Page 48 of Deal Takers

CHAPTER 31

Brody

My eyes reluctantly open against the rising sun filtering through the windows. It takes a moment to realize where I am, but the confusion clears the second I see the woman stretched out next to me. She’s lying on her back with her left arm flung over her eyes. I can’t help but smile when I see a little trail of drool running down her chin. It doesn’t matter that she looks like she was on a week-long bender, with her matted hair, smudged makeup, and chapped lips. Rainey O’Neil smells like a frat house on a Saturday morning, and I’m pretty sure that’s dried vomit in her hair, but she’s still the most beautiful fucking thing I’ve ever had the pleasure of waking up to. I’ve dated some gorgeous women in my life, but not a single one of them can hold a candle to her.

I feel a stab of guilt from staying over without her permission, but in my defense, I couldn’t stomach the thought of leaving her in that condition, no pun intended. Ifeel semi-responsible because I was the one who fed her the contaminated food. I don’t know how long she was in the bathroom, but I’m pretty sure she was taking catnaps on the tile floor in between bouts of projectile vomiting and pissing out of her ass. I know she’s embarrassed, but she needs to get over it because I’m not going anywhere. It could’ve easily been me in that situation had she selected the beef instead of the chicken. I wouldn’t have been happy about it, but shit happens. Literally.

“Good morning, sunshine.”

Rainey groans as she stirs. She cracks one eye open and glances my way. “What are you doing here, Brody?”

Her morning voice wakes my dick right the fuck up. She naturally has a sexy rasp, but it’s apparently much stronger first thing in the morning. I shift, willing Thor to calm the hell down.

“I didn’t want to leave you alone like that.”

I watch her expression morph three times in as many seconds as the memories from last night flood back in. “Ugh…” she whimpers. She slams her palm over her mouth before mumbling, “You didn’t have to do that.”

I smile. “Sure I did. What if you needed to go to the hospital? I wasn’t going to put that on my conscience.”

She rolls her eyes. “I work in medicine, Brody. I know the signs of food poisoning and how to treat it. I didn’t need anyone to witness…that.”

“Why are you talking with your hand smashed against your mouth?”

“Because my mouth tastes like something died in it,” she replies. Or at least that’s what I think she said.

I laugh and get out of bed, stretching my arms over my head as I do. I don’t miss the way her eyes trace themovement. “Why don’t you go clean up while I make you some toast?”

She shakes her head emphatically. “Nuh-uh. I’ll be fine. You can head home.”

I smirk. “Wow, sweetheart, you really know how to make a man feel loved, but I wasn’t really asking. I’m not leaving until I know you’re okay, and I’m not going to know that until you prove to me you can keep some food down and hydrate yourself. Now get your fine ass out of bed and in the shower. I’ll be in the kitchen when you’re done.”

“Pushy asshole,” she mutters.

I wink. “I’ve been called worse.”

Twenty minutes later, Rainey joins me in the kitchen, lookingandsmelling much better than she did when I left her. I place a plate of dry toast topped with sliced bananas on the breakfast bar and pull the stool out for her.

“Eat.”

She takes a seat and grumbles, “Thanks.”

I round the counter and take a sip of coffee. When I see Rainey eyeballing it longingly, I say, “Sorry, babe, no can do.” I nod to the glass of water sitting next to her. “Clear liquids only until we know you can keep them down.”

“Jerk,” she says, glaring.

“Aw honey, you know you don’t mean that. C’mon, admit it. You’re glad I stayed so you could feast your eyes on all of this.” I wave my hands up and down my body and wiggle my eyebrows.

Rainey smirks. “Imayhave appreciated the water and crackers last night. And the breakfast.”

“See? Was that so hard to admit? And to think, all I ask in return is that you wear a sexy nurse’s costume the next time I see you.”

“Oh, is that all?”

I shrug. “I wouldn’t be opposed if you wanted to throw in some head. I did go to sleep with a pretty serious case of blue balls last night.”

Rainey gives me a wry look. “Duly noted, Brody. Slutty nurse with a side of blow job. I’ll see what I can do.”

“Wow, you should get food poisoning more often. You’re awfully amenable. I like this Rainey.”

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