* * *
The next morning, I was like a bear with a sore head. I’d barely slept. Too wired from the night before. From images of Dayna writhing beneath me, crying for more. For a woman who hadn’t had sex in almost four years, her body sure knew what to do.
Fuck.
She’d blown my mind.
The whole night had.
But then she’d acted as if it was nothing. Just two friends getting down and dirty on the beach, doing each other a favor.
I was her rebound.
Jesus Christ.
I’d walked her home, and she’d given me a smile and a wave, reminded me that we should keep things between the two of us, and then skipped into her house as if I hadn’t been inside her only minutes earlier.
It didn’t sit well with me.
But there wasn’t a whole lot I could do about it. She was Carson’s friend, and he’d made it more than clear that I needed to stay away from her.
Then there was the little fact that I didn’t do relationships. I didn’t have the time or energy for something serious. Had no interest in settling down. Not when there was a whole world of pussy out there, especially once I hit the pros.
So why the fuck couldn’t I get her out of my head?
I was Aiden fucking Dumfries. I didn’t get attached.
Ever.
“Morning.” Carson wandered into the kitchen. “Did Dayna get home okay last night?”
“Uh, yeah. Why?”
“No reason.” His eyes narrowed. “Why? Did something happen?”
“No.” The lie was like ash in my mouth. “Walked her home and then came back here.”
“Was she okay?”
“Yeah, I mean, I think so. Why?”
“I’m just worried about her. After Dalton, Dayna fell apart. It was a rough time.”
“She’d lost her brother; it’s understandable.”
“I know.” He dragged a hand down his face. “But then she went off to college, and it’s like she kept her new life and her life here separate. I don’t want that fucker Josh to undo all her progress.”
“She seemed fine to me.” I shrugged.
“She was ass over elbow drunk, dancing in Moonies.”
“And I’m guessing that’s not usual Dayna behavior?” A sinking feeling spread through me.
“No, no, it is not.” He made himself a mug of coffee and leaned back against the counter. “Dayna’s more of a color-inside-the-lines kind of girl. But if you say she got home okay, then maybe I’m worrying for nothing.”
Guilt curdled in my stomach. She hadn’t been that drunk, had she?
Things were kind of a blur.