Summer Lovin'

Summer Lovin' -- Part 7

Chapter 7

"Go away," Mia grumbled. She waved her hand to stop the licking. Who would be licking her hand anyway?

She lifted her head, her heart thudding as she tried to get her bearings. That was the problem with sleeping in someone else's house. Panic set in when you didn't see the things you were used to seeing when you opened your eyes.

She was laying on her stomach, in a bed. She glanced around the room, taking in the tan striped sheets and the wooden blinds. This wasn't Sondra's house. This was—

She dropped her head back into the pillow.

Hellboy barked. Several times.

"Shhh, don't be so obnoxious. It's too early for that." She raised her head again. "How did you get in here anyway? Have you learned how to use doorknobs, too?"

His tail wagged back and forth, as if he'd heard her warning as some kind of compliment. She obviously needed to learn the finer points of doggy-speak.

She also had to figure out how to get home, acting like she was used to waking up in a man's bed after a wild night. Too bad she hadn't read The Newbies' Guide to Summer Flings beforehand so she would know exactly what to do right now.

Hellboy came closer, his adorable face grinning at her.

"Stop being so cute," she said, stifling a yawn with her hand.

"I'm not sure I can."

Mia gave her head a brisk shake and then blinked a couple of times. "I know I didn't have that much wine last night."

Luke ambled over to the side of the bed, and she scooted over so he could sit next to her. His eyes were sparkling, filled with amusement, but it didn't seem it was because she looked like a goofball with hair sticking out everywhere.

No, that expression definitely leaned toward indulgence. He was happy to see her there, wrapped in his sheets.

She hadn't really known what to expect of the morning after, but that surprised her. It might have knocked her to her knees if she wasn't already prone on the bed.

His hand landed gently on her hip, and he leaned over to kiss her cheek. "Would you like some breakfast?"

Hellboy came bounding over, putting his paws on Luke's knee, wagging his entire body. Luke chuckled and patted the puppy's head.

"I think he was talking to me, hellhound," Mia said. "And the answer is an emphatic yes."

"Good. I'm sure we can find something that will satisfy everybody."

Mia blushed. She wasn't sure she could handle being satisfied again. Her voice was raspy from expressing all of her satisfaction last night. Over and over.

Luke scooped up the puppy and stood, both of them looking at her. It was such an endearing tableau, Mia nearly melted. What was wrong with her? Clearly her blood sugar was depleted. It had to be if she was mooning over a hunky guy and a puppy after her first-ever fling.

"I'll be glad to help," she said, sitting up and almost tossing the blanket aside. She stopped, looking for her clothes, and then she spotted them in a wrinkled pile where she'd dropped them last night. She finger combed her hair and then blasted Luke with a big smile, pretending she didn't know she looked like a hot mess.

"I'll get dressed and be out there in a minute."

"Great," he said, the corners of his eyes crinkling in the sexiest way. "You can be my sous chef."