No, not just trapped.
My arm is cradling the soft, warm curve of a woman’s hip.
No fucking way.
I’m in bed with a woman?
Panic lances through me, but then memories of last night materialize in my mind, and my breathing steadies.
I must have fallen asleep with Evangeline.
Stretching my free arm around my back, I try in vain to reach my pocket. As if my phone knows I’m awake, it vibrates against my ass.
I slam my eyes shut. This is my emergency work phone. Any notification, especially first thing in the morning, can’t be good.
With a soft hum, Evangeline rolls over, freeing the arm that’s been wrapped under her lower half.
Slowly, not wanting to disturb her, I retreat.
Once I’m free, I survey her, ensuring she’s still asleep. But I don’t allow myself the pleasure of really drinking her in. I can’t afford towaste another second. After I’ve confirmed she’s still out, I flop onto my back, clamoring for my device, then squinting at the screen.
Eleven missed calls and twenty-two messages. Fuck. My gut plummets when I see the time.
It’s 9:13 a.m.
I had an early breakfast meeting scheduled with my race director, followed by a slew of media interviews beginning at eight.
Every bone in my body is urging me to scramble out of bed and get down to the paddock. I’ll need to pop into my room for a change of clothes and to brush my teeth and do something about my hair. But as more flashes of last night trickle into my consciousness, the pull to leave this room practically disappears. I turn, allowing myself to finally take Evangeline in. This woman well and truly broke down in my arms last night.
She was so distraught, sobbing as I helplessly held her, giving her hollow assurance that she was okay.
She trusted me to see the most raw, vulnerable parts of her. That sort of candor requires a special kind of trust. The worst thing I could do after all that is abandon her. The last thing she needs is to wake up to an empty bed.
There’s no version of this morning in which I leave her before she wakes up.
I need to go, but I can’t. I have commitments and responsibilities to my team, but right now, all I care about is her.
Roughing a hand through my hair, I scan the unread texts. When I discover they’re all from my assistant, I breathe a sigh of relief.
Alaric
Just now waking up and seeing all this. Sorry for the delayed response. I didn’t sleep at all last night, then finally passed out a few hours ago.
I hit send and stare at the ceiling, waiting for his reply. It’s not uncommon for me to struggle with sleep, especially the first few nights in a new place.
Quinn
No worries. I figured as much and rescheduled your first few meetings.
Quinn’s a good man. I’m lucky to have found him when my old pal from Archway Prep Academy mentioned his executive assistant was looking for a new role.
Alaric
Please extend my apologies wherever needed. You can extend my schedule as late as necessary to accommodate the people I missed meeting with this morning. I should be in the office by noon, but don’t reschedule anything before 2 pm, just in case.
Surely by then Evangeline will have woken up, and we’ll have had a chance to talk.
That also buys me a few hours to shower and get my head on straight.
