Not that you’d know it by the enormous smile on her face.
Hating himself, he let his gaze run down her form from head to toe. She wasn’t dressed up for him now.
“I got dressed, silly goose,” she said, swatting his shoulder and giggling as though he’d told a joke.
Oh, shit. He’d said that last part aloud.
He forced another smile then grimaced because even that hurt.
“Didn’t want to tempt you too much,” she continued. “I’m meeting some friends this morning for brunch. We’re kicking off the new year right. Thought maybe you’d like to go with me.”
Baz winced. He wasn’t sure if it was from the thought of food or the thought of spending more time with this woman when all he wanted to do was jump in the shower so he could get clean.
“It’ll be fun,” Blondie added, clearly not picking up on his discomfort. “I can introduce you to everyone. And when we’re finished, we can come back here and pick up where we left off. Without the alcohol this time.”
Where they left off? They’d had sex. Once. Which was one time more than he’d intended.
His gaze shifted over to Blondie, who was whistling while she tucked things into her purse.
Pathetic. That was what he was. Absolutely fucking pathetic.
Sitting up, he dropped his head in his hands. Surprisingly, the hangover wasn’t as bad as he expected. Sure, his head hurt, but it was only a dull throb as long as his eyes were closed.
His gaze snagged on the glass of water and bottle of aspirin sitting on the small glass coffee table, right beside a basket of purple flowers.
He didn’t hesitate, snatching the bottle, pouring out a couple of pills, then downing them with the water.
“So? Would you like to go with me?” Blondie crooned happily.
“Sorry,” he muttered, setting the glass down and reaching for his phone. “Can’t.” He forced himself to look up at her. “How did I get here?”
“I drove you.” She smiled brightly. “Your friends took your truck.”
Right. He remembered Reese prying his keys from him, insisting he not drive. Said he could get his truck at HQ in the morning.
Fucking great.
And now he was stranded… “Where are we?”
This time Blondie frowned, her sky-blue eyes darkening with displeasure. “We’re at my place.”
“I figured that much,” he grumbled, motioning to the purple shit everywhere. “I mean, where? What city?”
“Round Rock.”
At least that was good news. Round Rock was just a hop, skip, and a jump from Coyote Ridge. He could get to his truck in minutes. Probably even walk it if he was so inclined.
Which he wasn’t.
Pulling up his Uber app, he intended to call for a car, but Blondie interrupted his attempt.
“I’ll drive you,” she blurted. “I mean, if you want me to.”
Although it would certainly be easier, Baz knew it wasn’t a good idea. The last thing he wanted was to lead this woman on, to make her think there was any chance of something happening between them. Somethingmore.
Without responding, he keyed in his information on the Uber app, submitted it. It appeared luck was on his side, because there was a car only a few minutes out.
“I don’t want you to be late for your … brunch.”
