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Chapter One
Riley
“Ithought we weren’t going to do this again.” A gravelly voice broke the silence in the semi-dark room, and I clenched my eyes tighter as the voice throbbed through my head. Man, how much did I drink last night?
A warm hand slipped under the covers and touched my leg. “You alive over there?”
I grunted. “Barely. Why are you here, Ethan?”
“Don’t tell me you don’t remember? You wanted me to stay. You practically begged me to tuck you in.” He rolled to his side, spooning behind me, his hand curled around my hip, his morning hard-on pressing to my backside. “You don’t remember that?”
I shook my head slightly and winced.
“Bad hangover?” I nodded, and he kissed my shoulder. “Want me to make you coffee?”
I nodded again, and he kissed my shoulder once more before he let his hand rub over my hip to my bare thigh and then slide away. I managed to split my eyes wide enough to watch his naked backside as he bent down to get his boxers off the floor. I’d have to be dead not to want to watch him naked. I closed them as he turned back to me and leaned over to kiss my brow.
“I’ll be right back.”
As soon as he was gone from the room, I forced myself to throw the covers back and literally rolled out of bed. On my hands and knees on the floor, I felt the room spin. My god, how muchdidI drink last night? I pulled myself off the floor and to my feet as my stomach rolled.
I managed to make it to the toilet and put my head in my hands as I used it, moaning softly. I’d gone out last night to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, and I remembered drinking a few beers, but that was normal for me. As I tried to remember what else I’d consumed, I suddenly had a memory of doing Jägermeister shots with Evan and my brother Huntley.
Damn them! I knew better than to do shots, especially on a weekday! It was hard enough recovering on the weekend. Dealing with a bunch of fourth graders was less than appealing with a pounding headache.
I stumbled to the shower, hoping the hot water would ease the pounding in my head, and tried to remember if I did beg him to stay. I couldn’t recall it, but I’m sure I did—it wouldn’t be the first time I had coerced Ethan into my bed. Coerced? Nah. That would imply I had forced him. Ethan always came willingly.
I sighed and pushed myself through the shower routine. Once I was done and my hair was pulled up in a messy bun, I returned to my bedroom with a towel wrapped around my body. On my dresser was a steaming cup of coffee. I scooped it up with two hands, inhaling deeply before taking a sip. Ah—perfect. I took another needed sip.
I glanced around and didn’t see any of his clothing, but my bed was made. Maybe he left already. That was fine with me. It wasn’t the first time we had slept with one another, although the last time was supposed to have been thelast time.
I finished dressing, collected my phone and coffee, and went downstairs. I stopped when I entered the kitchen area. Ethan was sitting at the breakfast bar, his short hair flat on one side from sleeping, his dark-blue shirt wrinkled and untucked, and his attention on his phone.
“I thought you left.”
He lifted his gaze to mine before his blue eyes skimmed my clothing. “No, I was waiting to give you a ride back to your car.”
Whoops! I forgot about that. “Okay, give me a couple of minutes.”
“How are you feeling?”
“I’ll live.” I dug around in the fridge for something to make for lunch and settled on ham and cheese. I made my sandwich, grabbed some precut veggies and bagged them, and then tossed it all into my lunchbox.
“Don’t forget the dressing cup for your veggies. You want to grab breakfast on the way?”
“Oh, damn, thanks.” I grabbed a single-serve dressing cup and tossed it into my bag before I glanced at the clock. “Um, I’m not sure I’ll have time.”
“Why don’t I call in an order at Coral’s, and we can grab it on the way to get your car? You can eat it at work while you read your email.”
“Okay.”
“You want your usual?”
“Yeah,” I replied as I filled my to-go coffee mug. Ethan was just hanging up when I gathered all my stuff, and we headed out the door.
I climbed into his truck and rolled my eyes as he lifted my bra off the seat. “I think you forgot something in your rush to get me in your bed last night.”
Shit! I seriously didn’t even remember that. “Give me that. I’d be pissed if I lost that. It’s my favorite one.” I grabbed it off his finger and shoved it into my tote bag, trying to hide my embarrassment.
