The sunlight streamed through the window, reminding him that he could not crawl back in bed with her. But he could make them some breakfast before he left. And tell her how much he loved her.

He found his cargo shorts on the floor—which was a mess of clothes and bedding—and pulled out his phone. Wow. Almost nine thirty. Breakfast would have to be quick. Zoey’s foot was hanging over the side of the bed, and he ran his fingers up and down the arch until she twitched and kicked at him.

“What?” she mumbled, reaching up to brush her hair off her face, then squinting at the window. “Damn. What time is it?”

“Nine thirty. I’m going to take a quick shower, then I’ll scramble some eggs for us, okay?”

Her head fell back on the bed. “Okay.” She stretched out like a cat, her arms and legs extending gracefully. “I guess the real world’s coming, whether we want it to or not.” She opened one eye and looked at him holding his shorts.

“What are you doing, putting on a show there in the middle of the room? Get in the shower, mister.” She sat up, kneeling on the bed, still looking half-asleep and sexy as hell. She was completely comfortable being naked in front of him. And he felt the same way. To prove it, he playfully swung the shorts around on his fingertips, swaying his hips back and forth like a dancer.

“Do you want me to put on a show for you? ’Cuz you know I will.” He swung his hips again, and Zoey burst out laughing.

“Oh, my God, I love you!”

Two things happened at that exact moment.

Mike remembered that she’d whispered those words to him as they’d made love earlier. I love you, Mike McKinnon.

And the bedroom door swung open behind him. He started to turn, but Zoey’s horrified cry was enough to freeze him in place as she scrambled for anything to cover herself with. She finally pulled up the sheet from the mattress.

“Hazel! No!”

Mike hurriedly tried to cover his backside with the shorts, making sure she couldn’t see his front.

“Mom?” Hazel’s voice was confused at first, then rose an octave. “Oh. My. God. Mike? What are you...? You’re naked!” Hazel let out a scream. He couldn’t move, not even when he heard another set of footsteps hurrying up the stairs.

“Hazel? What’s wrong?” It was Mary’s voice. As if this couldn’t get more embarrassing. “Oh! Oh, shit! Uh...come here, honey, let’s give your mom and her friend some time to get dressed. It’s okay...don’t cry...go on downstairs...” The door slammed shut behind him, then flew open again. It was just Mary this time, her voice hissing like a serpent.