Page 84 of Gather the Storm

Even though he was Piers Cantwell’s son.

Whathad I been thinking?

And then Gray, pawing at me like an animal, acting like it was fun and games when I’d actually been scared.

Yeah, that was what I was beginning to realize. I’d beenscared.

I was turning to slide into the passenger seat when it all hit me at once. My stomach roiled and I pivoted as fast as I could to the open car door, aimed for the pavement, and threw up.

“Oh god…” I moaned, seeing I’d hit Wolf’s shoes. “I’m so sorry.”

“No worries, sunshine.” He guided me away from the car and I hunched over the curb.

I felt him pull my hair back, lifting it off my neck and holding it as I got sick again.

This was a nightmare.

I braced my hands on my knees and heaved, wondering if there was more, but that seemed to be it. My stomach clenched painfully and the street spun as I clung to Wolf and tried to get my bearings.

When I finally straightened. I turned to thank him for holding my hair, then realized with horror that it wasn’t Wolf at all.

It was Jace, standing next to Wolf with an expression I’d never seen him wear.

One I couldn’t begin to define.

Chapter 43

Daisy

By the time I got out of the shower, I was feeling better, if you could call slightly sober but totally mortified better.

Jace had been silent in Benji’s back seat on the way home while Wolf had reassured me there was nothing to be embarrassed about, even though I was having trouble counting all the things I was already embarrassed about and I was pretty sure there would be lots more where those ones came from when I woke up in the morning.

I scrubbed my mouth and teeth with two rounds of toothpaste, combed out my wet hair, and padded into my bedroom.

Wolf was still there, on my bed right where I left him when I’d gone to shower, except now he was leaning back against the headboard, his legs stretched out on my bed, feet bare under his jeans.

The bedside lamp glowed softly from the nightstand, and I had to say, it was more than a little inviting to see him making himself at home in my room.

“How are you feeling?” he asked, his blue eyes warm with concern.

“Humiliated,” I said, “but better.”

He patted the bed next to him. “No reason to feel humiliated. You’re not the first girl in the world to get hammered.”

“No, but I’m probably the first one to puke on your shoes,” I said, crossing the room.

I noticed a glass of water and two Advil on the nightstand. I swallowed the pills and took a long drink of water, then slid onto the bed.

“Maybe,” Wolf said with a grin. “But of all the girls in the world to puke on my shoes, I’m glad it was you.”

He lifted his arm, indicating that I should slide under it, so I did, because who could resist a giant, welcoming Wolf LaForte after the night I’d had?

“I bet you say that to all the girls,” I said, snuggling up to his muscled chest.

He chuckled and it sent tendrils of desire through my almost-sober body as he kissed the top of my head. “Just you, sunshine.”

His voice had turned serious and I looked up at him. “Thanks. For coming and getting me out of that mess and for getting me home and for being so nice.”

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