“And I’d been running from a bear.”
“Because you’d been trying to protect its cub from a cougar.”
“And I had to crawl up the sheer cliff face to get back up again.”
“With the bear cub on your back.”
She laughed out loud and curled into him. He wrapped his arm around her and held her close. He whispered, “Are you hungry for dinner? I can fix you something.”
“Too tired. Unless you’re hungry.”
“Nope.” He reached over and flipped off the lamp that still lived on the floor next to the bed.
She’d ordered a handmade matched set of beside tables she’d found online a few days ago. She preferred to have a vision in her mind when furnishing a room, but the iron-hardware over white pine had been irresistible. And they’d look great with the industrial lamps. Now to find a dresser. And a bedframe so she could put the mattress on something.
Finn relaxed at her side as he drifted off, and she melted into him. Snuggling without sex was surely allowed now and again with rebounds.
After falling off a cliff?
Definitely.
Bleary-eyed,Finnrubbedthefog from his vision. Gray light cast a shadowy glow in the bedroom. Still dim, he could see Haley starting to stir at his side. Her eyes fluttered open, a deep furrow in her brow as she woke.
Damn, he was never awake this early anymore. He turned toward the floor and tapped his phone to check the time. Four in the morning. When he’d first moved home, he’d often wake before dawn with a momentary panic that he was missing practice, only to remember that chapter of his life was over.
If his knee weren’t throbbing so bad from running down that steep hillside yesterday, he’d get out and take a run before the rest of the world stirred. Like he used to.
Haley rolled toward him, propping up on her elbow. The corner of her mouth quirked up in a sleepy grin. “I’m starving.”
He propped up to face her. “Me too. Why don’t you hang out here, and I’ll go make us some breakfast.”
“I’m too hungry. How about a quick protein bar to tide us over, then a huge breakfast with eggs and bacon and cinnamon rolls and fruit and… okay, so all I have is eggs and toast, but you get the idea.”
“Sure thing,” he chuckled, then rolled off the bed.
His knee was talking to him this morning, but he managed to hobble for a quick pit stop in the bathroom, then headed for the kitchen. She’d already had the coffeepot ready to brew, so he hit start and dug around in the pantry closet for a pair of protein bars.
Haley wolfed down her protein bar in a few bites like he did. Maybe they should have had a quick dinner last night. Halfway through gulping down his coffee, he felt a few useful brainwaves starting to wake with the rest of him. Setting down his mug on the floor, he threw back the covers in search of Haley’s ankle.
Sitting uncovered, wearing nothing but his t-shirt that wasn’t covering much at the moment, Haley laughed. “What are you doing? I don’t think I’m awake enough for that yet.”
“Don’t you think about anything but sex?” he teased, trailing his hand down her leg until he reached her ankle. He squeezed along the bones, reassuring himself again that nothing was broken. It was still pretty puffy, but no bruising. “How do you feel?” He asked, sitting up, facing her.
“Functional. Although I think I may be one big bruise.”
“Damn, we got so lucky you weren’t badly injured.”
“Don’t I know it. That would have ruined my day.”
“How’s the head?”
“I’ll let you know in a bit. It’s at a very dull roar right now, but it’s teetering on the edge of pounding.”
“Looks like I’m making breakfast.”
“Mmm, you know what sounds good? I have a connection at Cascade Bakery.”
“I’m not leaving you alone yet.”
