Chapter 24

Keira awoke the next morning with a pounding headache and hardly any recollection of the night before. She threw her arm across her eyes and tried to get a little more sleep, but the throbbing in her head was too insistent and she headed for the kitchen in search of aspirin.

The sight of Jon asleep on her couch brought her up short. Snippets from the night before came flooding back to her: the arguing, the flirting…the kiss. Inwardly, she groaned. I kissed him and he turned me down. Ugh, how embarrassing. She remembered asking him to stay. Now what do I do? I can’t just wake him up and kick him out. Thankfully, Rob wasn’t due back until the evening.

Making a concerted effort to be quiet, she got the aspirin bottle down from her kitchen cabinet. She filled a glass with tap water and used it to wash down two tablets. Glancing at the digital clock on her microwave, she saw that it was only 8:15. Too damn early after a night like last night. She crawled back into bed and willed sleep to come again, at least for another hour or two. Within minutes she knew it wasn’t going to happen, but at least her headache was starting to go away. Coffee. Must have coffee.

She tiptoed back to the kitchen, this time pausing to take a better look at Jon. He was sleeping on his back, with one arm above his head and the other across his stomach. At some point during the night he had kicked off the blanket, so she had a great view of his toned chest and shoulders. Someone’s been working out. His hair was tousled and he looked damn sexy in Rob’s sweats. It’s not fair that he looks this good even after a night of drinking. Infuriating man. Where’s my camera? She laughed to herself when she thought about snapping a photo of him, but quickly decided that would be wrong.

She went into the kitchen and set about making a pot of coffee, trying to be as quiet as possible. Suddenly the phone rang, making her jump. She quickly grabbed the wall phone. “Hello?”

“Hi, baby. I’m sorry to call you so early, but I have meetings the rest of the day and I didn’t think I’d get a chance to talk to you again before I get on the plane.”

She turned around to see if Jon was still asleep. He had rolled onto his side, but his eyes were still closed. She spoke quietly. “That’s okay, Rob. How’s everything going there?”

“Oh, it’s going. The usual. I had to be back at the printing place at 3:00 this morning, so I haven’t had much sleep. Why are you whispering?”

She cleared her throat and spoke a bit louder. “I’m not whispering. I just woke up a few minutes ago, that’s all. It must be my morning voice.”

Jon stirred and covered his eyes with his forearms. Keira’s eyes widened as she took in his taut stomach and the line of hair that led down into the sweatpants. Get your mind off the treasure trail, girl.

“…would that be okay?” Rob was saying.

“What was that?”

“I asked if you wanted me to come by tonight after I get home.”

This was getting worse and worse. “Sure,” she said, unable to come up with an excuse to say no.

“Okay, I’ll see you then. I love you.”

“I love you too,” she said, and winced. “Bye.” She hung up the phone. I am a horrible, horrible person.

“Was that the fiance?” Jon said, startling her. She looked at him. He hadn’t moved; his arms still covered his eyes.

She sighed. “Yes. I’m sorry I woke you up. It’s early; you can go back to sleep if you want.”

“Why are you up?”

“I had a headache.”

“I’m not surprised,” he said, and laughed.

She walked over to the couch and sat down on the floor next to him. “Jon, I am so, so, SO sorry about last night.”

He took his arms off his face and looked at her, propping his head up on his hand. “What are you sorry for?”

She didn’t want to say it. She was too embarrassed. She waved her hand in the air and said, “Oh, for getting so drunk and acting stupid. For trying to make you mad all night. For…the ladies’ room thing.” She hung her head.

He reached out and touched her cheek briefly, then pulled his hand back. “First of all, you were a funny drunk, and I didn’t mind you trying to make me mad. A little verbal sparring with a beautiful woman can be a turn-on. And as far as the ladies’ room…well, that was a damn good kiss. If you want to apologize for something, apologize for saying no earlier in the night.” He reached down and grabbed her left hand, lifting it up so they could both look at the ring. “Although I know you have your reasons.”

She twisted the ring around her finger. “That didn’t stop me later in the evening, did it?” she murmured, ashamed.

“Don’t beat yourself up. You were just drunk.”

She nodded. That’s true. But I’m sober right now and I still want to kiss you.

“When do you want me to drive you home?” she asked, slightly afraid to hear his answer.

He stretched. “I have the whole day free. Just a few phone calls to make, but I can do that later. What are you doing?”

She turned to him. “I have no plans, either.”

“Want to spend it together?”

This is dangerous. Very, very dangerous. She smiled at him. “That actually sounds nice.” She got up and went into the kitchen. “Do you want coffee?” she called.

“God, yes.”

She filled two mugs. “How do you take it?”

“Black is good.”

“Hardcore,” she teased, adding cream and sugar to hers. She carried the two mugs to the living room and giggled as she handed him his. He raised his eyebrows as he took in the bright red Boston Red Sox “B” on the side of his mug.

“You made your point last night,” he said dryly.

“I just wanted to drive it home this morning,” she replied sweetly. “So what did you have in mind for today?”

They sipped their coffee and thought about it. "You can't do much, can you?" she asked after a minute. "You must get mobbed out in public."

"Sometimes," he said. "Depends where I go."

She yawned. "What I really need is a nice, greasy breakfast to get rid of my hangover."

He smiled and sat up, combing his fingers through his hair. "Let's start there then. Mind if I use your shower first?"

"No, go ahead. Come on, I'll show you." He followed her to the bathroom and she handed him a towel and a spare toothbrush that she dug out of a drawer beside the sink. "I'll shower after you." Although I'd rather shower with you.

She closed the bathroom door behind her and went to refill her coffee cup. It was going to be an interesting day.