Page 36 of Double Booked

“First, I yelled at you for being here. Then, I made a list of rules, like we’re in kindergarten. Not to mention, I fell on you at the park, and now this. I’m a mess!”

“Eden.”

“I’m not normally like this.”

“Like what?”

She flapped her hand around. “All crazy!”

He gently removed the glass from her hand, since the water was dangerously close to spilling. After setting it on the nightstand, he placed a hand on her wrist. “You’re not crazy, and you don’t have to be embarrassed. You just went through a break-up, (he refused to say her ex’s name), and you’re allowed to be a little off kilter.”

“Off kilter. That’s a nice way of putting it.”

“You’re the first woman to tell me how nice I am,” he said.

“Well, you are.”

Suddenly, he realized he was rubbing his thumb across her wrist, and she hadn’t pulled away. Plus, he was sitting on her bed in his underwear and her in pajamas. The covers were still bunched around her waist, and the outline of her nipples showed through her pajama top. Not that he should have noticed, but they were sitting so close he couldn’t help it. “Do you think you can get back to sleep now?” His voice sounded unnaturally thick.

“I don’t know. It took me a long time to fall asleep the first time.”

“Is there anything else you need?” It felt like a loaded question, and the air became heavier.

She gazed at him for a long moment, like she was grappling with something. He continued brushing his thumb over her soft skin.

“Could you… Would you mind… Could you stay with me a little longer?"

A wave of heat washed over him, and his heart rate spiked.

“I don’t want to be alone right now,” she added.

How could he say no? Besides, he wasn’t in a hurry to leave either. “Okay.”

She scooted over, temporarily breaking their contact, and patted the space beside her.

He stared at her in disbelief. Is this really happening? His body moved of its own accord, as he climbed onto the bed and sat beside her, stretching his legs out atop the covers. She was still mostly covered, but he felt her heat through the sheets.

Now what? He wasn’t sure what to do with his hands, so he clasped them over his stomach. She shifted, but instead of moving further away, she leaned her head on his shoulder.

Suddenly, it was hard to breathe.

“Is this okay?” she whispered.

His heart was racing and his palms were sweaty. “Yes.” It was all he could manage at the moment.

She sighed. “Thank you.”

If he stayed much longer, she might not be thanking him. It was too tempting. She was too warm and smelled too good. And he was a man. A mere mortal. A member of the same species as Patrick.

“I wish he hadn’t texted me,” she said.

He nodded, convinced her ex was the subject of her bad dream. Her hair tickled his skin, and his fingers itched to touch her. He clasped his hands tighter and didn’t budge.

It was after three in the morning, and he didn’t feel the least bit sleepy. There was no way he could fall asleep with her lying next to him, anyway. “Are you feeling tired yet?”

She glanced up at him. “No, are you?”

He met her gaze, and what he saw there shook him to the core. Her eyes were glassy, and her expression open, inviting. She flicked out her tongue and wetted her lips. No way. He might be out of practice, but he recognized that look. It was similar, yet different, to Carly’s. He swallowed hard.