"You know what you're doing," she muttered to him. Heath stirred at the sound of her voice, moving quicker than she would have expected for someone who had been sound asleep. She figured that had to do with his time in the military; she would assume that being at war overseas would hone anyone's reflexes to wake quickly in the face of potential danger.
For the time being, though, it was just the face of a hungry feline. Heath let out a low chuckle, his deep voice roughened by sleep as Rocky began to sniff at his face. The hand furthest from her reached up to scratch the cat behind his ears.
"Good morning," Drew said, feeling shy and embarrassed as the memories of the previous night came rushing back to her. She wasn't sure what to say, how to say it, or whether to say anything at all. She jumped a little when she felt his other hand touch her back gently.
"Good morning," he replied. She looked into his eyes and realized she didn't need to say anything. One corner of his mouth turned up a little and after a moment he dropped his gaze, though his hand continued to gently stroke at her back. It felt wonderful.
She sighed reluctantly. "I have to start getting ready for work," she whispered.
"It's all right. I've got to get going, too," he murmured back. "I'm usually up running by now."
"Sorry," she said, genuinely regretful. "I made you miss your workout."
"You didn't make me miss anything," Heath replied, sitting up slowly so as not to jostle her. Drew scooted back to give him room. "I chose to stay here."
Drew flushed a little. "Can I make you some coffee? Some breakfast?" she asked.
"Nope, don't worry about it," Heath said, standing up and stretching. "Just some water, if you don't mind."
Drew got off the couch and went to the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of water. She handed it to him and then went to feed Rocky who was growing increasingly impatient. She headed back into the living room as Heath finished draining the water.
"Thanks for having me over," he said.
"Thanks for staying with me," she replied. "Sorry I ruined our night."
"You didn't," Heath said simply. "You couldn't."
Drew stared up at him, biting her lip. God, what must he think of her now? Did he think she was some damaged basket case? Was he disgusted by what she'd told him? Did he look at her differently? She felt like crying again.
As if he could read her thoughts, he reached out and took her hand. She allowed him to pull her toward him, tensing only slightly when he slipped his arms around her. He didn't say anything else, and that was okay with her. She was only too happy to sink into the warmth of his embrace. She leaned her cheek against his chest and tightened her arms around his waist, closing her eyes.
They flew open a moment later when she felt something brush the top of her head. Had he just kissed her?
His hand moved from her back to her hair and smoothed over her unruly mane, before stepping away and looking down at her.
"You better get started on your day," he said softly. "I'll call you later."
She nodded silently, watching as he unlocked her three locks and slipped out the door. She wondered if he would actually call, and realized she couldn't and wouldn't blame him if he didn't.
Chapter Twelve
Bunz looked up in surprise when Drew burst through the back door of the café later that morning. The café still wasn't open for business but Bunz was organizing the kitchen's inventory as she waited for her Italian loaf to finish baking in the oven to join the other dozen freshly baked loaves lined up neatly on the counter.
"Hey," she said uncertainly, noting Drew's face. "No offense, yo, but you look awful! Are you all right? You look like you've been crying. You're all…puffy."
Drew simultaneously touched an eyelid and her lips with both hands. "I'm—I don't know what I am. Can I talk to you? I need to tell you something. About New York."
Bunz studied her for a long moment, then pulled over a couple of stools and sat down, patiently watching her friend.
Drew took a deep breath and told her the story of her experience in New York. She left out some of the more gruesome details, but essentially, it was the same story she'd shared with Heath. Somehow, it was easier this time; she knew she trusted Bunz and that her friend would never judge her or look at her differently. She also told Bunz how she'd told Heath about it after he'd spotted the wounds on her leg.
Bunz wiped tears from her cheeks when Drew was through. "I'm so sorry," she managed to say thickly. "I always assumed you'd been assaulted but I had no idea it was to that degree. Wow."
Drew reached out and patted Bunz's hand, strangely amused that she was the one offering comfort. Why shouldn't she?