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I hadn’t fallen asleep next to a man in years. The last attempt had been with a twenty-two-year-old barista who had eaten potato chips next to me while thumbing through channels. He’d half-heartedly offered me some of my own chips before shushing me, so he could hear the television. Mr. Oinks had liked him. He’d joined us in bed and licked the bag clean, finding several crumbs in the sheets and smacking his gums with excitement. I had told the guy that I didn’t eat in bed, and didn’t want to give Mr. Oinks any ideas, to which he had stared at me, before informing me that Mr. Oinks was a pig. As if the giant nostrils and fat pink belly didn’t give it away. I had kicked him out a few minutes later, slamming the door dramatically and swearing on a stack of Cosmos that I was done with men forever.
But this wasn’t all that bad. It was pretty great, actually. I rested my head on his chest and closed my eyes. Maybe, for a few minutes, I could forget about all of the latent dangers, ignore my responsibilities, and just enjoy the moment.
From the floor, Mr. Oinks grunted in approval.
22
Declan woke up alone, the sun streaming through half-closed blinds and painting lines across the opposite wall. Lifting his head, he listened, the faint sound of voices coming from somewhere else in the house. He looked around for his phone and winced at the time. Almost nine-fifteen. Late. Then again, he hadn’t had that sort of workout in a while. He grinned and swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood, finding his jeans in the corner of the room and pulling them on. His shirt was twisted in the sheets. He unbuttoned it and pulled the first sleeve on as he walked down the hall, following the voices.
The hall opened to a living room, one he vaguely remembered passing through last night. What he hadn’t noticed then was the dining room alcove, situated on the far end of the room. The space was now filled with Autumn and three men in suits. He came to a stop, wary at the sight of the strangers, who all hulked over Autumn. She flitted between their intimidating builds, a clipboard in hand, and didn’t hesitate at the sight of him. “Oh good, you’re awake!” She beamed, and he couldn’t help matching her smile. She was so gorgeous, especially like this—barefoot in a thin white T-shirt and faded jeans, her hair loose and wild, eyes bright and excited. She whirled to one side and pointed to the first suit. “This is—” she consulted her clipboard—“Mark. And Cooper.” Her pen swung to the third man. “And France. I’ve already spoken to each of them, but thought you might want to do mini-interviews before we made a decision? Or, several decisions?”
He’d missed something. He slowly pulled his arm through the second sleeve and tried to piece together the clues. Big strangers. That he was interviewing. For him and Autumn to make a decision. Or several decisions. He worked his hand through the cuff and didn’t miss the brief moment when Autumn’s eyes dropped to his abs. He tightened them and appreciated the flush that hit her cheeks. God, she’d been so fucking sexy last night. So expressive. So responsive. She’d come alive under his touch, demanding pleasure while delivering it, her body bucking under his, her legs wrapping around him, hands traveling all over him. He met her eyes and grinned, fighting the urge to lift her over his shoulder and carry her back in the bedroom right now, random strangers with unknown purposes be damned.
She put a fist on her hip and raised her eyebrows. “Well?” Judging by the all-business look on her face, she wasn’t as blown away from last night’s memories as he was. If he did heft her over his shoulder, she’d most likely knee him in the balls.
“Could I talk to you for a moment?” He stepped back and tilted his head toward the porch. “Alone?”
“Sure.” She tossed her clipboard on the table and moved through the living room and out the front door, holding it for him. “But you should button up that shirt before you give my neighbors a heart attack.”
He shut the door behind them and glanced through its window, checking on the three men, who were all still in place. He turned to Autumn. “I seem to be missing something. Who are these guys?”
“Potential bodyguards.” She delivered the statement as if it was perfectly reasonable.
“For you? Is this because of the guy from last night?” That wasn’t a bad idea. She’d had a traumatic experience and needed to know that she was safe. It was overkill, but if it helped her to… She shook her head, interrupting his chain of thought.
