Page 16 of Wild Card

Okay, so that’s a sexy name.

I clutch the note to my chest as flashes of his handsome face appear and disappear the harder I try to focus on them.

Dammit.

I shouldn’t have drunk last night, and not just due to the rolling in my stomach.

My family pack isn’t exactly a picture of happiness, and I always promised myself I wouldn’t drink when I was sad.

Shaking away those thoughts, I carefully place down my heels and the note before grabbing the coat and getting into it.

Taking a seat on the wooden bench under the hooks, I pull on both sets of socks. They’re thick and wool or something scratchy. They won’t do much, but they will help some.

It was very thoughtful of him to leave them at all. His rich lemongrass and cedar scent floods my nose from the jacket as I move. It makes my instincts buzz with interest, and before I can stop myself, I’m sneaking into the living room.

Bear lies on his back without even a blanket to cover him. Likely because I was in his bed and stole his comforter.

He’s got an arm tossed over his head, and his long hair falls over his face. He’s in a pair of dark jeans, but he took off his shirt to sleep. Each of his sides is covered in tattoos that I can’t make out, but they go up his rib cage and connect to others on his pecs.

There’s a smattering of blondish-brown hair on his chest and a very well-defined happy trail that leads down into the top of his jeans.

He’s every bit as big as I remember.

I lick my lips and fight the urge to cuddle between him and the back of the couch. I bet he would be so warm and comfortable to snuggle up to. I’d bury my nose in his chest and soak up as much of his lemongrass and cedar scent as I could.

The hits from his jacket are nice, but scenting him directly from the source feels like it would be life-changing.

I frown, shaking my head.

What the hell am I doing?

He’s so large, his feet hang off the end of the couch. That can’t be comfortable. He had to sleep out here because he wasn’t willing to share a bed with me.

My eyes have a mind of their own as they circle back to his chest. Even asleep, his strength is obvious. Thick lines of well-defined muscle frame his pecs and arms, but he has a soft stomach.

Yeah, I definitely wouldn’t mind snuggling up next to him in a comfortable nest.

But now I can’t stop wondering why he didn’t sleep with me…

Did I embarrass myself?

Or make him uncomfortable?

Did I hit on him?

Oh, God.

I have to go.

My hands dig into the back of the couch as I glance at the front door.

I really hope he knows how much I appreciate him being a good guy. I could have woken up in a much worse situation this morning. I only wish I could remember everything.

Exhaling heavily, I say a silent goodbye.

My head throbs as my nose burns in the cold air, but it does help offset some of my nausea.

I’m going to need three gallons of coffee to make it through this day.

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