Page 48 of Hot for the Jerk

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

If Raina found out anybody heard us—heardher—she’d be mortified and probably go right back to hating me.

Cynthia’s lip twitched as she brought her mug to her mouth.“I got up to go pee and heard just a peep.No need to be embarrassed, dear.We’re all adults here.”She patted my shoulder as she wandered past me back into the dining room.

Julian, on the other hand, elbowed me like a good old boy, and shot me a knowing smirk.“Well done, lad.”

I fought the urge to wince.A smile was definitely the wrong response.What was therightreaction in this instance?I chose to just glance downward and continue dicing fruit.

Lenora gave me a curious look, but I refused to meet her gaze.If I didn’t look at her, maybe she’d take the hint—

“What are they talking about, dear?”she asked.

Fuck.Shit.Damn.

I shrugged.“No idea.I stubbed my toe and swore maybe a little too loudly last night?I dunno.Could have been the wind too.”

“What could have been the wind?”asked Effie, coming around the corner with Bernie and another couple from last night, right behind her.

“The wind could have been the wind?”I said, hating the flush of heat working its way up my neck.Thankfully, my beard was long enough that they probably wouldn’t be able to see it.As long as any color accompanying the temperature change stayed under my beard, I was in the clear.

“Huh?”Effie poured herself and Bernie each a coffee.

“Just some noise Julian and Cynthia were talking about,” Lenora replied.“Nothing to worry about.”

They filled up their cups with their caffeine of choice, then headed to the sitting room so Lenora and I could finish with breakfast.

We were just setting the last trays of food on the dining room table—choosing to just put a couple of table runners over the puzzle rather than take it apart—when Raina made her way down the stairs and through the sitting room.Her eyes flitted to mine for half a second before immediately glancing away.She fixed herself a coffee at the console table, then took a seat.

I was the last to sit down, and the only empty seat remaining was right next to Raina.Her elbow bumped mine as she reached for an English muffin.“Sorry,” she murmured.

“Did you sleep all right, dear?”Bernie asked, spearing a sausage patty and shaking it onto his plate.He smiled at Raina, waiting for her response.

“Uh, no.Why?”She took a hesitant sip of her coffee, completely oblivious to the smirks from Cynthia and Julian.

“I could have sworn I heard something last night.Sounded like you.”Bernie shrugged.“Maybe it was just the wind.”

Oh shit.

“Probably just the wind,” I echoed.“I heard it.Woke me too.”

Raina gave me a curious look, like I was making shit up.Because the wind definitely wasn’t loud last night.

I exhaled, brought my voice down low, and leaned in toward her.“Julian and Cynthia heard you last night.Act normal, or they’ll know something’s up and want to know more.”

Her eyes went wider than Frisbees as the color in her cheeks muted her cute freckles.“How do you know?”she whispered.

“They said so.And apparently Bernie heard you too.”

Burying her face in her hands, she mumbled a horrified, “Oh my god.”

“Be cool,” I said out the side of my mouth.

“Iamcool,” she replied with a growl.Meanwhile her knee bounced under the table like it was attached to a paint mixer.The complete opposite of cool.A few cups and saucers on the table rattled, drawing attention from the other guests.

I scoffed, grabbing her thigh with my hand and giving it a squeeze until it stopped.“This isnotbeing cool.”

She batted my hand away and shot me a pissed off look.“Don’t tell me how to be cool.This is me being cool.I’m like a frozen cucumber right here.”

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