half way there. She had not slept one minute during the long night. Between thinking of Royce lying on her couch, wondering what she could possibly have been thinking to insist he sleep all the way out there and being afraid of the storm, she was completely exhausted.
Snuggling more deeply into his arms, she closed her eyes and mumbled, “Goodnight Royce.” The words barely passed her lips before she promptly dozed off.
Royce pulled the covers over her bare shoulder and tightened his hold on her just the tiniest bit. Sleep did not come for Royce, but he was used to sleepless nights. In his line of work, all-night surveillance was not uncommon, and back-to-back twenty-four-hour shifts were more frequent than he cared to admit.
This was more enjoyable than pulling surveillance duty though, much more enjoyable, he thought with a smile.
* * * *
CHAPTER FIVE
Becki awoke to the smell of bacon-- bacon? Bacon equaled breakfast. Breakfast equaled morning. She didn’t do mornings. Pulling a pillow over her head, she closed her eyes and tried to convince herself that she was dreaming. It was working fabulously too, until a sexy, low voice called from the doorway.
“Wake up sleeping beauty. Breakfast is served.”
Becki forced one eye open to peek from under her pillow. She saw Royce leaning casually against the door frame with arms crossed and lips curved in a sexy smile. He made her heart race, and thinking of the past few hours spent wrapped in his arms made her tingle all over. Royce had spent the night with her, protected her throughout the storm, and behaved like a perfect gentleman. Darn it!
“Ugh, what time is it?” Becki grumbled, allowing the pillow to fall back down, covering her face again.
Becki felt the bed dip as Royce sat down beside her. He gently pried the pillow from her fingers and away from her face. Just her luck! Sexyas-sin was right there within reach, and she had puffy eyes, messy hair, and morning breath.
“Go away, Royce. I’m not a morning person, and I look like something the cat dragged in,” she said attempting to turn her back to him. As it turned out, she was unable to move as the blankets were wrapped tightly around her, and Royce was currently sitting on one end of them.
“You are starting to give me a complex,” he complained, “always telling me to go away. Besides, you look beautiful,” Royce said with a smile.
“Have you had your eyes tested lately?” Becki groused.
“My eye sight is perfect, thank you. Get a move on gorgeous. Breakfast is on the table. I have about twenty minutes before I have to meet Sean, Kurt, and Landon downtown.”
“Oh, I see! They can know all about your ‘super-secret’ business, but I can’t,” Becki pouted.
“It’s a guy thing,” Royce teased.
He lifted her hand to his lips for a quick kiss, and then tugged gently as he stood.
“Come on, lazybones,” he encouraged. “Have breakfast with me before I have to go.”
“Ok, give me just a minute.”
“The clock is ticking,” he said as he tapped his watch.
I’ll be right there,” Becki promised. After all, what girl in her right mind would rather sleep than spend time with a hardbody like Royce?
“I’ll make the coffee,” Royce added as he turned to make his way back to the kitchen.
“Oh, my God!” Becki caught sight of her reflection in the mirror hanging above her dresser.
Her hair stuck out in all directions, makeup streaks smeared her face, and she had a deep “sleep wrinkle” in her cheek.
Rolling her eyes, she “huffed” at the unfairness of it all. She stuck her feet in pink fuzzy slippers, slid her arms in a short pink terry-cloth robe, and sailed to the bathroom to repair as much of the damage as she could.
Moments later, morning breath effectively scrubbed and gargled away, hair tamed and piled in a messy bun on top of her head, Becki sashayed to the kitchen. Sitting in the middle of her kitchen table was a complete breakfast: a stack of golden pancakes, bacon, orange juice, and a vase of fresh flowers.
“Whew! Someone’s been busy this morning. I’m impressed,” Becki said as she breezed in struggling to act as if this were not the most romantic thing that had ever happened to her. Man-o-man, she could get used to this! Come to think of it, this was the second morning in a row she had been surprised by Royce. Of course, yesterday he had been wearing nothing but a miniscule towel.
“I ran