“Danny, did you order –” Ryker’s words cut off as his gaze swoops over my body.

I slam the bathroom door shut then stare at it.

Oh. My. God.

Ryker just saw me butt naked.

My hand flies to my mouth as my eyes widen.

Nooooooo.

“I didn’t see anything,” he calls out. “Well, not much.”

My mouth drops open as I glare at the door.

“Leave!” I yell at him.

I hear the bedroom door shut, and slowly, I open the bathroom door, peeking into the room. Not seeing Ryker, I run for my closet and yank clothes out. I hurry to put on my underwear, sweatpants, a t-shirt, and even though it’s summer here, a freaking sweater. I try to cover as much skin as possible, and then I sit down on the side of the bed.

Ugh… Ryker saw me naked.

I cover my face with my hands and take a couple of deep breaths.

It’s okay. You’ll survive this. Somehow.

Knowing I have to face him at some point, I let out a sulking sound. Getting up, I walk to the door. I yank it open and send Ryker a scowl where he’s standing by the dining table.

“Sorry, I wanted to ask if you ordered food,” he says, the corner of his mouth lifting.

Locking eyes with him, I threaten, “If you tell a single soul, I will smother you in our sleep.”

He lets out a chuckle, and it makes my face flame up. The love of my life just saw me naked, and now he’s laughing.

Wow… just wow.

Shaking my head, I turn around and walk back to my room. I’m not emotionally equipped to deal with this right now.

RYKER

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

Darting after Danny, I take hold of her arm, but it only has her yanking away from me. I get a glimpse of her face, and seeing the hurt expression makes me feel like shit.

I grab hold of her wrist, and this time, I yank her to me. Folding my arms around her, I say, “I’m sorry. I wanted to ease the tension. I wasn’t laughing at you.”

“Could’ve fooled me,” she mumbles.

I tighten my arms around her, and not thinking, I press a kiss to the side of her head. “I’m sorry, Danny. It was an accident. I knocked, and you didn’t answer. I thought you were taking a nap.”

“Can we not talk about the most embarrassing moment of my life?” she mutters against my chest.

I hate that she’s embarrassed. God, with a body like hers… the memory of her breasts, her toned stomach, her hips and… I begin to harden and instantly pull away from her.

“Deal,” I answer her as I walk to the dining table. I sit down to hide my hard as fuck dick, then gesture at the other plate of food. “Let’s eat.”

She comes to sit down but refuses to look at me.

Leaning back in the chair, I ask, “Will you feel better if I strip? That way, we’re even.”

Her eyes fly to my face, and tilting her head, it actually looks like she’s considering my offer.

I get up, and grabbing hold of the shirt at the back of my neck, I pull it off.

Danny leans her elbows on the table and rests her chin in her palm, but the moment my thumbs slip into my waistband, she lets out a chuckle. “Stop.”

“I don’t mind,” I say, the corner of my mouth lifting.

“I’m sure you don’t,” she mutters as she takes the lid off her plate. “You have nothing to hide.”

Dragging my shirt back on, I sit down. “You have nothing to hide either.” I pick up my cutlery. “Nothing at all.”

“Not making me feel better,” she mumbles as she cuts into her steak.

I hate that she’s uncomfortable, so I keep going, “You’re beautiful, Danny.”

She makes a strangled sound in the back of her throat, her eyes snapping to me.

I hold her gaze. “I’m not just saying it because we’re friends. I mean it.”

“Thanks. Can we leave it now?”

“I don’t want you to be uncomfortable,” I admit.

“I’ll survive.” She takes a bite then focuses on her food.

I take a couple of bites while my eyes keep darting to her.

It’s impossible to forget what I saw. Danny’s… perfect.

When she catches me staring at her, she lets out a sigh. “You’re making it worse.”

“Sorry,” I murmur, but then I figure I might as well be honest with her. “But you have one hell of a hot body.”

Danny takes a deep breath as she sets her cutlery down, then her eyes lock on mine. “You’re really not going to let it go?”

“Kind of hard.” Pun intended.

Danny’s not stupid, far from. Her gaze lowers to my lap before returning to my face. She picks up her cutlery again, then mutters, “Eat so we can get back to work.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I murmur, and I don’t miss how the corner of her mouth lifts.


Tags: Michelle Heard The Heirs Romance