But he just brushed her cheek and told her to hush. She didn't. Instead, she looked up at him, her mouth pulling into a smile. "I like it," she said, reaching out to rub her palm over his newly shaved head. His skin felt cool and smooth. "It suits you."
"You think?"
She pushed herself up onto her knees, feeling a little wobbly, then bent and kissed his head. "For luck, okay?" She pulled back, looking earnestly into his eyes. For a second, she thought she saw a burning ember, but then the moment passed, and she felt the heavy weight of disappointment fill her.
"You need to sleep," he said firmly, as she sagged back against the pillows, her body surrendering to exhaustion. Then he pulled her blanket up and stroked her hair, and the touch soothed her even as it sent shivers coursing down her spine.
Sleep was drawing her under, pulling her down into the dark. But she didn't want to go. She wanted more. Him. His body hard and heavy above her. His mouth tasting every inch of her.
She wanted the fantasy turned to reality.
But she couldn't have it, and so she kept her mouth shut and her eyes closed tight and surrendered to the lure of sleep, afraid that if she looked at him, he'd see her desire.
Then everything would change, and she'd lose her friend forever.
And that was something that she'd never, ever let happen.
Chapter Five
Jenna woke in a tangle of sweaty sheets and lingering dreams so wicked she feared she might set the bed on fire. She blinked, trying to remember the details, knowing only that her mind had been filled with Reece, and telling herself that she was allowed only a few more minutes to savor the heat before she locked the dreams away in the vault and never, ever spoke of them.
A quick rap on the bedroom door made her squeal, and she sat up, pulling her hand out of her panties as she did and biting her lower lip with mortification.
And with frustration, too. She really wished she could remember some specifics.
"Jenna?" Brent's voice filtered through the door. "You up?"
"Yeah," she called. "Well, I am now."
"Sorry. But it's time to rise and shine. Breakfast with Reece, remember?"
She groaned.
"You okay?"
"I'm fine," she called, climbing out of bed and putting on the bathrobe he'd set out for her. She padded across the room and opened the door, revealing a sweat-slicked Brent, shirtless and fresh from his morning run. "I feel like I've only slept for an hour," she continued. "Oh, wait. I pretty much have only slept for an hour."
"A few minutes more than that," he said wryly.
"One or two, maybe." She looked him up and down. "You look far too awake."
"Curse of the job," he said. "Well, the job plus parenthood."
"Which means that this morning you've already taken Faith to school, gotten in a run, and answered at least a half dozen emails. I feel like a slug."
"You don't look like one." He nodded toward the attached bathroom. "Go ahead and take a shower. You'll feel better."
She eyed him. "Don't you want to get cleaned up and dressed before Reece gets here?"
"We've got time. I'll grab my clothes and go shower and shave in Faith's bathroom."
"You're shaving your beard?" She hoped not. It wasn't heavy, and she liked the way it defined his jaw.
"No, just cleaning it up. Part shave, part trimming."
"Good. But I can shower in there if you'd rather. I peeked in last night, and Faith's bathroom has a serious pink theme going."
"I'm man enough to handle it," he teased. "Besides, I'm guessing all your makeup is already laid out in there." He nodded toward the master bathroom.