Sean glanced over to the windows and saw the sun was up.
Holy shit.
He’d fallen asleep on the couch and slept there all night.Thankfully, he realized something else was up before he removed the blanket.Dragging his hand down his face, he tried to get his morning wood under control.Suki was a good friend, but she certainly didn’t need to see him in such an aroused state.
Oblivious to his dilemma, she headed back toward the kitchen.“You looked so comfortable last night, so I just threw the blanket on you around one when I went to bed.Go hop in the shower while I make you a cup of coffee.Should I find us something to eat, or do you want to grab something on the way in?”
Sean took advantage of her facing away from him, jumped up, and headed to his bedroom.“Something on the way is fine.There’s a decent bagel place in town.”
“Sounds good to me.”
After showering and getting dressed, Sean grabbed his computer, files, and the travel mug of coffee Suki had filled for him.She’d found two of them in the cabinets and loaded them both up for the ride into the station.Carrying her briefcase and coffee, she followed Sean out to his Mustang.They’d left her rental car at the station last night since they’d been together anyway, and both of them needed to be back at the sheriff’s department by eight this morning.Pulling out of the driveway, he steered toward town.
Still pissed off about Sean, Grace tried to push him from her mind as she stood in line for breakfast at Bagel Bonanza on Main Street, just up from her shop.She’d tossed and turned half the night, imagining him with that other woman.What annoyed her even more was every time she closed her eyes, she remembered the kiss they’d shared and how her body had come to life in those few seconds as she’d slowly melted against him.When her nipples had brushed against his hard chest, she’d been shocked at the jolt of electricity that had shot through her, straight to her core.While she’d been disappointed when he left instead of kissing her again—or taking her to bed as he’d mentioned—she was grateful now that’s how the evening had ended.
After paying for her bagel and coffee, she headed for the door.It opened before she reached it, and she almost walked right into Sean… andher.Grace’s eyes grew wide when she saw him, then narrowed slightly at the sight of the petite woman standing beside him.
“Grace!Hi!”Sean grinned.
Really?Didn’t the man have any fucking shame?
“Hi, Sean.”She hoped she sounded indifferent.She’d be damned if she’d let him know how hurt she was.
It was just after seven thirty in the morning, and he was still with the woman he had dinner with last night.It didn’t take a fucking genius to figure out they’d spent the night together.Look at him, she thought, he’s blushing—obviously embarrassed he’d run into her on the heels of last night’s date.She couldn’t decide if she wanted to punch him or be swallowed into a black hole and disappear.
Suddenly, the other woman did something that shocked Grace—she smiled, stuck out her hand, and happily introduced herself.“Hi, Grace, I’m Suki Ralston.I work with Sean.He told me all about you last night.I hear you’re opening a business nearby.Congratulations.”
It took Grace a long moment to respond.This was not what she’d expected—she’d already decided she wanted to hate the other woman, maybe even wanted to scratch her eyes out.But Suki was looking her straight in the eye as if she knew exactly what Grace was thinking, and yet she was still attempting to be friendly.
Grace slowly reached out and shook the proffered hand, still very confused.“Um… yes, I am.You… um...you work with Sean?”
The man in question was the one who answered her.“Actually, Suki has a doctorate in criminal psychology.She’s a profiler based out of Quantico and came to help us out.We’ve been friends for a couple of years.”
“Oh,” Grace responded in a flat tone of voice, unsure of how she should react to that information.
Suki must have sensed her continuing uncertainty because she added, “We’rejustfriends—nothing more.Now, why don’t I grab a bunch of bagels for the rest of the task force while you two talk?”She winked at Grace and then made her way over to the counter to order.
Grace stared openmouthed at Suki as she strode past.
“Grace?You okay?”Sean asked with concern in his voice.
She turned back toward him.Moaning, she brought her hands to her burning cheeks.“I’m such an idiot.”
Now it was Sean’s turn to be confused.His eyes narrowed.“What are you talking about?”
He took one of her hands and led her to a small, empty table so they didn’t block the doorway for a few people who were leaving.
Grace swallowed hard before her words rushed out.“I saw the two of you walking into Sassy’s last night and just assumed you were on a date.And when you walked in here with the same woman, I figured you’d spent the night together.And you have no idea how embarrassed I am right now.”
“Ah.”Sean laughed, fueling her mortification.“Is that why you didn’t answer your phone last night?”She nodded, her gaze pinned to his broad chest to avoid looking him in the face.“Well, to tell you the truth, Suki is borrowing a spare bedroom at the beach house.But we are not and have never been romantically involved.As she said, we’re good friends, and I thought she’d be more comfortable staying at the cottage than at a hotel.”
With two fingers of his right hand under her chin, he tilted her head up so their eyes met.“I hope you’re not mad.”
“Mad?No!Just very,veryembarrassed.I’m sorry.I mean, we aren’t even dating, but after that kiss the other night…” She paused, swallowed hard, and took the plunge.“Well, I guess I was kind of hoping…”
His face lit up, and he let out a low chuckle that was incredibly sexy.“If you must know, I was kind of hoping too.”He brushed back a strand of hair that had fallen forward onto her cheek, and she felt the brief heat of his fingers on her skin.“Listen, I don’t know how busy I’ll be today, but is it all right if I call you later?”
Chapter11
