I pulled the covers up to my chin.
Where was I? What happened to my clothes? I did an inventory. Besides the splitting headache, a queasy stomach, and needing a toothbrush, I didn’t feel bad. I didn’t feel… touched. Could I even know?
The door opened and a head popped in. “You’re awake.”
My eyes bugged out of my head at the sight of Hayes Wilder. His hair was damp like he’d taken a shower and his smile was directed at me.
Hayes Wilder.
I dropped back into, yup, his bed and threw the comforter over my head. It smelled like him, woodsy and dark.
I’d slept with Hayes Wilder. I’d–
“Oh my God,” I said beneath the covers.
“Come out, princess.”
Princess. He’d called me that last night when–
“I’m never coming out!” I called, remembering everything.
I felt the bed dip and a slight tug on the blanket. Iflipped it off my head before he got any ideas. Stared up at him.
“Why am I in your bed?”
“You passed out.”
“Why am I missing my shirt?”
“You threw up on it.”
I whimpered and closed my eyes. I couldn’t get any more mortified. “You’re mad at me.”
“Look at me,” he said, his voice low, as if he knew a group of monkeys were clanking cymbalssymbols in my brain.
I did, although reluctantly as I put my hand to my head.
“Your spanking wiped the slate clean.” The corner of his mouth tipped up. “Probably the splitting headache is more than enough punishment.”
He reached out, picked up a glass of water on the side table I hadn’t noticed. Plus a few little pills. “Take these.”
I reached out, took them from him and swallowed them down.
“Good girl. Drink all the water.”
I did, realizing how thirsty I’d been. “I have to go to work. Oh my God, I’m late.”
“I called Buck to let him know you’d be in this afternoon.”
I shook my head, closed my eyes. “He’s going to fire me. I need this job.”
“He’s not going to fire you. The other ranch hands shouldn’t have gotten you plastered. It’s on them that you’re not fit to work which means it’s on them to cover for you.”
I wasn’t so sure about that, but I was in no state to argue.
When I opened my eyes again, he was still staring down at me. “I need a… can I take a shower before I go?” I asked. The idea of being naked in Hayes’ house made me hot all over. I shouldn’t be hungover and horny at the same time.
“Sure. Then you’ll eat something.”
