Page 24 of Pink and Country

“What did you do to me?” Bikini Girl asked, point-blank, propping herself up.

I hopped to my feet, anger building inside me.

What happened to keeping my calm?

“Relax, woman. Why would you assume I did anything to you? I saved your ass last night. You came to me, remember? I kept you warm and watched over you the entire night to make sure you wouldn’t lose your fingers or toes after your spectacular hypothermia scare, which you still need to explain to me.”

A deep frown creased her forehead, and a dark blush colored her cheeks when she realized she was only wearing that ridiculous, tiny bikini. In one swift movement, she fastened the blanket around her half-naked body.

With bed hair and a sleepy face, my neighbor looked younger in the morning light.

“Why am I in your bed, hooked onto you?” The muscle of her jaw flexed, and she crossed her arms over her chest, a challenge in her eyes. My breath sounded like a whistle when it caught in my lungs.

“Christ, did you hit your head last night? Would you have preferred I let you sleep on the couch in a house you might not even remember coming to? Maybe I should’ve let your toes and fingers fall off—”

Pixie’s gaze dropped to her hands. My eyes flared when, one by one, she counted her digits. And then her toes from where her feet peeked out from under the blanket. I bit my lips to avoid laughing. After a deep sigh, Pink Hair brought her attention back to me.

“Listen, I’m sorry for snapping at you. I don’t know you. I don’t even know your name, and I woke up in your arms, in your bed. Put yourself in my place for a minute. That’s awkward.”

Fairy tucked her hair behind her ear, and her features softened, chasing her troubled expression away. I resumed my normal breathing.

“I’m just the guy next door. I’ll get you something to wear and help you get back inside your cabin.”

On the second floor, I rummaged through Dahlia’s stuff and came up with a cream sweater and a pair of gray yoga pants, before rushing back upstairs.

“Is your wife going to be okay with me sleeping in your bed and wearing her clothes?”

A laugh, loud and low, escaped my mouth.

“Wife?”

“You know, the person you share your life with, the mother of your child, the petite redhead I saw you with.”

“Did you spy on me, sweetheart?”

“Don’t ever call me sweetheart.” Fairy’s eyes threw bullets my way, and I lifted my hands in surrender.

“What’s up your britches, lady?” I asked.

Her eyes rounded. “Who says that?”

“You’re unbelievable. Let me say it again. Don’t get your panties in a twist, lady. There. Better?”

“Don’t patronize me.”

“Geez, woman, relax already. It’s not even nine o’clock yet.”

Mad Woman’s tone hardened. “Where’s your wife? Or maybe she’s your mistress and the boy is your love child?”

Fury boiled in my veins. Whoever Dahlia and Jack were to me didn’t concern her. I tugged at the roots of my hair and paced the room to calm the fuck down.

“You have no right to talk about my family this way. They’re all I have. I don’t need to explain them to you. Don’t disrespect them ever again.” The words bruised my tongue on their way out.

I dragged my hands down my face, unable to settle the wrath bubbling inside me.

Bikini Girl neared me and placed a hand over my forearm. The tension building in my shoulders evaporated under her touch.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. They’re obviously important to you. And your son is adorable. He has your eyes.” Pixie’s words pierced my heart like swords, making me bleed inside. How could she know about everything that made me tick? My wife. My son. My eyes. A surge of unwelcome warmth rooted in my stomach, and I placed my hand over my chest to quiet my throbbing heart.