Sleepless in Manhattan (From Manhattan with Love 1)

“I’m fine.”

Matt had invited Jake? There was no way he’d accept.

Not after what they’d done the night before.

It would be too awkward. It would be—

“Anyone home?” Jake’s voice came from the doorway. “I was invited to a celebration breakfast, but I don’t smell bacon so I’m wondering if this is the right place.”

Paige knocked a plate onto the floor and it rolled and spun to a halt at Jake’s feet.

“Well, that’s a novel way of giving me a plate.” Calm, he stooped

to retrieve it, smiling at her briefly before strolling to the empty chair at the end of the table.

Paige looked at him, and then looked away again.

How could he be so normal?

Frankie pushed an empty mug toward him. “Coffee? Given that you’re the hero of the hour, you deserve hero treatment.”

“I heard Urban Genie was the hero of the hour.” He reached for a chunk of freshly baked bread. “This smells incredible. Did you make this, Ev?”

“It’s sourdough.”

“My favorite. And it goes perfectly with crisp bacon.”

“No chance of that around here.” Matt glanced at him. “I called you last night to see how the event went. You weren’t answering your phone. Presumably you were with a woman.”

Paige wanted to slide under the table.

This wasn’t just complicated—it was a nightmare.

How had she thought this would be easy to handle?

What was Jake going to say? Obviously he wasn’t going to admit he was with a woman, so—

“I was with a woman.” Jake smiled at Frankie as she poured coffee into his mug.

“Just the one?” Matt sounded amused. “She must have been special.”

“Yeah, she was special.”

“Hot?”

Holy crap.

“Do we need the details?” Paige was so hot she thought she was going to burn through the chair.

“She was hot. She was incredible.” Jake gave Paige a wicked smile. “Are you all right? Only you have a lot of color this morning. I hope you’re not coming down with something.”

She was going to kill him. “I’m fine.”

Matt frowned at her. “Jake’s right. You have a lot of color. You’re not getting a temperature?”

“No! I’m great. Never better. A little tired, that’s all.”

“Yeah, you were late last night. I popped down to see you to find out how it went but neither of you answered. Eva was singing in the bath. That’s probably why you didn’t hear me.”