The Cowgirl's Chosen Love - Vivian Arend Page 0,19

damn loud, and so damn close, the entire bed vibrated, but still, Zach’s eyelids remained glued shut.

He really hoped nothing fell out of the train cars, because at that moment, he couldn’t have rolled over to save his life.

There also seemed to be a furry sock in his mouth.

Something warm and soft moved against his side, and if he had any muscles left in his body, the surprise would’ve made him flinch. As it was, he lay still enough that whatever was nuzzling against him began tickling his ribs.

A loud and very enthusiastic yawn broke the silence, which struck Zach as one of the funniest things he’d ever heard.

“Damn wild freight train,” he muttered.

“Where?”

Something other than insensibility slipped in. That had been a female voice. Zach peeled one eye open far enough to glance down.

Long red-highlighted hair lay tousled over his naked chest…

And that’s when he realized there was a whole lot of naked going on.

He stilled, because he didn’t want to freak anybody out. Easing up on one elbow, he blinked against the bright light stealing in through the narrow slit in the curtains. That was enough to offer a vision that set his heart pounding along with his head.

He lay on a massive king-size bed. The quilt was who knows where, leaving nothing but a sinfully soft sheet draped over his and Julia’s bodies.

Naked bodies—had he already thought that? The naked part.

He kept staring, but it didn’t matter how often his gaze drifted over her, he couldn’t put together the bits and pieces that had led to this moment. Which—

Christ on a cracker, not good.

She moaned as she rolled, making full body contact with his entire torso. “Where’s the train?”

The fact that she still sounded three sheets to the wind wasn’t a good thing. Damn it all to hell.

Zach lay back, careful not to disturb her, because the last thing he needed at that moment was both of them in panic mode.

Thinking. Thinking.

They were in Vegas. That much he remembered. He ignored the warm skin pressed against his side and frantically attempted to replay the last twelve hours.

He made it as far as remembering the post-wedding dinner at the Paris Hotel. Memories were just sneaking to the next point, which involved waving off Karen and Finn, who, rightly enough, had other things planned for the rest of the evening.

Then the four of them, Josiah and Lisa, he and Julia, had slipped out…

Somewhere?

To do something?

“Oh, for fuck’s sake.” Julia said.

It took about twelve syllables to get the words out. Her intonation was classic pissed-off, hungover, regret-filled partier. Fifty percent what the hell have I done? and fifty percent I’m going to kill whoever did this to me.

Amusement began in his gut then rumbled its way up until his chest shook. The sound made his own head ache, but it was impossible to stop. The fact that he might end up in her crosshairs in the next thirty seconds didn’t do anything to reduce the amusement factor.

When she snickered as well, that was it.

Laughter filled the room, surrounding them and tickling hard until he gasped for air. He clutched his stomach as he rolled away.

Even with a headache from hell, he laughed.

When he caught himself under control enough to be able to glance across the bed at her, Julia snorted.

That was it. They were both gone for another five minutes.

They ended up flat on their backs on the king-size bed. Julia had wrapped herself up toga-like in the bedsheet. Somehow in the midst of their giggle-fest, Zach had found a pair of sweatpants, so at least his junk wasn’t hanging out in all its glory.

They glanced at each other another few times before it seemed safe enough to speak. “I’m so sorry.” Zach said it as sincerely as possible.

“For what?” Julia asked.

He hesitated then decided what the hell. “I have no idea. I was hoping you would tell me.”

She shook her head then instantly squeezed her eyes shut and slammed a hand up to her forehead. “Ouch. Okay, note to Julia. Do not make any sudden moves.”

He snickered.

Her face contorted. “Dear God, please let’s not start that again.”

“Agreed.” He cautiously curled upright, waiting on the edge of the bed until the room stopped spinning. “Drinking was obviously involved.”

Behind him, she moved slowly, the mattress adjusting as she sat up. “I have no clothes on.”

She stated the fact as if it were a weather report.

“I noticed.” Dammit, there still had to be alcohol in his system. “I mean, I noticed because