cool air hitting every inch of my skin makes me freeze in place. I quickly pull the blankets back over me and swear I hear him chuckle. I don’t even look at him as I search the bed and floor for something to cover myself with. Not seeing anything within reach, I decide the sheet will have to do. I tug it with a grunt from the end of the bed and wrap it around me before pushing the covers back once more.
I blow a piece of my hair out of my face when I stand then look at him, catching him smiling. “I’ll be right back.”
“I’ll be here.” He lifts his cup of coffee toward me and winks.
I give him a nervous smile then look down at my cell phone when it lights up with an incoming message. I pick it up, taking it with me to my bathroom, and quickly put on a robe and brush my teeth. When I’m done, I look at my phone and notice I’ve got a few messages and missed calls—something that isn’t normal.
The first text I open is from Maggie asking why I stood up Adam. The messages to follow are from Jamie asking if I’m okay. I shake my head in confusion and text both of them back, letting Maggie know I did meet up with Adam, and telling Jamie I’m at home and fine. Before I even have a chance to set my cell down, Maggie messages back in all caps.
Mags: HE WAS SITTING ON A STOOL AT MY BAR ALL NIGHT, SO YOU DIDN’T MEET WITH HIM.
I glance at the bathroom door as a heavy weight starts to fill the pit of my stomach. If Adam was at View all night, who the hell is the man in my kitchen right now?
I text back as quickly as I can with my hands shaking.
Me: Are you sure?
Mags: AM I SURE? YEAH, I’M SURE. HE WAS WAITING FOR YOU AND YOU NEVER SHOWED UP, SO HE CAME TO THE CLUB.
“Oh my God,” I whisper, feeling sick.
I couldn’t be wrong about the man I willingly gave myself to last night, could I? What the hell was I thinking? I didn’t really ask questions. I let him lead the way, charmed by his good looks and dominance. My throat gets tight as anger fills me from the tips of my toes to the roots of my hair.
Without thinking, I grab the knob and pull the door open. I storm past my bed toward my kitchen, willing my feet to hold steady as I move with purpose toward the man watching me.
“Morning, beautiful.”
My throat gets tight remembering how I got off to him calling me that last night.
“Who are you?” I ask, shoving my hand against his shoulder with enough force that the cup filled with coffee he’s holding sloshes out over his hand and onto the floor.
“What?” His confused expression angers me more.
“Who are you? I know you’re not the guy I was supposed to meet!” I yell, and I see it then, a look I witnessed from him numerous times last night but didn’t dissect. A look of anxiousness, maybe even fear of being found out. God, how stupid am I?
“Dakota—” He takes a step in my direction, and I hold up my hand palm out, not trusting myself to handle the pull I feel when it comes to him.
“Just tell me the truth.” My hands ball into fists at my sides, and he sets the cup on the counter then leans back against it like he doesn’t have a care in the world.
“The moment I saw you, I wanted you.”
My eyes narrow on his. “The moment you saw me, you wanted me, so you pretended to be someone you’re not?”
“Yeah.”
Yeah? Just yeah?
“I can’t believe this.” I rub my hands down my face, wondering how I ended up in this situation.
“Baby.”
“Don’t call me that,” I hiss, dropping my hands away to glare at him. “I don’t even know you.”
“You know me,” he counters, glancing at the bed before looking me in the eye. “We definitely know each other.”
“I thought I knew you.” I shake my head in an attempt to keep the disappointment I’m feeling from showing. “All I know now is you’re a liar and I’m an idiot.”
“You’re not an idiot.”
“Oh yeah, I am. I should have—” I wave my hand out, cutting myself off before I can tell him that I should have known he was too good to be