Page 29 of Ring Me

Chapter 8

Birdhouses

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I STARED AT THE CEILINGfor a long time. I didn't recognize it, not even when the sun started to slip through the window blinds, illuminating the eggshell white color. This room wasn't mine.

A warm shape shifted next to me. I rolled over, studying Conner's face while he slept. Everything flooded back—I slumped onto my pillow, breathing easier. Right. I'm sleeping in his bed. I'd forgotten all about the thing we'd done.

Lifting my hand, I stared at the ring. The sun twinkled on the diamond, highlighting the edges of the exquisite sapphires that framed it. I was engaged. But not really, I quickly reminded myself. Cupping my hand with my other palm, I drew my fingers against my chest in a tight ball.

Only four more until Pappy's birthday. Was I going to keep this a secret from everyone but my family? Aubrey will flip out if she gets wind of this.

Oh, dammit. I flipped around, finding my phone buried under my pillow, checking the time with narrowed eyes. I had to get ready for work. Conner's apartment was further away than mine had been, so I had to account for that. I need to shower and change and get going! I'd never been late to work in my life. I wasn't going to start today.

Shimmying under the blanket, I moved slow so I wouldn't wake Conner. He didn't stir. The sunlight stretched over him, accenting the hard muscles in his arms. The blanket had slipped down to his middle, exposing his upper body in all its delicious glory.

It had been a very long time since I'd slept at a guy's place. Ben had been an early riser—earlier than me. I didn't remember catching him in a vulnerable spot like this. Or, if I had, it was erased by the new, powerful memory Conner had made.

Even lying motionless, he looked like a warrior. His washboard abs drew my eye... I was fascinated by how his chest rose up and down with each peaceful breath.

Focus, I scolded myself. Snatching up my duffel bag from where I'd dropped it last night, I walked into his master bathroom. Like the rest of his place, the room was immense and luxurious. I'd been stunned last night when I entered his apartment.

“This is all yours?” I'd asked him, circling the huge living room with its recessed lighting and ivory colored furniture. One wall was all windows that faced the city, giving a perfect view of the Cumberland river in the distance.

Conner had shrugged it off, like he was a little embarrassed. It made me more curious than ever about his financial situation. I made okay money running my own marketing business, but even I couldn't sniff at a place like this!

Now, I stood in front of the walk-in shower, turning the oil-rubbed bronze handle until hot water poured out of the umbrella sized shower head. Steam filled the room. I loved a good, scalding shower, it always cleared my head. This was no different. Under the pelting, cleansing water, my thoughts focused in on my situation with fresh clarity.

When I get to work, I can't tell anyone about this. In my perfect world, the deal I'd struck with Conner would never be known to anyone but me, him, my mother, my aunt, and Pappy. That was it. Then once everything was squared away, I could return to my career-focused life without any lingering problems.

The more people involved in a secret, the more likely it wouldn't be a secret anymore. I loved Aubrey, but explaining everything to her would be too complicated. Just imagining it was exhausting.

With any luck, this will be settled and done with by the end of the week. I soaped my body up, spotting the diamond ring again. I hope he can return this and get his money back. If not, I'd give him the rest. Conner deserved being made whole. He was doing enough to help me as is. Way more than he should be.

More than I deserved.

Wrapping myself in a fluffy towel, I dried myself off in front of the bathroom's floor length wall to wall mirror. Seeing myself made me remember how I'd looked in the video Conner had taken of me in the hotel room. I shivered with a wave of hot, raw arousal. Placing my palm on the mirror, I looked deep into my own eyes. My cheeks were red from more than the steamy shower.

I wonder... if he'd ever fuck me like this. I spread my hands further on the mirror, letting my towel fall to the floor. It would be incredibly sexy to see his face, and my face, as we both lose control.

Shaking myself, I quickly changed into clean clothes for work. I was lucky that the black ankle-length skirt and long-sleeve deep purple blouse weren't wrinkled from being in the bag all night.

I'd packed one nice pair of shoes—low heel black straps—which I tucked my toes into before exiting the bathroom. Before I noticed Conner wasn't in bed, I smelled the wonderful buttery scent of pancakes. My stomach growled angrily. Smiling with surprised delight, I walked out into the kitchen. Conner had promised to make amends.

I wasn't ready for what I saw.

He was shirtless in front of the huge marble island in the middle of the kitchen. On the stove was a red pan that he was shaking gently. The second he spotted me, he flashed a wicked grin. “Morning, Sunshine,” he said, expertly flipping the pancake. He added it to the stack he'd created on a platter on the counter. “Hungry?”

“Yes,” I said honestly, coming closer. He was wearing a pair of gray workout pants that sat low on his hips, showing off his angular pelvic bones and lower belly muscles. Gorgeous. “Did my shower wake you up?”

“It's not a sound I'm used to hearing.” Grabbing two plates with pancakes on them, he motioned for me to follow him. He opened a door by the huge windows, revealing the outdoor balcony with its round table set for two people. “Sit, do you want coffee?”

“Please.” While I waited for him to come back, I looked out at the beautiful view. The wind was gentle on my damp hair. I felt like a woman dining out on an expensive vacation.

Conner sat down across from me, handing me a steaming mug. He was still shirtless and didn't seem to care. “Try the pancakes before they get cold,” he said.

I stared at the plate, then at him, my lips pursed in a dubious smile.

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