Page 45 of When Dawn Breaks

The sun is bright on my face, the heat warming me from the depths of sleep. I blink once, then twice, my mind groggy and unable to focus on any one thing.

But then I feel it—the shift of a body next to me followed by the arm that wraps around my middle and pulls me tight.

Anthony.

He’s tucked in behind me, my back to his front. I can feel his warm breath on the back of my neck, and for a long moment, I wonder if maybe I’m still asleep.

“Good morning.” His voice is thick with sleep, and damn it if it isn’t the best sound to wake up to.

“How did you know I was awake?” I smile even though he can’t see it.

“I guess I’m just that good,” he jokes, dropping a kiss to my shoulder before quickly rolling out of bed.

“Where are you going?” I ask, turning onto my back and propping myself up on my elbows to watch him cross the room.

“I don’t want Jack to walk in and find me in here. Probably wouldn’t send the right message.”

“Good point,” I agree, surprised that I didn’t think about this fact when I asked him to stay last night.

Just the thought of last night has two things rushing to my mind. One—the intimate kiss Ant and I shared after he opened up to me about his past. And two—the dream. My stomach instantly turns at the thought, and I quickly work to push it away. I can’t go there right now.

“What time is it?” I sit all the way up and look over at my bedside table just as Ant reaches the door. “It’s only seven?” I question before he has a chance to answer.

“You didn’t sleep well last night. Why don’t you go back to sleep for a little while? I can feed Jackson breakfast when he gets up.”

“You don’t have to do that.” I shake my head, rubbing my eyes with the back of my hands.

“I know I don’thaveto, I want to.”

“It’s okay. I’m getting up,” I say, tossing back the covers before swinging my legs over the side of the bed.

“You really never let anyone do anything for you, do you?” He grins, pulling the door open the second my feet hit the floor.

“It’s not that.” I shake my head as I cross the room toward him. “I’m just awake is all.” I slide past him into the hallway, knowing he’s directly behind me as I make my way into the kitchen.

“Here, let me do that.” He takes the coffee pot from my hand the second I pick it up.

“Think I’m that helpless, do you?” I cock a brow at him, faking annoyance.

“I mean, you are letting me crash here after all. Making you coffee is the least I can do. Besides, maybe I just like doing nice things for you.”

“Is that so?”

“It is.” He smiles, his focus on the coffee pot as he fills the reservoir with water.

“You know, you really are full of surprises,” I can’t stop myself from saying as I lean against the counter and watch him scoop grounds into the filter.

“How so?” He flashes me his pearly whites, and I swear my heart does a little pitter patter in my chest.

“I’ve known you for years, and yet I never would’ve taken you for someone who cares so much about other people.”

“I’m not quite sure if I should be offended by that statement or not.” He presses the brew button on the coffee pot and then turns toward me, his hip leaning into the counter as he crosses his arms over his bare chest.

God, I wish he would put a shirt on already. I can’t think straight when his perfectly toned body is begging to be stared at.

“Why would you be offended?” I refocus.

“Because you’re basically saying I was a crap friend to you in high school.”

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