upright. Blankets and sheets flew around her. Her gaze swept down her body with an audible gulp. She reached for the soft fabric, stroking her fingers over her arm. It was not her shirt. It was well worn, soft chambray blue with sleeves that went well past her hands. She shoved them up on each arm and took a chance looking at her legs.
At the moment, they were bent out like a pretzel. Using only two fingers, she cautiously lifted the edge of the shirt, dropping it very quickly. Nothing underneath. A little whimper eased from her throat.
Okay, girl. Not so bad. You are mostly dressed. And alone. She hadn’t been drinking. She knew where she went last night. She remembered surviving the auction and the hours after. It had been too dark to get good looks at the two guys.
Oh, god! The cross!
Memories came flooding back, her head swiveling from side to side, taking in the modest bedroom. It was mostly daylight outside, a soft grey light spreading through the room from the two windows. Then her gaze fell on the open door, the sight making her sigh as she scrambled to the floor and almost ran for the bathroom.
Damp fingers scooped cold water onto her face and ran through the waist length hair. Natural curls sprang up with the traces of water left behind. It had long been trained to part and fall and she absently lifted it behind her shoulders. Eyes mostly awake stared at the counter. Someone had left her a new toothbrush and paste, something she used gratefully.
Did she have dinner the night before? She frowned into the mirror. She’d been nervous as hell. Okay, scared to death. She rinsed her mouth and inhaled deeply. That’s when the scent of food ratcheted through her like a flash fire in California.
Her nose twitched and she left the bathroom, straight through the next partially open door and down the hall. The house was big, with wide halls and all the doors sitting open. No guessing where you were going. But she was following her nose and her stomach was roaring approval.
Then she hit the large open expanse of the body of the house. Her toes curled on the cold stones beneath her feet and she stared. Two men wearing jeans that seemed to be defying gravity clung to their hips. Each had a large mug of something between two hands, their voices low as they leaned against what looked like real stone counters. She wanted to run her hands over the smooth gold flecked chocolate stone.
“Good morning,” the one with short clipped dark hair nudged the other one with an elbow.
The one with straight brown hair that didn’t seem to obey much, turned to her with a smile. “Hey…”
Both were immediately silent when she held up her palm, one finger extended. She swallowed and sighed at the tanned, flexed and muscled chests and arms. Now she had a clear and unobstructed view of the men who had occupied most of her evening. And all she could think was…wow.
Taking a slow breath, she turned the finger to her own chest.
“Hayley.” She said carefully and then turned the finger in turn to the short haired one.
“Dane,” he answered, grinning at her.
The finger moved to the other. “Jack,” he said, a flash of white in the grin he offered. “Good morning, Hayley. We have food. Coffee…tea…juice…” he winced slightly. “Not sure if we have milk…it’s grocery day.”
“How did I get here?” She asked, ignoring the rumbling appreciation from her stomach. She really didn’t want to think about the purring appreciation occurring in other parts of her body. Not right now, at least.
She didn’t move closer, just stood outside the large dining area. The space was open and airy, with a vaulted ceiling and tons of windows and skylights. But it wasn’t chilled. Ceiling fans turned slowly above her, something that caught out of the corner of her eyes as she stepped forward. Then she stopped, frowning at the hand that had been extended, the gesture that had made her feet move without talking to her brain.
She
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