Page 14 of Bad Boy in Her Bed

Easing her back onto his shoulder, he shook his head.“Grey’s the guilty party.He doesn’t pay the electric bill, so every light inside is probably on too.At least I know I don’t have to text him and ask if he made it home safe.”

*

Jocelyn watched thesky as more stars made their appearance in the dark night.“That must have been tough, raising him and River when you were still a kid yourself.”She could feel Birch tense beneath her and she slid one arm across his chest, as though it might keep him from bolting.“We don’t have to talk about it.I was just thinking about what kind of guy would take on that much responsibility, and how incredible it is to know an amazing guy like that.”

He remained quiet for a minute, his muscles slowly relaxing under her before he spoke.“Grey was almost four and River was eight when our mom took off, so Winter and I had basically been raising them for six years already when our dad died.And since there was no way in hell I was going to let them be split up and sent to foster care with strangers, it made sense to keep going like we had been.Nothing amazing about it.”

“I guess we’ll agree to disagree.”She skimmed her fingers along his ribs.“Do you ever regret it?Or resent it?”

“Regret, never.”

“But resent?”

He wrapped one arm around her, his hand on her waist.“I guess at times.It was hard enough to get a job around here with the Baker name, so when I’d get fired for being called away too many times to pick up River from the cop shop for fighting or vandalism, yeah, I resented it.Grey wasn’t as much of a delinquent, but he had other issues keeping me home even when he was old enough to stay by himself.Still does, in all honesty.I guess I resented it a few times, like when I missed a concert or a party I was supposed to go to but had to cancel because Grey was freaking out or River went off the rails.But they’re both coming out the other side halfway decent, so it was worth it.”

“I couldn’t even keep a fish alive without my parents’ help when I was eighteen.”

His hold on her tightened.“Yeah, but you were doing other cool shit.After going through the process with Grey, I have a new appreciation for how much hard work it must have taken for you to get a full scholarship to New Jersey.I mean, damn.Those applications leave no room for a single stupid choice during high school.”

Misplaced or not, a thread of guilt wormed through her.

She spent her twenties getting a degree, training and competing in marathons, establishing herself in her career while maintaining a solid social life.

Birch spent his making sure his brothers were fed and clothed and twisting their odds to give them the future he didn’t have.

“I can actually hear the pity in your head,” he stated, patting her backside.“Stop it.”

She tossed one leg over his hip and straddled him, placing her hands on either side of his head.“No pity.I’m just blown away when I think about how grown-up I thought I was in college because I lived in a dorm away from home.And here you were, keeping two whole humans alive.”

“If you’re going to be impressed, be impressed over the fact we only had seven ER visits after I took over.In a house full of boys, we should have been at the hospital every two months.”

“I am definitely impressed.”She lay her head on his chest as his arms wrapped around her, his finger playing with her hair until the chill in the air brought their evening to a chaste end.

Chapter Seven

Birch slapped athis alarm clock, knocking it off his bedside table when its wail pierced through his hot and heavy dream.Disoriented, he yanked at the power cord and dragged it close so he could put an end to the noise.His mind took a moment to move from fantasy to reality while his body held fast to the thought of being buried balls-deep in Jocelyn.

“I’ve got pancakes going,” Grey called through the door.“Get your ass in gear before they get soggy.”

Dragging himself to the shower, he stepped under the cold spray in hopes it would take care of his morning wood.But given the blue balls he’d walked in the door with a few hours ago, the cool water did little more than make his fast jerk-off session mildly uncomfortable.

Grey was seated at the table by the time he made it downstairs, heaps of pancakes stacked on an old floral platter they’d had as long as he remembered.Digging into the pile, he slathered them with butter and syrup, looking up only when he felt his brother’s eyes on him.“What?”

“Nothing.”Grey grinned.“You got in late last night.”

It would have been a lot later if he let his dick make the decision at Jocelyn’s hotel room door.But when her offer to come in was made, his damn brain had stepped in and backed him out.

Logically, he knew it was wise.He liked this woman.Liked her a lot.He wanted more quiet talks under the stars.More held hands on the sidewalk.More of the anticipation he felt every time he thought of her.

What he didn’t want was to make her think sex was the be-all, end-all for him.So he left her at her door with nothing more than a promise to call.

Grey continued to watch him, almost giddy in his seat.

“Holy hell, Grey.What is it?”

“Where were you last night?”his brother asked with a Cheshire smile.

“Out.”

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