Page 22 of By His Vow
It’s only concern for Lori that finally forces me into action.
As I roll out of bed, cool air rushes over me, and I glance down to find I’m wearing a thin tank and a pair of period pants.
At least I look as bad as I feel.
Grabbing an oversized cardigan from my chair, I throw it around my shoulders and attempt to smooth down my wild hair as I make my way to the front door.
The buzzer continues. Its incessant noise ripping through the apartment, making my ears and head hurt.
“I’m fucking coming,” I bellow as I stumble down the hallway.
My mouth is like the bottom of a freaking bird’s cage. I can only imagine how bad my breath smells.
Whoever is on the other side of this door is about to get the shock of their life.
Please be Lori.
Please be Lori.
Her bedroom door is open, and as I pass, I find her bed made and unslept in.
Hope blooms in my chest that her date went so well.
If I were a good friend, I would have stayed sober last night in case she needed a rescue. But as it is, I don’t remember getting home, let alone where my cell is.
Finally, I reach the door and fumble with the lock.
I close my eyes and pray one last time that my best friend is going to be smiling at me from the other side.
“Oh, for the love of God,” I complain the second my visitor is revealed. “Why are you here?” I ask, keeping a tight grip on the door and standing firm.
There is no reason for him to be at my front door this early in the morning. Ever.
Wrapping my arm around myself to cover up, I try and muster as much confidence as I can.
“I brought you breakfast, baby.” He smirks before holding up what I can only describe as a bottle of Grinch vomit.
“That…is not breakfast. If you don’t have any carbs or coffee, I’m not interested.”
I swing my arm forward to slam the door in his face, but he sees it coming and his free palm presses against the wood long before it closes, forcing it wider.
He steps closer, his freshly showered, manly scent filling my nose, and damn it if it doesn’t make my mouth water. My vision is filled with his dark navy suit as he closes the space between us.
“You don’t need carbs this morning. You need something to help detox last night from your system.”
I narrow my eyes at him, still refusing to allow him entry.
“How do you know what I did last night?” I snap as I’m forced to crane my neck back to keep eye contact with him.
A shocked gasp rips from my lips as he brushes against my braless chest a beat before his warm breath tickles down my neck and his lips brush my ear.
“Who do you think tucked you into bed last night, baby?”
I’m so stunned by his words that I stumble back, inadvertently giving him space to invade my apartment.
“You didn’t,” I seethe, watching in horror as he marches down the hallway like he owns the place.
He looks inside Lori’s bedroom before continuing forward to the open-plan living area.