Page 20 of The Bourbon Bride

“You taught your dog to play dead?” I ask after I’ve pointed a finger gun at him and said bang. He is still on the ground, his tongue hanging out as he waits for me to tell him to get up.

“He’s had extensive training. He knows everything,” Hayes answers with a grin. “Cerberus, place,” he says, pointing at a rug near the sink. The dog jumps up, gallops to the rug, and sits, pushing the rug across the floor in his haste to do what his master has asked.

I toss a treat at Cerberus for being such a good doggo. He catches it with a snap of his jaws and crunches happily.

“I think that’s plenty of treats for you, big guy.” I shake the box of crumbs and set it on the counter.

“I’ll have more sent tomorrow. It’s getting late. Are you tired? Hungry? Want to kill me yet?”

I look up at the weird question and shake my head.

“You went out of your way to help me. The last thing I want to do is kill you.”

“Good. Let’s go to bed.”

My eyes widen. “Bed, as in together?”Is this it?

“Relax, there’s more than one bed in this house.” He motions with his chin at the door and whistles sharply for the dog, who pops up and trots out of the kitchen.

I follow Cerberus up the stairs, knowing Hayes is right behind me. I hesitate at the doorway to the bedroom Cerberus walks through and look back.

“Is this where you want me?”

Hayes walks right into my space, and I back up until I’m against the doorjamb with the heat of him along my front. He brushes my hair over my shoulder and traces his fingertips against the skin of my collarbones and up my neck until his fingers are threaded in my hair and he’s cradling my head. His thumb strokes over my bottom lip, and my mouth parts.

“Why does that innocent question from your lips sound like the most sinful suggestion?”

My body grows warm and quivers in nervous anticipation. I raise my chin and look up at his lips, slightly parted and so freaking kissable.

His eyes burn hot with a need that terrifies me. I grip the doorway behind me to keep my hands from pulling him closer and starting something I won’t know how to finish. This man is sex appeal incarnate, a walking wet dream, and I’m too afraid to act on anything because what if I don’t live up to his expectations? He’s hadany woman he’s wanted, and I’m sure they’ve all been sex goddesses who knew exactly what to do with that hot desire in his eyes. Whereas I have never even been kissed.

He drops his hand and abruptly moves away.

Disappointment is not what I was expecting to feel, but it washes over me in a wave of regret for not having pushed up on my toes and brought my lips to his the way I had imagined. I follow a moment later, walking into the sleek room punctuated with dark furniture and a huge dog bed in the corner. He moves through the space without the hesitance that I do, turning the light on when he enters what I assume is the closet. The bed is just as big as the one in Savannah and topped with a pristine white duvet that balances out the dark wood frame and the gray textured wallpaper wrapping the room that lends a cozy feel.

What does he look like stretched out on that bed? I imagine his tan skin standing out against the stark white, his hair rumpled from sleep, and his green eyes doing that burning emerald thing again as he takes me in.

“Here.”

I jump and look up from the bed cover I was just smoothing my hand along, imagining his skin under my fingers. He’s holding a stack of clothing.

“Thought you might want something to sleep in.”

I take the T-shirt and flannel pajama pants from him and hug them to my chest protectively as my heart hammers against my ribs.

“I probably should have picked up some of my stuff, huh?”

He smiles. “We can take care of that tomorrow.” He rubs the back of his neck. “You can go shopping while I’m at work, or I can have some things brought in for you.”

I bristle at the thought of someone else picking out clothes for me, like Mama would. He would probably have some gorgeous assistant do it.

“I’m perfectly capable of buying my own clothes.”

He nods. “That settles it, then. Good night, Paige.”

“Wait.” I grab his arm as he turns to leave. “You want me to sleep in your room?”

He must have a guest room somewhere that would be easier than giving up his space for me. It’s an inconvenience I don’t want him to have to endure for my sake.

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