Ex Factor by Nancy Warren

Author:Nancy Warren
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2010-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

SUN STREAMING IN HER WINDOW woke Karen. She blinked, slowly, wondering where she was and what was different from most mornings.

With a start, she realized she was dressed in last night’s clothes and the warm weight resting against her wasn’t Dexter.

It was Ron.

Sound asleep and looking rather forlorn, he had an arm thrown around her while her head rested on his shoulder.

“Ow,” she said, raising her head and trying to rub the stiffness from her neck.

Either her speaking or moving woke Ron, who blinked owlishly a few times and glanced around.

“Oh,” he said, when his puzzled gaze encountered hers. “I guess we fell asleep.”

“I guess so.”

She didn’t know which of them was more embarrassed, as they moved to opposite sides of the couch. She rose, pulling her skirt into place as she did so. “Would you like some coffee?”

“Oh, uh.” He cleared his throat, put on the glasses that had fallen onto the floor, glanced at his watch. “No, thank you. I’ve got to get back to my place and get ready for the day. I’d better be going.”

“All right. Well.” She had no idea what to say. “Thanks for last night.”

He stood up and seeing him so rumpled made her realize what a meticulous dresser he usually was. He looked exactly like a man who’d slept in his clothes. His hair was up on one side and his sweater askew. “I had a nice time, too. I’m sorry that I fell asleep.”

This was the most ridiculous situation. In spite of herself she laughed. “I won’t tell if you don’t.”

He smiled perfunctorily, slipping his feet into his loafers. “No. I won’t be telling anyone.” He rubbed at his stubbled face. “Sometimes, it gets lonely. Living alone.”

“I know. Look, I’m putting on coffee anyway. You should at least have coffee.”

He shook his head. “Perhaps I could use the bathroom before I leave?”

“Of course.”

She started coffee and then he appeared in the kitchen. He’d obviously washed his face since the hair above his forehead was damp. A droplet of water clung to one eyelash. He looked oddly adorable and she felt more like his mother than a date as she led him to the front door once he’d refused once more to stay for coffee.

“Why don’t you come to my office tomorrow? I could show you around and then show you my books which are, I admit, a bit of a mess.”

“Certainly. I could do that.”

“I’ll even buy you lunch. You haven’t lived until you’ve tried Chelsea Hammond’s lasagna.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow, then.”

She opened the door as he leaned in to kiss her cheek.

“Good morning,” a cheerful male voice boomed out from the other side of the open doorway.

Ron’s lips hadn’t even reached her cheek before darting off again.

Oh, horror of horrors. If there was one person in all the world she wouldn’t have wanted to know about her little escapade, it would have to be the man currently striding up her front walk with a box in his arms. She said the first thing she thought of.

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