Spiced by Jamie Farrell

Author:Jamie Farrell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Jamie Farrell

* * *

Pepper’s eyelids were heavy, her limbs like oversaturated pool noodles, and her head was swimming in a sea of wine-induced weirdness. Still darkness wrapped around her, a slow, steady drum beating beneath her ear.

She jolted upright with a gasp, her head moving more slowly than the rest of her. Green LED lights from a clock—2:10 a.m.—lit enough of the room for her to make out a cat perched at the edge of the bed, rumpled covers, and Tony.

Stubborn, reliable, sexy Tony.

One leg was kicked out from beneath the covers, one arm tossed over his head, the other flopped across beneath where she’d been lying a moment before. His breath was rhythmic and deep, issuing a subconscious invitation for her to curl back up and go back to sleep. He was still fully dressed, as was she.

How had she gotten here?

And when?

The last thing she remembered was dipping late winter strawberries in melted chocolate chips, laughing over—an elephant? Had he been telling her a story about an elephant? And a toothbrush?

She should’ve known better than to drink so much wine. And her belly was still full from dinner.

She’d forgotten how much she loved food.

She’d also forgotten how much she loved the scent of a sleeping man. The simple joy of snuggling in winter. The more carnal pleasures to be found in a bed.

Her hand hovered over his dark hair.

Touching him wasn’t wrong. He’d touched her at dinner—held her hand while inspecting a paper cut, tucked her hair back behind her ear so it wouldn’t dip in her macaroni, lined up behind her to reach around for a towel when she was rinsing dishes between dinner and dessert.

They’d been naked together just a few days ago.

The cat meowed and slunk up the bed to climb onto his chest. He stirred, and she held her breath. His shoulders rolled, his head turned against his pillow, and he tucked a hand over the cat, but he didn’t open his eyes.

His breathing evened out, but the cat continued to stare at Pepper in the semidarkness.

He was coming with her to her sister’s wedding. Out of pity, but he’d be touching her then too. Dancing with her. Playing the part of her boyfriend.

She shivered. Where had he been ten years ago? What if he’d never met his ex-wife? What if she’d come to Bliss sooner?

What if she’d been pregnant right now?

What if one day he wanted children?

She scrambled off the bed. His breathing stayed steady, so she fumbled in the dark, slipped out of the bedroom, found her shoes and coat, and headed home.

This wasn’t real.

It wasn’t real, and she had a family wedding to prepare for.

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