Under the Mistletoe with Me (With Me in Seattle, #1.5)

Talk? Talk about what?

I don’t answer, I just lie still and wait until his breathing evens out, then wait another ten minutes to make sure he’s asleep. I carefully slip out from under his heavy arm – Jeez, he’s muscular! Those suits he wears are very deceiving. I fumble my way to the wall, praying I don’t trip and fall on my ass, waking him up and follow it to the doorway. Turning on the hall light, I gather my clothes quickly and dress, grab my purse from Nate’s large, professionally decorated, gorgeous living room, and leave.

I call a cab from the lobby of the prestigious downtown Seattle condo building and wait for my ride back to the parking garage of our office building so I can get my own car.

When I finally get home to the house I share on Alki Beach with my best friend, Natalie, I see a strange Lexus convertible in the driveway and lights coming from the kitchen at the back of the house.

“Natalie?”

“In the kitchen!”

“Do you have company?” I am so not in the mood to meet Nat’s new friend.

“Yeah,” she calls back.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, I’m going to bed.” I climb the stairs to my bedroom, closing the door behind me and take a long, hot shower. My skin is still sensitive from my romp in Nate’s bed, and his scent clings to me, all clean and musky and sexy, and I can’t help but regret leaving just a little. Perhaps there could have been more fun during the night before the harsh light of day settled in.

And along with it, The Talk.

No, thank you.

I really don’t need to have Nate spell out all the reasons why this was a one night indiscretion. I certainly don’t think I can handle the awkwardness of the morning after. It’s better to just pretend like it never happened, and get back to business as usual.

I pull on pink panties and a white cami and pull my phone out of my purse on my way to bed. There are no messages or texts.

He’s probably as relieved I left as I am.

I lie awake all night, trying to figure out what I’m going to say when I call in sick at work tomorrow.


FIGHT WITH ME, Book Two in the With Me In Seattle series, releases January 4, 2013!