River Wolf(38)

Awareness snapped her eyes open and she sat. Heart hammering, she stared at the unfamiliar wall. Even the gray light filling the room couldn’t remove the sensation of ‘homey’ versus ‘hotel.’ What bed had she gone to sleep in? And why did it smell like Brett? Twisting slowly, she glanced behind her and exhaled a long breath.

She was alone in the bed. Lifting the quilted blanket, she glanced beneath to find she wore a t-shirt and panties. Collapsing against the pillows, she rolled onto her back. The night before had turned out to be a lot of fun. After pausing for a quick phone call, Brett and she had driven to a lovely restaurant down the river. The rain seemed to insulate them from the outside world and they’d avoided all the difficult topics.

He turned out to be a charming companion, and knew a lot about the local area. Dinner more than satisfied her need for hot and spicy. Where she chose shrimp and tofu, he’d gone straight for the beef. Doubling their orders seemed a bit much, but then Brett pointed out she’d said she was a takeout kind of girl.

Twice during the meal, she’d caught him staring at her mouth and in all fairness, she’d been equally attracted to the sight of his lips. The tension coiling through him seemed to slough off by the end of the meal, yet they’d lingered and walked through the rain to a small coffee shop. It had been near midnight by the time they returned to his house—and she had no recollection of going to bed.

The idea of Brett undressing her and tucking her in sent a warm thrill curving around her belly. Despite the teasing allure of the idea, she didn’t think he’d done it. It wouldn’t have been the first time she put herself to bed by running on autopilot. Racing heart aside, she’d woken in worse places after even worse decisions. Going to dinner with Brett wasn’t a bad decision. They’d had fun. Based on his reactions, she suspected he hadn’t had a lot of fun recently. Draping her forearm over her closed eyes, she yawned.

So not ready to be awake…

A knock on the door intruded in her drifting and she groaned. Dammit, she was a guest. She couldn’t stay in bed all day. In fact, what she needed to do was get up, shower, dress and get her ass on the road. Florida seemed a hell of a long way to go, though. Rolling over, she shoved the blankets away then climbed out of the bed. Glaring at the light between the curtains, she rubbed a hand over her face then stumbled to the door.

Opening it a crack, she gazed at her host. Goddammit. He looked perfect. Dressed in a clean, nicely-pressed shirt with the top two buttons open to reveal the faint curls of dark against his chest and smelling like heaven, he looked good enough to eat. His hair wasn’t even damp, though it fell in a soft wave toward his forehead. He’d been up long enough to shower and dress—and he wore a smile.

“Ugh,” she sighed. “Please God, tell me you are not one of those happy morning people.”

The corner of his sensual mouth quirked higher. The effect on his expression devastated her sleepy senses. No human should ever look so damn good without coffee. The combination of rake and boy next door added to his appeal, but the trace of scars and mottled skin gave him a ruggedness she desperately wanted to smooth away. “I woke you.”

“Not exactly,” she admitted, rubbing her cheek against the door and leaning on it a little more heavily. Everything ached and she wanted to go back to sleep. “I’m used to getting by on a lot less sleep.” And rolling out of bed to go to work for eight hour shifts that, as often as not, turned into ten to twelve hours on her feet. “I think I am more tired than I thought.” She yawned the last three words and, when she glanced at him again, his expression softened.

Extending a finger, he traced the line of her cheek. It was a soothing motion, one which left her eyes half-closing in pleasure. “Go back to bed, Colby.” His voice washed over her. “I’ll be in my office working.”

“I can’t laze about in bed all day.” No matter how good it sounded.

“Why not?”

“Because…” She had to go to Florida or at least say her goodbyes. She was a guest, and not even an intentional one. “…Luc. I should probably check on him.”

“He’s fine. The doctor is with him.” The indulgence in his voice evaporated, but the steadiness in his tone remained. “Go back to sleep. When you wake up, come find me. We’ll have coffee.”

Tempting. So. So. Tempting. “I’m up now…but coffee sounds like heaven. Really, really strong coffee.”

“Double pot? I made one. I can run it through again.”

Colby groaned at the idea. Now that he’d mentioned it, she could smell the coffee. It proved even more alluring than the sweet vanilla and jasmine entwining the pine of his cologne on her pillow. Releasing the door to stretch, she would have thumped her tail if she’d had one. “Yes, please, if it wouldn’t be too much to ask.”