Cole went into his closet to change into a t-shirt and athletic shorts. He intended to ditch his shirt once the lights were out and don it again before she woke in the morning. She’d never be the wiser.
When he returned, she emerged from the bathroom, face freshly scrubbed, her form draped in an extra large t-shirt that read, RUNNING LATE IS MY CARDIO.
“If you want, I could still give you a foot massage,” he suggested. “It might help you fall asleep.”
“That sounds great,” she said as she flopped onto the bed. “I’m tired but keyed up at the same time. Plus, my feet are really sore.”
“I’ll be right back,” said Cole. “Let me brush my teeth.”
Only minutes later, he returned to find she’d already nodded off, her dark hair splayed out on her pillow, framing her sweet face. One smooth leg was on top of the sheets, the other buried under the covers. Her plump lips were parted in sleep, begging to be kissed.
As warmth furled in his gut, he forced his gaze away.
A cold shower sounds like a good idea.
Brooke awoke with a start. Her eyes tried to focus in the dim light, but nothing looked familiar. Then she remembered… she was in Cole’s room. In his bed! As she groped for the mattress edge, she realized she must’ve migrated to the middle.
The air conditioner must’ve been set to sub-zero, because her nose was cold, as was the mattress when she felt for the edge. She hated to move from her cozy, warmed-up spot, but she needed to get back on her side before she delivered a damaging kick to her sleeping husband.
She tried to scoot over, but she couldn’t move. A pressure at her waist held her in place.
It was then that she noticed the uniform warmth against her back. She reached down, to find an arm draped over her side, the hand on her belly. Carefully sliding her hand under the arm, she attempted to push free, but the arm tightened, tucking her snugly against the warm chest behind her. She’d never felt so secure in all her life.
Part of her wanted to give in and simply enjoy the warm embrace, given in sleep, and thus completely platonic. But what if she kicked him? He was so vulnerable while sleeping, she didn’t dare risk it.
She struggled again, but his arm cinched even tighter, and his warmth lulled her toward sleep.
Maybe it would be okay if she rested her eyes for few seconds. Then she would find a way to escape his embrace without waking him.
Her heavy lids drooped, a slow blink…
CHAPTER 17
Cole’s internal alarm never failed to wake him at five a.m.… until today. When his scratchy eyes worked their way open, he saw daylight flooding through a crack in the curtains.
Can’t believe I slept in.
Something next to him shifted, and he jolted awake.
Brooke!
She was in his bed! And he was pressed against her. And he had his arm around her. And he didn’t have a shirt on. That had to break about a million rules! He didn’t move a muscle. How could he extract himself without waking her?
His hand was draped over her side, with her arm resting on top of his arm. The sweet scent of her hair filled his nostrils. Her soft form fit perfectly against him, as if she belonged there.
A knot formed inside his chest. She didn’t belong. He couldn’t let himself think that way. That’s why they made the rules.
Moving slowly, he worked his arm out from under hers and rolled himself away from her, a millimeter at a time. Careful not to tug the covers or jar the mattress, he swung his legs off the bed and retrieved his t-shirt from the nightstand, deftly maneuvering it over his head and down his torso with one arm. Relieved, he let out the breath he’d been holding and lay back against the padded headboard.
“You know you didn’t get away with it, right?”
Brooke’s voice made him jump about six inches off the mattress. A glance to his left showed her sitting up on one elbow, her grumpy morning expression even more pronounced than usual.
“What are you talking about?” He opened his eyes wide, giving his best impression of innocence. He wasn’t sure when she’d wakened, and he wasn’t about to give anything away.
“You didn’t wear a shirt to bed. That’s a clear rule violation.”
“Since I only had my shirt off while it was dark and your eyes were closed, no harm was done.”
“Nice try.” She sat up and propped herself against her pillow. “But a rule is a rule. You broke it, and now you have to pay the price.”
“Ughh!! Fine. Which chick-flick do I have to watch with you?”
“Hmm…” She tapped a fingernail on her tooth. “I think the Hallmark Channel is having their Summer Christmas Movie Marathon.”
“Noooooooo! Not a sappy Hallmark Christmas movie!” he wailed, as he fell back, jerking and writhing as if he’d been poisoned. With strangulated noises coming from his throat, he flopped onto the floor and gave a final twitch of death.
She peered over the edge of the mattress. “Seems that will be sufficient punishment for going shirtless.”
He opened one eye. “Yes. I’ve learned my lesson.”
At least she doesn’t know we were spooning. That was close!