* * * * *
Zoe blinked into the sunlight wishing it would go away. Sleep had felt so good. Wait. Memories flooded her mind. Her palm curled on a hard chest. Declan…
Slowly, she rose upward and looked down at him. Unbelievable. They’d fallen asleep on her couch. A glance at the window, where the sun burned through the hole in the curtains, confirmed morning had arrived. She barely remembered lying down. And technically Declan never had. He was basically sleeping in a sitting position. She stared at him feeling awareness stir inside. Clearly, he’d been emotionally drained to slide into slumber so quickly. Truth be told, she had been too. This past week had been hell. Her brothers had dodged her questions much like her father. In turn, she’d dodged reporters from every place known to man. The worst of the bunch worked right by her side.
In slumber, he looked younger. She’d guessed him around thirty-seven, but perhaps not. With his guard down in slumber, he didn’t look like the shark who handled a courtroom with vicious manipulation. He looked masculine. Sexy. Overwhelming in his appeal. What was it this man did to her? Her hand moved of its own accord, palm settling on the new growth shadowing Declan’s square jaw.
Declan’s eyes opened and she smiled. “Morning.”
For several blinks, he didn’t speak. Then his hand went to hers, covering it, and then bringing it to his lips. “Morning.” He let go of her hand and sat up, stretching a bit. “I’m sorry I crashed on your couch.”
She laughed. “I’m sorry I crashed on your chest.”
He chuckled. “I’m not. I slept like a baby.”
“I guess we were both tired,” she said, smiling. “I could use some coffee. Want some?”
“Love some,” he said.
“Great.” Zoe pushed to her feet wondering why her mood was lighter than the night before. Nothing had really changed, yet somehow she felt…better. “I’ll go get it started.”
She made a quick stop by the bathroom, brushing her teeth, and trying to understand why Declan being here didn’t bother her. Men and mornings didn’t mix. Of course, they hadn’t slept together, so the morning after wasn’t quite the same as if they had. She laughed as she dried her hands on a towel. Zoe knew damn well she’d broken out the toothpaste in preparation for a little one-on-one action. She had every intention of making up for the lack of physical play from the night before.
This thing with her and Declan bordered on dangerous territory. One night should have been all it ever was or would be. Instead, they’d both felt compelled to make it more. And now, she had all kinds of emotional baggage and so did he. Of course, he wouldn’t be finding out about hers. It had to be what was pulling them together because Declan was not her type. She bit her bottom lip. Not in an intellectual kind of
way. On a physical level, the man made her ache just thinking about him. He was hot. And now, so was she. She reached for the bathroom door, ready to venture into the risky seduction of Declan.
It wasn’t like she was going at this blindly, she told herself as she headed for the kitchen and found Declan pouring water into the coffeepot. Her eyes lingered on his nice, tight ass and she sighed.
This was definitely an eyes open kind of job.
* * * * *
Declan flipped the coffeepot to on and turned to face Zoe. “Hope you don’t mind. I kind of made myself at home.”
Leaning an elbow against the counter, he studied her. With her long blonde hair falling a bit wildly around her makeup-free face, she looked both natural and beautiful. He’d seen women first thing in the morning, and few looked as radiant and sensual as Zoe. And judging from the sparkle in her deep blue eyes, she was feeling a bit feisty and full of challenge. One he was more than ready to answer.
Zoe rested a shoulder against the door jamb. “Who am I to complain?” she said, smiling. “A man who both makes coffee and acts as a pillow. What more could a girl ask for?”
Her fast comeback didn’t surprise him. “I’m sure you can think of something.” He let his eyes do a slow slide down her body, over her curvy hips and long, lean legs. When his gaze returned to hers, the look they shared sizzled.
Pushing off the wall, she straightened and closed the space between them. He watched her walk the short distance, feeling his cock stir with anticipation. Damn, this woman got to him.
She stopped in front of him and he felt a rush of adrenaline as he anticipated her touch. He’d come here last night wanting to get lost in her appeal. In that soft, full
mouth. In those lush curves. He’d found comfort in her arms. Not the wild, crazy lust he’d thought to bury his worries in. She’d made him feel he wasn’t alone.