Chapter 18
EIGHTEEN
D AKOTA
When I stumble into the kitchen in the morning, the pale light of the sun is just streaming in and casting long shadows. So long, in fact, that I miss the man sitting at the kitchen counter before it’s too late. Hayden.
“Morning, sunshine.” He grins at me.
“Morning,” I say softly, edging my way around the counter. This time of day might as well be the dead of night for how often I see it. But I couldn’t sleep. Not after last night with Grant. I just keep replaying it over and over in my head. So it’s coffee and an early call time this morning. I might be able to whip up something for everyone for breakfast.
I wince as the sunlight hits my eyes. Or maybe just some freshly squeezed orange juice. We’ll start small and see if Hazel made any plans with Kit, the inn’s chef, for breakfast. I need coffee first if I’m going to be functional though.
“I got the espresso fired up if you want one.” He nods toward the fancy machine Hazel has tucked away on one side of the kitchen.
“I wouldn’t even know where to start. I leave the fancy stuff to my friend at her shop when I want it.”
“Let me make you one then. You look like you need it.” His eyes drift over me with concern but his smile doesn’t fade.
“Ouch.” I laugh, but I nod when he picks a big mug off the shelf and holds it up for me.
“Rough night?” he asks as he starts his ministrations on the machine.
“You could call it that. What are you doing up so early?” I raise my brow as I watch him move so deftly you’d think he worked part-time as a barista when he wasn’t playing football.
“Stayed up with the guys playing a couple of rounds of poker. Had more drinks than I’m used to, especially at this altitude. So after about a gallon of water, I decided to have a little Irish hangover cure.” He taps the bottle of Irish cream on the counter.
“Ah. Sensible.” I nod as I pull out the oranges and a knife so I can start slicing them open.
“Do you want some in yours?”
“I think I’m okay. Just some juice and coffee, a little toast. I’ll be good as new.” I offer up a small smile, and he studies me.
“So this…” His fingers slip gently over the side of my neck. “Was obtained while you were sober?”
Panic wells in my gut, and I turn toward the glass where I can see my reflection. It’s not as clear as a mirror, but I don’t need it to be because the bruise is a bright purple. I instinctively cover it with my hand, and I feel the heat flush all the way down to my chest. Grant haunts me that way no matter where I am. His eyes follow the trail of bright red, and he smirks.
“Now I know I wasn’t drunk enough to give you that and forget.” His brow quirks up, and his eyes slip over me in question.
“I…” I stop no sooner than I start, staring at the floor.
I don’t even know how to explain it. My fingers drift over it again, and I feel the echo of Grant’s lips on my skin. When I look up, I expect judgment and an accusation in Hayden’s eyes, but he’s just grinning as he takes another sip of his coffee.
“You?” His other brow joins the first as he tilts his head to the side in patient expectation.
“It’s complicated.”
“Ah. I know complicated.” He takes another slow draw off the drink and then looks up at me again. “Let me guess, he saw me with my hands all over you yesterday and didn’t like that very much.”
I frown at how transparent we are and worry if everyone in this place knows that something’s up with us. His smirk just widens as the steam from his coffee wafts up and curls around it.
“To put it mildly.”
“And I’m guessing the fact he didn’t stop me outright means that whatever you two have going on is secret?”
I nod.
“Yeah… I’m all too familiar with that particular brand of situation.”
“And yet you’re here.” I give him a playfully accusatory look.
“Trying real fucking hard to be reformed.” He pours the espresso for me, pointing and adding the extras as I nod my head to them before he hands me the drink .
“I see.” I roll my lip between my teeth and lean forward on my elbows, cup in hand, as I study him. “She married?”
“Not exactly, but she’s as off-limits as they come. She doesn’t even really like me, if I’m being honest. She just likes what I can do for her.” The smirk reappears on his face, and he looks out the window. In the distance, I can see Kell taking some folks from the inn on an early morning trail ride.
“Hmm.” I nod. Sounds like me. No wonder we hit it off on New Year’s Eve. “That makes two of us familiar with that particular brand of situation, as you put it.”
“Ah well, then we can commiserate and share tips.” His smile is back, and it’s a brilliant boyish sort that would melt my panties off in about two seconds if someone else didn’t have ironclad control over them.
We hear voices trailing down the hall, the sounds of other people in the house waking up, and he turns back to me.
“How do you want to play this then?” he asks. I furrow my brows, and he continues, “Do you want me to back off or turn up the heat a little for his benefit? I can take care of myself if he gets a little punchy.”
“If he gets a little punchy, we’ll have bigger problems. But don’t back off. Hazel’s heart is dead set on this idea. I think she thinks we’ll fall in love this weekend, have a whirlwind wedding, and I can live part-time in Cincinnati with her.”
“What size ring? We can really get under his skin.” He chuckles as a mischievous look crosses his face, and I shake my head laughing.
“We can’t tease her like that though. She’d never forgive me. I just want to keep her happy for the weekend.”
“She wouldn’t be happy about the real guy?”
“I have no idea how she’ll react, but I don’t think it’s what she needs to hear right now.”
“All right. I got some tamer ideas. You have to take a picture in my lap later, though, so I can post it and see if my situation is still paying any attention.”
“You’ve got a deal.” I nod. The least I can do is help the guy out some.
“You better run and get some makeup or something on your neck, unless you want me to take credit for it.”
“If I can’t cover it up, would you?” I give him a pleading look.
“I got you.” He winks, and whoever she is—she’s lucky.
“Thank you. And for the coffee.” I hold up the cup. “It’s delicious.” Incredibly lucky.