Wren: She’s a virgin. There’s no way she had a one-night stand.
I drag a hand down my face, letting out a long breath as I flop back onto the mattress. I’m mortified that while I was passed out, they were casually dissecting my nonexistent sex life. If last night had gone as planned, I would finally have some experience under my belt. Instead, I’m still a clueless virgin.
Briar: I called Walker. It went straight to voicemail.
Wren: Birdie didn’t answer either.
Charlie: Finally! It’s about damn time she got some action.
Briar: I don’t need that image in my head.
Charlie: What? We’re all thinking it.
I’m halfway through replying when a muffled noise comes from the other side of the room. A few seconds later, I hear itagain and set my phone down to investigate. What if an animal wandered in through the doggie door while I was asleep? I should’ve listened when Earl told me to bolt it shut at night.
I crawl to the other side of the bed, cautiously peering over the mattress, half expecting an opossum to be rummaging through my dirty laundry. Instead, I freeze when I find Walker stretched out on the floor with a blanket covering him, snoring softly as he shifts in his sleep.
Holy guacamole, Walker Halstead slept over at my house.
Amid the throbbing in my head, more fragments surface—Walker driving me home, me vomiting on his boots the minute we got in the house, him holding my hair back over the toilet as I babbled about how hot he was. And to make matters worse, I’m pretty sure I told him I’m a virgin and then begged him to be my first.
Oh my gosh. I drop my head in my hands and silently scream. He’ll never look at me the same. Curse those darn tequila shots. They gave me more liquid courage than I had any right to, and I swear I’m never touching alcohol again.
I decide the best course of action is to slip out of my room and hide out somewhere else until he wakes up and leaves. Avoiding him long-term could be a challenge since we see each other at least once a week, but that’s a problem for future Birdie.
Maybe this is my sign to become a hermit. Earl could deliver my groceries and drive me to visit my mama. It’s not a terrible plan, except Briar and Charlie would riot if I skipped our coffee dates. Plus, there are the animals… Ugh, I need a better solution, but for now, I have to get out of here before Walker wakes up.
I move to the far side of the bed and slide off, tiptoeing across the room, grimacing at every creak of the floorboards. The door is only a few feet from him, so I approach cautiously and crack it open slowly. I’m halfway across the threshold when his deep, gravelly voice stops me in my tracks.
“You sneaking out on me?” I spin around to find Walker awake and smirking at me.
“What did you expect when I woke up and found you in my bedroom uninvited?” I retort.
“Oh, you invited me all right. You were just busy multitasking while hurling into the rosebushes out front,” he answers smugly. “Maybe next time you’ll think twice before going on another solo drinking spree, huh?”
I lean against the doorway with my arms folded. “Honestly, I’m tempted to go for round two tonight. Eight shots, a cocktail, and half a beer and I’m still standing. That’s impressive, don’t you think?”
There’s no way I’m admitting that I’ve officially sworn off drinking forever. He doesn’t deserve the satisfaction.
Walker tilts his head. “Sorry to burst your bubble, sweetheart, but after your fourth shot you were drinking straight ginger ale. And that cocktail? Just cranberry juice with a splash of sparkling water.”
I gasp, stunned. “How could Ryker do that to me? He was supposed to have my—” The rest of my thought catches in my throat when Walker pushes the blanket off him and stands.
Sweet mercy.
He’s wearing nothing but dark-wash Wranglers. I can’t seem to look away, completely caught off guard by the sight. The man is barefoot and shirtless, his frame rugged and his muscles honed. Heat rises to my cheeks as I take in every ripple and curvature of his bare chest, a light dusting of dark hair trailing over the firm planes of his torso.
“Lost for words?” he drawls.
I clear my throat. “Uh… what?”
When my eyes dart to his face, he’s wearing a smug grin. “I’m flattered that you like the view.”
“You’re huge… I mean, your muscles are huge. Shoot, that came out wrong.” I smooth my hair back. “You’re practically naked. Staring is unavoidable.” That sounded worse.
And this is why I should never open my mouth around attractive men, Walker included.
He strides toward me, his heated gaze trailing over me with molten intensity.
