then slipped it off, stepping out of her high heels. Christina wrapped a blanket around her body and lay down in her underwear on the empty side of the bed. She’d lie there until someone came home, then hand off Ray’s care to them.
As soon as Christina closed her eyes, though, she drifted off. She went to a place of dreams where Grant Campbell smiled at her, his tux coat and shirt sliding from his body as he plied her with his wicked touch.
Christina swam awake to find a large arm pinning her to an equally large body. Ray nuzzled her neck.
“Morning, sweetheart,” he said in his slow drawl. “If I have to wake up feeling like this, at least I have something beautiful to look at.”
Chapter Six
Christina scrambled away from Ray and out of the bed.
It was broad daylight, sunshine pouring through Ray’s windows. She smelled coffee brewing below and the sharp scent of bacon.
Crap, crap, crap. Christina snatched up her dress, struggling to slide it on.
“Why’re you in such a hurry?” Ray couldn’t be feeling good, but he sure looked good, sprawled out half-dressed on the bed, his green eyes heavy.
“Because I have to go,” Christina babbled. “Things to do. I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”
“What things?” Ray’s affable look faded. “Do you have to do them at the crack of dawn?”
“I have to get home before people see me coming back like this and know I spent the night out here. Everyone saw me leave the reception with you.”
“Yeah, and they know we’ve been going out for a while now, and we sleep together. It’s not a big secret.”
“I know. It’s just …” Christina trailed off, turning in a circle as the zipper in back stuck, her fingers losing hold of the tiny tab.
Ray came off the bed, moving fast for a man with a hangover. He turned Christina around, took hold of the zipper and smoothly drew it up.
“Thanks,” Christina said breathlessly.
“Stay for breakfast,” Ray said. It wasn’t a suggestion.
“I can’t. Sorry.”
He caught her shoulders as she faced him again. “Why not? It’s breakfast. My sisters will be hurt if you run off without tasting it.”
“Ray.” Christina stopped. Her heart beat rapidly, and she felt like shit. “Why are you forcing me to be mean to you?”
Ray released her. “Because I don’t like to be lied to. You obviously weren’t happy waking up beside me, and that’s never happened before. Are you trying to run back to Grant? Is that it?”
“No.” Christina passed a hand through her tumbling hair. “You saw Grant with those girls at the bar. You got mad at me for looking at him; told me to call you when I was over it. Now I realize I’m going to need more time to get my head on straight. I can’t ask you to wait while I do that. You have a life.”
While she talked, Ray shrugged off his shirt and tossed it on top of the clothes she’d left on his dresser. He stood in a tight undershirt and boxers, muscles stretching the T-shirt across a hard frame.
He looked like a pin-up guy that women would post on social media and drool over. They’d think Christina nuts for dumping him.
Ray folded his arms, which made him more heart-stoppingly handsome than ever. “So, what, you’re breaking up with me?”
“I didn’t want to do it like this,” Christina said in a tired voice. “I wanted to wait until you felt better.”
“No, this is good.” His voice was a growl, but the words were calm. “Better than you taking me out to a restaurant and giving me a last meal. I’d rather get over the hangover and you walking out at the same time. My big-ass headache might just blot it all out.”
“Ray, I’m really sorry,” Christina said, her chest aching. “I never meant for you to be hurt—believe me on that. How about if I tell everyone you broke up with me? I don’t want people feeling sorry for you.”
“Huh. Don’t worry about me, sugar. I won’t be crying into my beer over you. I always knew you didn’t want anyone but Grant. I just thought we could have some fun, that’s all.”
Christina’s eyes stung. “We did. I had fun. I’m so, so sorry.”
Ray scowled. “Stop saying you’re sorry and take your ass out of here. Especially before you can say, I hope we’ll still be friends. I haven’t decided whether I want to stay friends with you or not. I’m going to be