Too late to question her motives now. The deed was done.
Slowly, she pulled herself to sit on the side of the bed. Her method was to judge the amount of damage control needed based on how much the room was spinning before she tried to stand.
“Not bad, Lindsey. Not bad at all. A few Tylenol and a glass of water and you’ll be good as new.” She wasn’t above talking to herself this morning … or afternoon. She stood and gingerly made her way toward the bathroom. “Okay, then, maybe a little coffee too.”
After a quick hot shower, she donned last night’s underappreciated lingerie and the black silk robe Kara had left on the bed. She almost felt sexy with her near nudity rubbing against the slick material of the robe. Almost. Except for the lingering headache.
Coffee.
Lindsey padded down the hall into the silent kitchen. The only sound was the ticking clock. She was glad she was alone. It was easier than facing everyone. Especially all the lying someones who lived in this house and didn’t have the common courtesy to let her in on the big secret.
She took a big whiff of the air and thanked whichever lying SOB had at least had the manners to leave her a pot of coffee.
In short order, she grabbed a mug from the counter and poured the steaming cup of heaven to the rim. The first sip forced a moan to escape her lips. The second drink would have been more of a gulp—if it hadn’t instead been sloshed over her hands at the unexpected sound of someone seemingly sneaking up behind her.
“Shit, Lindsey. I’m so sorry. Déjame.” Alejandro reached over and turned on the sink faucet. He grabbed the coveted elixir from her hand, set it on the counter, and then stuffed her hand under the cool running water.
“Let me see.” After a moment, he pulled her fingers up to his face for inspection. “Are you okay?”
“No. You took my coffee.” Her fingers weren’t her primary concern right now. Her need for caffeine trumped. Yanking her hand out of his grasp, she took two steps away from him, her eyes never leaving the craved liquid. If he looked as good as he smelled, she’d probably start crying on the spot. Her emotions were that precarious at the moment.
“How’d you get in here so silently? What are you, a panther?” She kept her back to him. Swallowed a long gulp of caffeine.
Alex sucked in a sharp breath behind her and held it.
“What? Did I hit the nail on the head? That’s the secret?” She turned to face him, pasting on a wry smile. “You’re really a cat?” She laughed at her own stupid humor before she let her gaze lift from his sexy torso to his face.
His brows were furrowed, his face a few shades lighter than she remembered. “What?”
He exhaled slowly and let his gaze fall below her face. Lindsey waited, but she was forced to glance down when he didn’t look back up or speak.
“Shit.” Her robe was hanging open, all her assets barely concealed by the sheer black material of her lace bra and panties.
Her head hadn’t quite overcome last night’s drinking binge yet. “I’m not in the mood for whatever you’re selling this morning, so go back to wherever you came from.”
Lindsey spun, a bit too sharply, on the balls of her feet and headed back toward the guest room. She didn’t need this yet. He may be sexy as hell with his hair still wet from a recent shower, slicked back from his face, his jeans hanging low on his hips, his dark T-shirt hugging his chest… But, the only thing he’d done for her so far today was cause her to spill her coffee.
She didn’t need that, no matter how her body was reacting to his presence.
“Lo siento, I’m sorry. Again. Can I start over?” He gently grasped her arm and leaned into her back, his hard length pressed against her ass. She paused at the recognition of his arousal.
“How far back do you want to go? Five minutes? Last night? Would that be before or after you went all psycho on me and started a fight with my friend’s brother-in-law … or whatever he is.”
A soft chuckle came out of his mouth on a breath of air, precariously close to her exposed neck. “I’ll gladly go back anywhere in time if it means you’ll look me in the eye again like I hung the moon. Please allow me to apologize for my behavior, both last night and today.” He leaned closer and nibbled kisses along her neck and collarbone. Her damn head lulled to the side on its own accord to give the bastard better access.
She nearly dropped the coffee this time. Luckily, he was paying attention and grabbed the cup before she had completely released it.
Without breaking contact with her heating skin, she heard the clink of the mug as he set it on the counter. The arm he’d reached across her to use for that necessity did not, however, return to the safety of his side. Instead it wrapped snuggly around her middle, just under her breasts, hugging her against him.