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He rose, gathered his sleeping bag and rolled it into a tight bundle, securing the ties around it.After he tucked it into a corner, he helped Felina move the tables back where they belonged.
“Why don’t you get dressed while I find some breakfast for the two of us,” he said.
“I don’t usually eat this early.But coffee would be wonderful.I keep the coffee corner fully stocked out front for me, my delivery driver and customers.”
“I’ll get the coffee going while you get dressed,” he said.“When your driver arrives, I’ll duck out for food.”
“Thanks.”Felina gathered the clothes she’d need and hurried into the bathroom that doubled as a storeroom for cleaning supplies.
After splashing water on her face, Felina brushed her teeth and dried off with a paper towel.She pulled the baby doll nightgown over her head.The break-in the previous night had her rethinking sleeping in sexy, sheer garments.Perhaps, as a single woman, she’d be better off opting for oversized T-shirts that covered everything important.Her mother’s words came back to haunt her.Always wear fresh underwear.You never know when you could be in an accident or end up in a hospital.
Thankfully, she’d had on fresh underwear, but she wouldn’t have wanted her attacker to catch her in the skimpy nightgown.
She hung it on a hook on the wall and pulled on the jeans she’d worn the night before.There was something in the back pocket.She barely remembered Gisele slipping her hand back there before they’d left the Crawdad Hole.
Felina brought out a plastic packet and realized her friend had armed her with a condom.
Heat filled her chest and cheeks.Her friend had assumed she’d sleep with the handsome Delta Force soldier.She hadn’t been completely wrong.
Yes, Felina had slept with Lucas.On a hard floor.Nothing had happened that would have necessitated the use of the condom.The man had been a perfect gentleman.
“Sadly,” Felina murmured and tucked the packet back into her pocket.It was just as well that nothing sexy had occurred.She’d only just gotten out of a bad relationship.Even if Lucas wasn’t on the payroll, he could only be her rebound.Right?
She dug through the stack of clothes she’d had Lucas gather, a frown forming.
No bra.
Damn.
Her girls weren’t huge, but her nipples tended to be pointy under the air conditioning.However, Felina didn’t have time to worry about the lack of a bra.She pulled a navy-blue T-shirt over her head and tucked it into the waistband of her jeans.Grabbing her socks, she exited the bathroom to find Lucas coming toward her with a mug full of steaming brew.
“Oh, thank God,” she said and accepted the mug.“I can do without a lot of things, but coffee isn’t one of them.”She sipped the hot drink carefully, letting the rich liquid soothe her nerves.A couple of sips later, she was ready to face whatever the day had to throw at her.
She set the mug on the counter, dropped into a chair and pulled on her socks and tennis shoes.“The bathroom’s all yours.It’s not equipped with a shower on this level, but you can shave and use the toilet.”
“Thanks,” Lucas said.“I’ll leave the door open in case you need me.”
“You don’t have to do that.I’ll be fine for a few minutes.Besides, you’re only a few feet away.”
His brow dipped low.“The sun hasn’t even come up.Anyone could sneak up on your shop in the dark.”
“I’ll be fine,” she said.“Go.”
Lucas reluctantly entered the bathroom and eased the door closed.The expression on his face was anything but happy about letting her out of his sight.
Felina smiled.The man took his job seriously, which made Felina glad to have him providing her security as well as pretending to be her boyfriend/lover.Until they found the man who’d trashed her apartment, Felina couldn’t feel comfortable alone.
She checked the computer for the orders due for delivery that day and started to work.
While Lucas was still in the bathroom, a loud knock sounded on the door in the front reception area.
Felina shot a glance toward the closed bathroom door, debating whether or not to answer the knock.Another knock helped her make the decision to answer the door.
She hurried from the back work area to the front customer reception area.A figure in a uniform stood on the other side of the glass door.
Felina grinned when she saw that it was her friend, Shelby Taylor.
Felina unlocked the front door and let Shelby inside.“What brings you out so early in the morning?
