Page 49 of Pulse

Knock.

Knock.

Talia groaned. If that was a solicitor banging on her door at some ungodly hour despite her ‘no solicitation’ sign, she was going to lose her shit.

“I should sue,” she grumbled as she rolled to her back. Her lips made a sticky, slapping sound as she moistened them. Why did her mouth taste like she’d eaten roadkill last night?

It took a few seconds to peel her eyelids open, and the bright sun assaulted her brain when she did. “Oh God, wait...”

She shot straight up, wincing when her alcohol-shriveled brain bounced against her skull.

“What the hell?”

She wasn’t home.

The night came rushing back with the force of an avalanche. Christ, she’d stayed on the Handlers’ property because she’d been too drunk and tired to go home.

After she’d kissed Pulse.

“Nooo,” she said with a groan as she flopped back down.

Knock.

Knock.

Knock.

She’d put ten dollars on that being Brooke at the door, worried Talia had kicked the bucket in here because she’d slept half the day away.

She forced herself out of bed and lumbered to the door like a roaming zombie. The chilly wood floor had her shivering in seconds. Her mouth felt disgusting, and she could only imagine how it smelled. Her day-old makeup must have looked like a hot mess. Poor Brooke was about to get the jump scare of her life.

Wonderful.

She pulled the door open with a resigned sigh. “Good morn… oh, shit.”

Pulse stood in the doorway, freshly showered. He wore dark jeans, a white T-shirt, and his Handlers’ cut. He held a cardboard carrier with two large coffees in one hand and a brown paper bag in the other.

He smirked as he gave her a once-over.

The urge to slam the door in his face and burrow under the covers for the next three hours crashed into her, but she couldn’t be that much of an ass. Instead, she forced a smile that probably looked more like a grimace.

“Uh, hey.” God, why did she act like this around him? She was great with words. As a trial attorney, half her job was using words in clever ways. But one glimpse of Pulse and the best she could come up with was,hey. In the short time she’d known this man, he’d seen her more vulnerable than she’d let anyone see her in years. It was as uncomfortable as a pebble in her shoe.

Yet she didn’t want him to go.

“I come bearing caffeine and sugar,” he said with a grin.

“Wow, thanks. That’s really nice of you.” Could she be more awkward?

“Can I come in?”

“Oh, yeah. Of course. Sorry.” She widened the door and stepped out of the way.

He faced her as he came in, brushing against her and sending jolts of desire skittering across her skin. She sucked in a breath. How did he do this to her?

“Told you I’d bring you breakfast this morning. You made it easier by being here.”

Right. He had information for her. There she was, mooning over him like a smitten teenager, and he was there to discuss business.

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