Her laughter fills the room and the emptiness I feel inside. I hate how much I enjoy being with her. I hate even more that part of me wants to do this again.
“Oh, believe me, I have plenty of crazy.”
“Well, your crazy must match mine because I don’t see it.”
I scoot a little closer, my lips gently covering hers. We sink further into the bed, entwined in each other, and drift off to sleep.
I startle awake to the sound of a car honking and glance at the clock next to me. Three in the morning? Who the hell honks their horn at this hour? Sliding out of bed, I pad over to the window and look down at the cab parked in front of my house and the woman sliding into the backseat.
I glance back at the now-empty bed. Looks like I don’t have to worry about what those stupid feelings meant. She decided for me.
Standing at the window, I watch her cab drive away. Then stay there a while longer—hoping she comes back.
CHAPTERNINE
Ember
Ryder Sharpe has consumed my mind for the last forty-eight hours.
Our night together was amazing and more than I had expected. He was everything I could want in a lover. Correction, in a man. He was tender when needed, rough when I wanted, and gave better than he received. His body was like something out of one of those superhero movies—all muscle, in all the right places.
Amazing as it was, I did the walk of shame in the middle of the night. Lying in bed with him, his strong arm draped across me, was too much. It made way for feelings and emotions to sneak in. Things I wasn’t prepared for and things I know he isn’t looking for. He made that clear. As did I. That’s not what our night was supposed to be. It was supposed to be fun and easy. A quick fuck, then gone.
If I’d stayed, I feared I might not want to walk away when the time came. He is everything Devlin isn’t, and the taste he gave me of what good can be like made me hungry for more. So, before things got complicated, I walked away. I hadn’t expected him to invite me to stay. It was supposed to be a one-night stand. I forced myself to walk away, doing the walk of shame in the middle of the night, not because he made me—because I did. I left without so much as a goodbye.
I should have at least left a note. Maybe my number.
No, I remind myself. It’s better this way.
It was nothing more than a good time.
“Are you daydreaming about your sexy one-night stand again?”
“So, what if I am? Is that a crime?”
Hazel plops down on the couch next to me. “The only crime committed was you walking away without leaving your number. The guy was into you.”
“The guy was into sex. Trust me, he made that clear before he ever laid a hand on me.”
“Men always say stupid shit like that.” She waves me off. “He also asked you to stay.”
He did, and it took me off guard. I hadn’t known how to respond, but one look at him, and there was no saying no.
“He was being polite. Besides, it’s not a big deal. It was a fun night, nothing more.”
“Really?” Hazel lifts an eyebrow. “Because you are oozing with post-orgasmic bliss.”
“Orgasmic bliss or not, none of it matters because I’ll never see him again.”
Exasperated, Hazel relents. “Chuck called. Lulu quit this morning, so we’re shorthanded. I told him I might know someone who would want to step in.”
“Me?”
“Yes, you.”
“I don’t know anything about waitressing.”
“I can teach you. So, are you in?”