Chapter 7
The morning sun filtering through the window pulled a small groan from me as I shifted from my side onto my back.
I squinted, already feeling a faint headache pulsing behind my eyes.
My head spun just slightly, and a shaky breath escaped as I forced my eyes open, blinking my unfocused surroundings into view before glancing to my left.
A twinge of disappointment hit me at the sight of an empty bed.
Everything felt hazy as my gaze slowly wandered around the room. White walls held a few black-framed photos. Driftwood gray furniture filled the room, including what appeared to be an extremely organized vanity table. And something floral with a hint of vanilla lingered in the air.
The scent triggered my memory, and flashes of the night before broke through my haze. I may have been drunk, but not enough to forget those emerald green eyes, that smile, those lips, the sounds she made, the way her body felt above and beneath me.
I didn’t remember much of the after, however.
I couldn’t even remember falling asleep.
As the night before continued to replay in my head and I tried to piece together the foggy details, I realized that I had forgotten one key piece of information.
I couldn’t remember if it was even given to me, to be honest.
The door opening broke me from my thoughts, and I glanced over to see her quietly stepping into the room. I slowly pushed myself up on my elbows, still naked beneath her sheets that covered my lower half.
“Morning,” I greeted, my voice gruff and raspy from sleep.
She looked at me and smiled softly. “Morning. I didn’t mean to wake you.”
I raked a hand through my hair before scrubbing it down my face, then looked at her again. Her long brown hair was tousled from sleep, her body covered by an oversized T-shirt.
God, she was beautiful.
“No,” I said, clearing my throat, embarrassment prickling through me.
“You didn’t.” She sat at the end of the bed near my sheet-covered feet, and I stared at her long and hard, my frustration rising as I tried to recollect the missing piece of information, but I couldn’t.
“Listen…I feel like such a cliché asshole right now, but…I don’t—I can’t recall your name… ”
Her gaze held mine for a heartbeat before she rolled her eyes, a hint of a smile on her lips. “Ha, ha. Very funny.”
I sheepishly rubbed the back of my neck. “I wish I were kidding.”
She chuckled. “You don’t have to keep playing that game, Blake.”
My brow pinched. “And what game would that be?”
Her smile faded as she stared at me, a slow realization dawning in her eyes. She let out a scoff, mixing it with a nervous, breathy chuckle. “I, um…I thought—I thought you were just messing around last night when you were acting like you didn’t know who I was…”
My brow furrowed as I shifted to lean on one side, anxiety creeping into my voice. “I, uh…I don’t know who you are.” It came out sounding more like a question rather than a statement. “I know I had some drinks last night, but I’m pretty sure I’d remember someone like you.”
“Blake Pierson.” Her voice held a note of scolding.
I looked at her—really looked at her. My gaze lingered on her eyes, their distinct shade of emerald green framed with long, dark lashes. Maybe it was the haze of last night still affecting me, the remnants of lust and alcohol, but nothing was coming to mind.
“Does ‘Hurricane Hales’ ring a bell?”
Hurricane Hales. I hadn’t heard that name in…
My eyes slowly widened.
Oh…oh no.
“Hal-Haley…?” I breathed.
As in…Haley Callahan.
As in Wes’s sister.
As in my best friend’s younger sister.
A sheepish smile ghosted her lips. “Um…hi…?”
Oh, fuck me.
“Jesus Christ.” I sat up straight with a rush of air, raking my hand through my hair again as panic raced through me, and she hopped off the bed.
A cold sweat prickled my skin while guilt and dread collided in my gut.
“Shit. Goddammit. I can’t believe–” I flung the covers off, grabbing my clothes with shaking hands.
I pulled on my boxers, then my jeans, already feeling the guilt pushing to the surface.
My voice was tight with worry. “Do you have any idea what your brother is going to do to me if–”
She cut me off with a laugh. “Have you seen you? Wes isn’t going to do a damn thing.”
I shot her a look. “If he finds out I slept with you, I’m not sure size is really going to matter.”
I only had an inch of height on Wes, but I was broader in every other aspect. Still, I stood by what I said about that not mattering. Wes was protective of Haley. He always had been. He wouldn’t hesitate to go toe-to-toe with someone bigger—even his best friend—when it came to her.
The last time I saw Haley was thirteen years ago, at Wes’s high school graduation party.
I’d gone off to college afterward, and I wasn’t home often, save for a couple of the summers.
Even then, when I was back, we didn’t cross paths.
Then came med school, residency, and the Army.
During those years, I was barely home at all.
Haley was a far cry from the thirteen-year-old I remembered—the girl with braces who used to annoy the shit out of Wes whenever Luke and I were at his house.
She’d storm in, a little ball of chaos—hence her nickname—wanting to hang out.
