WakeUpCall.PDF by Ing

Author:Ing [Ing]
Format: epub
Published: 2010-02-13T06:52:19+00:00

CHAPTER 4

“Who’s Ethan?”

Bianca rubbed an eye from the outside corner in—potential for fewer wrinkles that way—and blinked away sleep. “Huh?” Slowly, her companion came into focus.

Bare-chested, and with a healthy bulge in his sweats—was he naturally well-endowed below the belt, or had he awakened turned on?—Shontae lay atop the covers and stared at her, his handsome face propped in a large hand. Fuzzy memories emerged, somewhere between a dream and reality. Memories of bottled-up passion, of the physical crashing she’d yearned for in the middle of the night, floated to the surface of her mind and settled in places she wasn’t used to discussing with those closest to her, let alone a near-stranger she’d spent the night with.

He raised his chin. “Ethan.”

“He’s my…” She shouldn’t have mentioned him. What had she 51

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been thinking? Ethan was private business. Her private business. “What time is it?”

“Six.”

“Six?” Dull pain nagged in her head. Tears and wine—a bad combination—equated to dehydration, which meant dry, flaking skin, which, when prolonged, led to premature aging. She massaged circles at her temples. “What’s it look like outside?”

“White, as far as the eye can see. Ten inches was a modest forecast.”

“Still snowing?”

“Flurries.” He glanced at her cleavage, but quickly met her gaze again.

Oops, was she showing a bit of skin? Not that it would matter. This guy seemed immune to her curves. He’d kissed her on the forehead, for crying out loud. She gave her robe a tug, yawned a cottony breath, and rolled onto her side, still facing him. “Are you always up this early?”

“Sure, during the week. At Maplehurst on a rare weekend off? Only when staff is pounding on the door with a prearranged breakfast delivery. I can’t believe you slept through it.”

A groan escaped her. “Let me guess. Custard-stuffed crepes topped with strawberries à la mode, side of crisp bacon, and mimosa.”

He grinned, displaying sparkling white teeth. “You got it.”

How original of Dick. “I’d have liked to give him more credit.”

“Some guys find something that works, and it’s all over but the shouting.”

“Is that right?” Her gaze wandered to the video camera. Had the triangular incident with her, Dick, and Snow-bunny been captured on film? All over but the shouting. “What works for you?”

“Don’t know.” He looked over his shoulder, presumably at the camera, as well. “Haven’t tried one of those yet.”

When their gazes met again, he wore half a smile 52

WAKE-UP CALL

“Just a mantra against dating white women?”

“You’re one to talk about color conflict. You’d rather stick it out with this jerk than give a blue-collar guy a chance. Let me guess. Ethan’s hands are callused, too.”

With another mention of the name, her stomach dropped, as if she were zooming down the steep end of a roller coaster hill. Fact was, she’d forgotten the texture of Ethan’s fingertips, the strength of his grasp. Minute details had faded into a hazy mist, where she remembered only the effect his hands had had on her, and not what had evoked the reaction in the first place.

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