone find your arrogance as annoying as I do?”

“God, I love it when you talk dirty to me,” he growls. “Now come on, girl, let’s go. We’re already late because you had to wash your hair.”

“I didn’t wash my hair,” I tell him seriously.