He didn’t say anything at first. He just stood there, staring back at her with an expression she didn’t understand.
Sliding his fingers over his mouth, he wiped away the kiss that had turned her world on its axis. “You were moaning in your sleep,” he spoke softly. “A bad dream. I thought I should try to wake you.”
Abaddream?
She hadn’t been dreaming...had she?
Emma glanced around the room before lifting her gaze to his again, and she knew. It wasn’t real. None of it was real. Nothing except for the kissshe’dinitiated.
A kiss he hadn’t actually wanted.
Oh, god.“I’m sorry.”
Mortified, Emma threw off the covers and started for the bathroom. She’d already showered earlier, but it was the only place she could think of to escape the utter embarrassment she was feeling.
“Emma, stop.”
“Why?” She spun back around. “You want to draw this out? Take a few minutes to bask in my humility?”
Her sudden anger toward him was completely uncalled for. He hadn’t done anything wrong.Shewas the one who’d grabbed onto him.Shewas the one who’d begged him to stay.
Oh, god. Please tell me I didn’t actually beg him out loud.
“Look.” She blew out a breath. “I’m sorry I yelled. This was my fault, not yours.”
“You were dreaming.” He took a step toward her. “Not your fault.”
“Still.” Embarrassment heated her already-flushed cheeks. “I’m—”
Miracles of miracles, Trace’s phone began to ring. Essentially ending the most awkward conversation of her entire life.
With a low curse, Trace walked across the room to grab the device from the table.
Glancing at the screen, he answered with a low, “Winters.” There was a pause and then, “She just woke up. Hang on.” Covering the distance between them, he offered her the phone. “It’s your brother.”
“Coop?” Her chest tightened. “Is everything okay?”
“Hey, Sis. Yeah, everything’s good. Well, as good as it can be.”
“How’s Mac?”
“Grumpy as fuck and a pain in my ass. So...pretty much back to normal.”
Emma smiled, knowing her brother would be completely lost without his fiancée. “Any change with Jake?”
“No. But no news is good news, right?”
Usually. But in cases like this, she wasn’t so sure.
“Trace said you were doing okay? He’s being good to you, right? ’Cause if not, you know I’ll come over there and beat his ass.”
A low chuckle burst from her chest. “That won’t be necessary.” Emma snuck a quick sideways glance in Trace’s direction. “He’s been the perfect gentleman.”
Unfortunately for her.
“All right. That changes, you be sure to let me know.”
If that changes, I’ll be too busy enjoying the non-gentleman side of Trace to bother calling you.