Tending Tara (Alaska Blizzard #7) - Kat Mizera Page 0,22
was staring at him in confusion.
“Because if you’re going to marry someone to get your visa, it’s going to be me.”
She frowned and then smiled, shaking her head. “You’re drunk. When you wake up tomorrow, you’re not even going to remember this conversation.”
“I sobered up pretty quick when you said you didn’t feel good.”
“Donovan, that’s crazy. We barely know each other. At least Logan and I have been friends for a couple of years.”
“Doesn’t matter.” He paused. “Unless you want to marry him?”
“Well, no, I mean…” She slid down into the pillows a little. “Can we talk about this tomorrow? My head is throbbing, and I don’t feel so hot again.”
“You need to go to the bathroom?” He was already on his feet, reaching for her.
“No, I just want to lay here with you… Will you lay with me?”
“Of course.” He pulled back the covers, discarded the bathrobe, and got into bed beside her.
Donovan woke up with a raging headache and an even more painful erection. He silenced the alarm on his phone as a warm body moved and moaned beside him. He pried open one eye and it all came back to him. Him and Tara getting wasted. Skinny dipping. Her feeling sick. Him sitting up with her half the night. Him casually telling her he’d marry her so she could get her visa.
Holy shit, what had he done? And what was he doing now? She was draped across his chest, her long hair blanketing his torso, and he ran a gentle hand along her back, unable to help himself.
“How are you feeling, beautiful?”
“Mulla on madafak darra,” she muttered.
“Whatever you just said sounded super intense.”
“I have a motherfucking hangover.”
He chuckled. “Ditto.”
“I’m going to die,” she groaned.
“I don’t feel so hot, either,” he admitted. “And I have to get on a plane in a few hours.”
“Ugh.” She nestled closer to him and his arms closed around her of their own volition.
He needed to say something, but he didn’t know what. Last night he’d told her he would marry her, but in the light of day, a tiny bit of panic was setting in.
“What time do you have to go?” she asked sleepily.
“Soon. I have to shower, pack, and get to the airfield.”
“Have a safe trip. I think I’m going back to sleep.”
“Thanks.” He leaned over and brushed a kiss on the side of her face. “Hey, Tara?”
“Hmm?”
“Can we talk for a minute?”
“If you talk quietly.”
“Okay.” He dropped his voice to a whisper. “Do you, uh, remember our conversation last night?”
“Where you drunkenly said you’d marry me? Yes.” Her eyes remained closed as she spoke. “It’s okay. I won’t hold you to it. You weren’t thinking straight.”
“No, wait.” He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to breathe through the pain behind his eyes. “I’m not trying to back out, I’m just trying to make sure you were serious. That we were serious.”
Her eyes slowly opened, and she moaned, squinting at the brightness in the room before saying, “Donovan, I understand if you don’t want to. Really.”
“Look, I don’t have a lot of time, but I want you to know I meant what I said. If you need to marry an American so you can stay, I’m in.”
“You’re sure?”
“A hundred percent.”
“We need to talk about a lot of things…”
“I know. But not now. If I miss my flight, Coach will have my ass. I’ll call you tonight from the hotel.”
“Okay.”
He slid his legs over and onto the floor, grateful everything in his stomach didn’t come up. Fuck, today was going to suck. Luckily, he’d sworn off drinking for the duration of his time as starting goalie, so this wouldn’t happen again. No matter how much fun it had been.
Donovan looked around and saw his pirate costume had been left on a chair, so at least he had something wear since he and Tara were naked. Damn, he’d slept next to a gorgeous, naked woman he was really into and hadn’t done anything? Either he’d been drunker than he thought, or he was losing his touch.
He turned back to Tara and watched her for a moment before saying, “I have to get going, but I had a great time last night.”
She reached out a hand and he touched it with his. “Last night was lovely. I’ll never forget my first Halloween. Thank you for being part of it.”
“I’ll never forget it, either. How could I? You passed out on me after teasing me all night.” He managed to keep a straight face.