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“Whatever,” I breathe, willing my vision to focus.
“I wish horrible things didn’t happen to drunk women, but you should be aware of your alcohol intake around strangers.” He opens the passenger door.
God, can he not be right for one second?“Sc-screw you, Iaaan.”
“Yeah, time for you to get some rest.” He motions to the door. “Get in.”
“No.” I push away from the truck to stumble toward the back. Again, tracing my hand along the side for balance. His eyes close as I watch his chest rise. His shoulders square as his jaw ticks. Maybe I’m finally sobering up.
“Get in, or I will pick you up and put you in there myself.”
“J-just cuz you shoot orders at me, doessnn mean I listen.” I feel myself losing this battle each time I slur a response.
“You don’t get to make reckless choices around me when you are this drunk.” He shakes his head, extending a hand to grab.
“Believe me, I know the outcomes of my drunken choices.” I can’t hide my regret, and his face softens, going back to one of the moments that drove me out of town.
“Get. In. Now, Emery.” He holds his hand out to me.
“I can do it.” I let go of the truck, only to trip my first step forward.
His arms catch me in a charming photo-worthy dip. Worry fills his gaze as our eyes meet. My throat constricts as my stomach turns without enough warning. “Oh, no,” I whine, turning my head quick enough to empty my stomach contents beside him.
My vision fades as I feel myself lifting off the ground.
* * *
Is my brain a balloon? Throbs expand with each pulse as I wake. I keep my heavy eyes shut as my body sinks deep into the bed. Earl Gray tea whiffs through the air, willing me to enjoy this moment. I sigh, sinking into the comfiest mattress, and the heavy comforter engulfs me like a weighted hug. Never have I been in a bed this inviting. I freeze, sensing something isn’t right.Shit, never have I been in this bed. I squint one eye open to observe the foreign scenery. I’m not in Hallie’s guest room.
A log wall with a deer head greets me, and if I wasn’t sick to my stomach from this hangover, the poor dead animal would do it. I’m definitely in a cabin. Slight panic runs through me as I memorize the surroundings, just in case I need to escape a creep planning to hold me captive in the woods. I turn my head toward the devil that hangovers call sunlight.My heart jumps to my throat in surprise at who greets me.
“You’re kidding me.” Air vacates my lungs as I try to piece together last night. This can’t be real. I shouldn’t be waking up inhisbed. “What the hell am I doing here?” I sit up. Pain punishes me as it radiates through my head.
“Good morning to you too, Daisy Girl.” Ian smiles, lounging in the chair with a coffee in one hand and a notebook in the other. “Tea?” He motions to the mug on the nightstand.
“What?” My stomach turns with uncertainty. “Why am I in this bed?” I glance down at my jeans on the floor. “Did we––”
“I require sobriety to go along with consent. And those who are single.” He takes a sip from his mug. “But if you ever did wake up with me, you’d be in my arms, or with my head between your legs.” His voice is light, and the cockiness in his tone is oddly comforting. “I slept on the couch, only after I was convinced you didn’t have alcohol poisoning.”
“But my pants…” I think I’m still too drunk to piece things together. “I’m in your shirt.”
“You started to undress when we arrived. My shirt was the only thing you agreed to keep on…after some convincing.” His side smirk and tilt of his head tell me information is being withheld for his amusement.
“Why did you bring me here? I could have gone back to Hallie’s or elsewhere.”
“It was one in the morning, Emery. Taking you trick or treating for somewhere to sleep would be impolite.” He stands, taking a seat on the bed, and I fight to keep my eyes off his well-earned abs. “A simplethank youwould be nice.”
“I’m not done yet.” Worry fills me since this is the second time I have ever blacked out, and the first time I woke up in my own bed to my aunt. “Did you see me naked?”
“Even if I did, I didn’t act on it.” I wish I had the strength to slap the amused smirk off his lips. “Last I heard, you have a fiancé. I wouldn’t ruin that for you.”
“Well, aren’t you charming.”
“And handsome.” He wiggles his eyebrows.
I roll my eyes. “The sight of you is repulsing.”
“I’d look in a mirror before you throw out jabs.” He nods, setting his mug beside mine on the nightstand.
