She still thought she could take a shower, but she didn’t bother trying to argue with him. There just wasn’t much point. She knew he wouldn’t listen.
Returning, he lifted her up and carried her into the bathroom.
“You’re going to have to let me walk sometime,” she told him.
“Why?”
“Because . . . eventually I’ll need to go places without you.”
“Then Aleki or Caleb can carry you.”
“What about if I’m on my own?
“Why would you need to go anywhere on your own?”
All right. She wasn’t sure how she was having this conversation with him. He set her down on the counter then opened the cabinet beneath her, pulling out some bubble bath. Her eyes widened as she stared at the number of bottles in the cupboard. He started opening each one and sniffing them.
“Umm, how much bubble bath do you have? Caleb has been using the same one each day.”
He grunted. “I don’t like the scent of that one. So I got some more delivered. I figured we could try each one until I find the right one for you.”
“How I smell is important?” Well, obviously she didn’t want to stink. But she didn’t think that her scent would matter all that much to him.
“Yes. It is.” He finally held one up. “Jasmine. Let’s try this one.”
She shrugged. She liked the smell of jasmine. He poured some into the water and immediately bubbles started appearing. She clapped her hands excitedly.
He gave her a surprised look. “You like bubbles.”
“How can anyone not like bubbles? They’re so fun. Can I hop in now?”
“Not yet,” he warned. “I have to make sure it’s not too hot or cold.” He tested the water then turned off the tap. “It’s good.”
He helped her take off the T-shirt then lifted her up, carrying her to the bath and lowering her slowly. She sighed as she slid into the water.
“I’m sure I’ve got matching shampoo and conditioner in here.” He moved back to the cabinet, her eyes nearly dropped out of her head as she took in the bottles of stuff in there. Had he bought out half the store?
He turned around, carrying some bottles. “Gonna need something to rinse it out. Wait there.”
She hadn’t planned on going anywhere.
While he was gone, she washed herself and played with the bubbles. Bubbles were the best. When he returned, she was scooping them up with one hand and blowing them off. Her shoulders hunched as she waited for him to tell her that she was being silly.
William would have. Although she didn’t think she’d ever taken a bath with him around. She wouldn’t have been able to relax enough to enjoy it. That wasn’t a worry here. Even though she felt nervous having a bath in front of Wolfe, it was more of an excited nervousness.
Wolfe was constantly surprising her. He wasn’t a man you could easily predict. That was for certain.
“I stopped in the playroom and got a few things from the bathroom attached,” he told her. He was holding up a small baby’s bath. He tilted it so she could see some bath toys inside, along with a plastic mug that was obviously double-walled as it had little fish swimming in the glass.
“Want to play with some toys? You don’t have to,” he added after she didn’t say anything.
She did. She just wasn’t sure she’d feel comfortable enough. She glanced up at Wolfe, but there was no judgment. Just a calmness.
This was something he said he wanted too.
“Do you think it’s strange, a grown woman wanting to play with toys?”
His eyes narrowed. “I think a lot of things are strange. Telling someone they look good when they clearly don’t. Not telling someone to close their mouth when they’re eating because it’s disgusting. Having money that’s all one color. Pumpkin ice cream. What’s with that? Ice cream and vegetables are not meant to mix. Next thing you know, there will be spinach ice cream. Or brussels sprouts ice cream.”