Page 40 of Romancing the Grump
So far, even with the noise we made as we opened his door and moved around and turned on the lights, Nathan hasn’t even flinched. If I couldn’t see the steady rise and fall of his back, I’d wonder if he was breathing.
Alec moves to the opposite side of the bed, glancing at his watch. “I’m just going to roll him off the bed,” he says as he starts to lean forward. “Our team meeting is in less than ten minutes.”
“Wait!” I say, stopping him, a surge of panic filling my chest. “Let me try something first.”
Maybe it’s my guilty conscience over being here in the first place, but I feel a need to protect Nathan from being unceremoniously dumped on the floor.
I sit down on the edge of the bed and lean close, my palm resting on Nathan’s bare shoulder. His skin is warm and soft, and a storm of butterflies flutters in my chest.
This probably won’t work, but I have to at least try.
“Nathan,” I say, my voice close to his ear. I give his shoulder a little squeeze, rubbing my hand across his back. “Wake up.”
Nathan stirs, and he lets out a little moan, but he’s clearly still asleep. I’msureof it because next thing I know, his arm is around my waist and he’s tugging me down and against his body, tucking my back into his chest as he snuggles me close.
I freeze, too surprised to move. Nathan is actuallyspooningme, his strong arm wrapped over my shoulder, his breath warm on my neck.
The rest of the guys are barely stifling their laughter,making me all too aware that they’re watching, but despite their unfortunate presence, I can’t help but notice how good it feels to be in Nathan’s arms.
Still. Wedohave an audience. And Nathan really does need to wake up.
I shift onto my back, moving Nathan’s arm down to my waist so it isn’t in danger of falling onto my boobs, and turn my face to look at him.
He’s so close. Close enough that I can see his lashes resting on his cheekbones, the faint freckles on the bridge of his nose, the perfect bow of his upper lip.
“Hey,” I say, giving his shoulder another gentle shake. “Nathan. You have to wake up now.”
Finally, his eyes flutter open. At first, his arm tightens around me, and he almost smiles, his expression warm and hazy with sleep. But then he must register where he is and who I am, because he jolts, pulling his arm back and practically jumping to the other side of the bed.
I slowly sit up, readjusting the Appies-turquoise button-down I put on for the game.
“Honestly, my feelings are hurt,” Alec says from the foot of the bed. “All the times I’ve come in to wake you up, and you’ve never tried to spoon me.”
Nathan looks at his teammate, then looks back at me, his brow furrowed. He runs a hand through his hair like he can’t quite make sense of what’s going on. “What happened?” he finally asks.
“We came to wake you up,” Felix says.
Nathan looks at me. “Youcame to wake me up?”
I grimace, not sure how to explain, but Alec comes to my rescue. “We thought she might enjoy the show. You’re usually pretty entertaining when we roll you onto the floor.”
“Turns out, all you needed was a woman’s voice to wakeyou up,” Van says, his smile wide. “We should have realized you wouldn’t be used to that sound—at least not in your bedroom.”
“Okay, get out,” Nathan says.
“Are you sure I can’t even get a hug first?” Alec says.
“Out!” Nathan repeats, his voice a little louder this time.
I stand against the wall as his teammates file out of the room, falling into step behind them. “Seven minutes,” Alec calls from the hallway. “I’m not covering for you if you miss the team meeting.”
I’m almost out the door when Nathan stops me. “Summer, wait.”
I turn, letting it fall closed with a click. Nathan is standing at the foot of the bed, looking disheveled in the best way possible. I lift my eyebrows, keenly aware that we’re alone, and he’s only half-dressed. If he was worried last night about giving his teammates the wrong impression, the fact that I stayed in his hotel room isn’t going to help.
Nathan runs a hand down his beard, clearly uncomfortable. “I just…wanted to apologize without my teammates listening.” He clears his throat. “I don’t know what I did in my sleep, Summer. I’m sorry if I crossed any lines.”
“You absolutely didn’t,” I quickly say. “I’m sorry for even being here. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”
