Page 60 of Hitting the Gap

“Umm, I need to go brush my teeth,” she squeaked. How was it possible his voice sounded even sexier when it was all rough from sleep and hers sounded like one of the chipmunks?

Gonzo scrubbed his hands over his face, like he was waking himself up, then shifted his body on the mattress. His eyes widened and he shot her a look and winced. “Please tell me I didn’t harpoon you with my morning wood.”

“Nope, you didn’t.” There was no way she was admitting that to him.

“Thank fuck, the last thing you want when you’re feeling like shit is a dick literally stabbing you in the back. If I did, sorry.”

Bailey glanced over at him. Why did he look so calm about it? Not even a hint of embarrassment about her knowing he was aroused. Did he wake up like that so often it didn’t even phase him?

“How you feeling?” he asked.

“A lot better, thanks. Sorry about last night. When I asked you to cuddle me, I didn’t mean you had to stay all night.”

“Nah, it’s fine. I tried to leave a couple times, but you just kept wrapping around me, mumbling about the best teddy bear ever. With that endorsement, how could I possibly leave?”

Bailey’s eyes widened. “Please tell me you’re joking.”

“Nope.” He chuckled. “For my birthday, I kind of want you to get me a human teddy bear T-shirt.”

Bailey closed her eyes and willed the bed to open up and swallow her. This just kept getting better and better. “I’m so sorry,” she mumbled.

“Nothing to be sorry for, Bay. Not the first time I’ve seen you puke. I’m sure it won’t be the last.” He stretched, drawing her attention to the way his T-shirt pulled tight against his biceps. How the hell she’d compared him to a teddy bear when the man was rock hard, she’d never know.

“Besides, you were like my own little blast furnace. I slept like a log.” Gonzo looked at her and his forehead wrinkled. “Why are you being all weird?”

“I’m not being weird,” she replied, forcing herself not to look at his stomach as he scratched his bare skin. Why couldn’t he scratch on top of his clothes like a normal person? Unable to help herself, she flicked a quick glance, then instantly regretted it when her gaze dropped to below his waist.

“Busted.” He laughed. “You totally just looked at my dick.”

“What? I did not.” She shoved off the bed and stood up.

“It’s okay, Bay, I stabbed you while I was sleeping and now you want to know if it looks as good as it felt. I can’t blame ya, really.”

She stormed toward the washroom. “You wish, buddy,” she called over her shoulder.

He mumbled something, but she couldn’t make out what it was as she closed the bathroom door.

Too embarrassed to go back out, she flipped on the shower. She was just about to step in when Gonzo knocked on the bathroom door. “I’m just grabbing a quick shower as well, Bay. I’ll probably be gone when you get out. We’re on the road for ten days this time, so I’ll see you when we get back.”

Ten days. He was going to be gone for ten days. She wrapped a towel around herself and pulled open the door. Gonzo’s eyes widened and his nostrils flared as his gaze scanned her body. She glanced down to make sure she was fully covered. She was.

“Thanks for looking after me, Gonz. I really appreciate.”

“Anytime. Glad you feel better.” He leaned in and pressed a kiss against her forehead. “Take it easy while I’m gone.”

He turned to leave. She closed the door and slumped against it. Her hand touched her forehead where he’d kissed just a moment ago. Stupid, Bailey, stupid. She couldn’t have feelings for Gonzo. That was never gonna happen. Looked like she had ten days to get over her stupid crush on her best friend.

Chapter 14

“So what have you been doing while I’ve been away? You done all the tourist stuff yet?”

Bailey shrugged. “Not really. I’ve gone to the pier and the beach a few times.”

“You been to Old Town?”

“No, not yet.”

“You want to go there for dinner?” he asked.

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