“No. I mean, yes, I’m hungry. I don’t know if I’m comfortable sharing a bed with a stranger.”
Growler sniffed around the floor. Though I’d had to leave my dog with one of my foster brothers when I took the job to go on the road, I could recognize an animal looking for a place to do his business. “You want to stand here and think about it, or should we get the fur-rat downstairs before he decides to doodle on the carpet?”
Daisy snapped out whatever internal monologue she’d been listening to and picked up the dog. “Fine. Yes, let’s grab something to eat. I’m sure we’ll both feel better about this on a full stomach.”
If that’s what she needed to tell herself, that was fine with me. The only way I’d feel better about the entire situation was if I woke up immediately to find out it had all been a dream. Because spending the next few hours trying not to think aboutthe curvy, young blonde in my bed was going to test every ounce of willpower I’d ever possessed, and then some.
4
DAISY
Ididn’t even think about not being able to pay for dinner when Hendrix mentioned grabbing a bite. So far, I owed the man for half a night’s hotel room, plus the cost of a greasy burger and fries. He’d also ordered himself a beer and some fruity drink brimming with alcohol for me. Hoping the liquor would wash away my reservations, I’d downed it in record time and made it through another one before we left the hole-in-the-wall burger joint. I guess I needed to add two drinks to my running tab as well.
Growler had behaved and stayed under the radar thanks to Hendrix sneaking him small bites of burger. Now, back at the hotel, Hendrix had offered for me to use the bathroom first. As much as I wanted to take a hot shower and wash away my bad luck from the day, being naked with him right outside the door seemed too intimate. I brushed my teeth, changed into my silky pajama shorts and matching tank, then crossed my arms over my chest and made a mad dash toward the bed.
Only he was already on it, his big body sprawled across the side where I usually slept. He had one arm behind his head while he flipped through TV channels. Growler nestled up against hisside. Looked like the two of them had worked through any issues they’d had earlier. I had to walk around to the other side of the bed before I could hide under the thin comforter and scratchy sheet.
Without a word, Hendrix got up, set the remote next to me, and disappeared into the bathroom. My pulse thundered hard through my ears. I couldn’t believe I was about to share a room, much less a bed, with him. Limiting myself to a single pillow, I took his suggestion to build a pillow wall with the others.It’s not that he wasn’t attractive. He’d caught my attention as soon as I set eyes on him. Even now, thinking about the way his t-shirt had bulged around his biceps sent heat hurtling through my belly. He was the antithesis of the type of man my parents had picked out for me. I could tell just by looking at him. Yet underneath the tough, gruff exterior, I’d glimpsed a soft side.
I relaxed a smidge and pulled one of my arms out from under the covers to wrap around Growler. Most people thought I’d rescued him, but he was the one who’d saved me. I’d been holding off my mother’s matchmaking attempts while trying to find a charitable cause that she would approve of when I heard about the no-kill shelter on the news. She almost had a stroke when I got involved in fundraising for the shelter, but it was too late. I’d fallen in love with the place and the good work they were doing. I’d also fallen in love with Growler.
I flipped off the TV and tried to get comfortable. Sleeping on the wrong side of the bed felt weird, but I wasn’t going to make a big deal about it. Hendrix was kind enough to share his room. I didn’t want him to think I was some diva who couldn’t adapt.
I’d just started to drift off when the bathroom door opened. With my eyes closed, I hoped he’d assume I’d already fallen asleep. The mattress dipped as he climbed under the covers. I’d left him a pillow for his head, so hopefully he wouldn’t disturb the divider between us.
“You asleep, sweetheart?” His tone held a gruff huskiness that instantly had me thinking about the last erotic romance novel I’d listened to on audiobook. I squeezed my legs together and tried to ignore the hollow ache pulsing in my core.
“Not yet.”
“I’ll probably be up before you in the morning. You a coffee drinker?”
Coffee. Shoot, I hadn’t thought that far ahead. The Magnum always had a tray delivered with French press coffee and freshly baked pastries in the morning. I licked my lips, almost able to taste the sweet strawberry filling from one of their warm Danishes.
He shifted his weight. Awareness of how little distance separated us made my skin tingle.
“Well?” he prompted.
“Coffee, yes, please. That would be great.”
“How do you take it?”
“I prefer a French press, but?—”
“What the hell is a French press?” He must have propped himself up on an elbow because his voice came from above my head.
“Never mind. Just a little cream and sugar would be great.”
“That I know how to do. Goodnight, Daisy.” He settled back down on the bed again and rolled away from me.
“Goodnight, Hendrix.” I laid there for a long time, listening to his breathing even out. Finally, sometime during the late hours of the night and the early hours of the morning, my eyelids grew heavy, and I drifted into a dream starring a bearded, tattooed hottie.
The pillows were gone.I jerked awake, completely aware that the lumpy wall separating me from my bedmate had disappeared. My arm draped over washboard abs covered in twisting black ink and my leg hiked up to rest right on top of the firm bulge straining against his boxer briefs.
I didn’t dare move. Not until I figured out if he was awake. His chin rested on top of my head. My cheek pressed against his pec. I had no memory of removing the pillow wall, no recollection of snuggling up next to him like we went to bed like this every night.
Slowly, I lifted my head and gently backed away. My tank had slid up, exposing my right breast. I tugged it back down again even as I missed the warmth of his skin. What the hell had I done last night? Those drinks had been potent, but there was no way they’d been strong enough to wipe my memory.
“Good morning.” He scrubbed a palm over his beard as I scooted over to the empty side of the bed.
