Page 18 of His North Star
I had to get breakfast started at the lodge in less than forty-five minutes. Should I call out for Ty to bring me clothes? Heat bloomed across my chest. Ty digging around in my bras and underwear invaded all sorts of boundaries. I inched my bathroom door open and peeked at my bed. He didn’t stir.
My pulse pounded in my ears. I could do this. Stealthily, in and out like a spy. I sucked in a breath and tiptoed to my dresser, pulling the top drawer open. It squeaked, and I froze. Wincing, I looked over my shoulder to look at Ty. Assured he still slept, I took time to observe him. Aw, cute. His face was smooth, mouth slightly parted. His blond hair had flopped over his forehead, making him look boyish and peaceful.
I refocused, digging around in my disorganized drawer. Where was my nude bra? Annoyed it wasn’t in my dresser, I bent one leg, while the other hovered at an odd angle in a Bambi-style lunge, down to the laundry basket of clothes I hadn’t put away a few days ago. Cool air breezed against my backside.Ah!From now on, I was only buying extra-large towels.
I tugged the towel down to cover my behind, ensuring my girls were still hidden up top, and went back to sorting through my basket.
Where are you?There’s no way I would show up to work in my white polo and a dark bra. I tossed random items behind me, including my favorite red bra.
“Oooh, I like this one,” Ty said.
Five-hundred-degree fire scalded me. I whipped around, almost tumbling to the ground. Ty wriggled his brows while holding my red lacy bra on the edge of his finger. I jumped up, tugging on the towel. I bit my lip. Could he see anything up top or on bottom?
His gaze went wide-eyed, and he grinned.
“Close your eyes!” I shouted frantically. Only one man was ever allowed to see me in this state, and it wasn’t my best friend.
Ty’s grin turned Cheshire. Heat ran up my spine. Oh, he was so in for it. He flopped back and grabbed a pillow to cover his face while laughing. Was he laughing at me or the situation? It better not be at me, the punk.
My legs shook as I yanked a shirt and pants from the laundry pile and scrambled to the safety of the bathroom. Embarrassment burned my throat. If our roles were reversed, it wouldn’t matter if Ty walked around in a towel. He’d be covered, and I’d seen his chest plenty of times while swimming. My cheeks remained heated as I got dressed.
I breathed deeply and slowly before inching the bathroom door open. Ready or not, I had to get going. And really, if it were anyone but Ty, I’d be packing up to move to Australia by now. But at least I could recover from this.
Well, maybe.
I tucked my chin and refused to meet Ty’s full smile and bright eyes. After sliding my feet into my socks and shoes, I stood, ready to get myself breakfast.
“I didn’t mean to fall asleep,” Ty said unabashedly, lying back with his arms behind his head. “Or spend the night. But that wasn’t a bad way to wake up.”
I fanned my overheated cheeks. We weren’t going to pretend that never happened? Cool.
“Well, I hope you got a good look, because that’s the last time you’ll ever witness my embarrassment.”
He smirked. “I doubt it.”
I picked up a running shoe from the floor and tossed it at his head.
“Hey!” he shouted.
“You deserve it.”
He shrugged. “Not my fault you pranced around in a towel.”
It wasn’t mine either, I wanted to retort like a brat.
“I need to get going,” Ty said.
“You don’t want breakfast?” Breakfast was normal. Easy. Not full of humiliation.
“Nah, I’ve got an early meeting.”
Right. I bet he couldn’t wait to get out of here and go scrub his eyeballs. I wrapped my arms around my burning middle. “Sorry I ruined your appetite.”
He fell back on my bed. Laughing.
Again? Nothing about this morning substantiated his uncontrollable laughter.
“I promise you,” he said between halted breaths, “you didn’t ruin anything.”