Wes would refuse, and then she’d deliberately try to piss him off in sisterly retaliation.
Hurricane Hales had grown up. And she’d transformed into a natural damn beauty.
And I slept with her last night.
Fuck.
“Look, I–” Haley blew out a breath as she ran her fingers through her hair. “I really thought you knew who I was, that you were just messing with me. I didn’t mean–”
“No, it—it’s fine,” I interrupted as I pulled my shirt over my head. “You just…God, you grew up, and you look so damn different…” I looked her up and down. So damn different. But now, knowing who she was, I recognized parts of her. The eyes, and her smile with its lingering mischief.
How the fuck had I missed it? The way she talked last night, the amusement in her voice, the way she laughed at me when I asked her if she was from the area. It all made sense. She must have thought I was a fucking idiot. I sure as hell felt like one.
“Well, yeah. That’s usually what happens.” She smiled, her eyes traveling up and down my frame. “I recognized you almost instantly, though. You haven’t changed. Not much. You’re just a bit…” She trailed off, eyes wandering. “…bigger than I recall.”
“Bigger…” I repeated. I shouldn’t be smiling right now, considering the circumstances, but something about the way she said it made me unable to help myself.
Her eyes met mine again. “Yeah. And you still got your signature dimples.” She pointed to my face, chuckling.
I cleared my throat self-consciously as I rubbed my cheek. “Yeah…”
Haley let out a breath. “Look, Wes doesn’t need to know about this.”
My brow arched, my expression one of disbelief. “You don’t think he’ll find out? And how am I supposed to keep something like this from–”
“He may be one of your best friends, but he’s my older brother, and that doesn’t make him privy to every aspect of my personal life.
I get it. You’re loyal. And I respect that.
But there was alcohol involved, and you didn’t recognize who I was.
There’s no need to get his dramatic ass all worked up over a one-time thing that didn’t mean anything. ”
I blew out a shaky breath, scratching the stubble on my chin, guilt tugging harder now.
She had a point. I knew that. Wes may be my best friend, but it was her brother.
“Fine. But…if for some reason—don’t ask me how—he finds out and he comes to me and asks me about it directly…
I won’t lie to him.” Even as I said it, my stomach twisted in knots.
I’d still be lying by omission…which made more guilt curl in my gut.
“Fair,” she said with a nod. “And same.”
“Okay…” I nodded. “Glad that’s settled.”
“Yeah…” She turned, reaching for a hair tie from her vanity.
As she reached back and gathered her long hair to put it up, I couldn’t help but look at her again.
The slope of her neck became visible, and I could just see her reflection in the mirror, watching her plump lips part slightly as she wrapped the tie.
Then my eyes dropped; with her arms raised, the T-shirt she had on lifted, barely keeping her perfect ass covered.
I cleared my throat, looking away, for what I didn’t know.
How the hell had little Haley Callahan grown into this fucking stunner of a woman?
With the thought came more guilt, so I quickly shook it off.
It didn’t matter. She was Wes’s younger sister, making her entirely off-limits.
And even if that weren’t the case, nothing would come of what happened last night.
I couldn’t—wouldn’t go down that road, not just with her but with anyone. Never again would I risk what happened before happening again.
Haley’s voice broke through the silence. “Can I, um…can I get you some coffee? Breakfast?”
“Oh, uh…” I looked at the clock on her nightstand, seeing that it was almost nine o’clock. “No. I should get going. Thank you, though. I’m just gonna…head back to the bar and get my car.”
She nodded. “Okay.”
We walked out of her room and down the hall. When we got to the front door, she turned and looked at me. “Don’t you need to grab your car, too?” I asked.
“Yeah. I’m going to head that way in a bit.”
I nodded, rubbing the back of my neck. “Alright, well…” God, why was this so fucking awkward?
She smiled. “Uh…I guess I’ll see you around?”
“Yeah, yeah…I’m sure our paths will cross. Especially with the wedding. You’re one of Callie’s bridesmaids, right?”
She chuckled. “I am.”
I cleared my throat. “So, yeah. I’m sure we’ll see each other.
” She nodded with another smile. “Alright, well I’m gonna…
” I trailed off, gesturing toward her door before I turned and opened it, but before I stepped out, I looked back at her again.
“Look, I’m sorry again about last night…
not recognizing you. I feel like a dick. ”
She smirked. “Don’t be sorry. Really, it’s fine. Plus…” She met my gaze. “Had you known, it more than likely wouldn’t have happened. And I can’t say that I regret it. I had fun.”
A small laugh left me. “Yeah…me too.” I held her stare for another moment. “See ya around.”
“See ya.”
I stepped out, closing the door behind me before I began my walk of shame back toward the bar. Alone, away from her and the distraction she’d provided, my head began to clutter with its usual thoughts.
And with them? A new added weight of guilt.