Awkward! Rosie squelched the urge to cut and run, instead adopting a breezy tone. “Just a little fun. No big deal.” Eddie’s glare softened into a glum pout. A very kissable pout.
Dawn turned back to the register, and everyone else said their good-nights and drifted toward the exits. Apparently, the boss was done chewing them out for now.
“Hang on, you two.”
Or not.
“Sit down.” Her jaw set, Dawn gestured toward the bar stools. Eddie sat beside Rosie, casting nervous glances between her and the boss.
“Look, kids. I’ve already had this conversation with River and Charlie. Now it’s your turn.” She swiped a palm down her face. “I’m not trying to stick my nose in your private business, but there’s a reason big companies have HR policies against dating coworkers.”
Eddie spoke up. “It’s just that Jojo—”
“I already talked to him. He’s not gonna tease you in front of customers anymore. The big lunk means well, but he needs to think before he speaks.” She pointed to Eddie’s sternum. “And you need to think before you act. I can’t have the appearance of sexual harassment in my business.”
Eddie blanched and clutched the edge of the bar.
Mayday! She couldn’t let him lose his job over something she started. “There was no harassment, Dawn. Just a joke between friends that went a little sideways.”
Dawn crossed her arms. “You say that now, but what about next time? My customers saw you arguing. Someone’s gonna get the wrong idea, and it’ll be my butt on the line.” She leaned closer, eyebrows lowered. “And my livelihood. So consider this your final warning. No relationship drama at work, or you’re both outta here.”
Rosie’s heart skipped a beat. Then another one. “Understood.”
Dawn’s expression softened into weariness. “Now go on home. And I suggest you talk this mess out. In private.”
Eddie slid from his stool and trudged to the locker room. Rosie followed.
Without a word, without a glance her way, he pulled on his jacket, scarf, and hat. She did the same, gulping deep breaths to push back threatening tears. She’d come to terms with Mom’s disappointment, but knowing she’d let her work mom down left her hollow and queasy. And she’d hurt Eddie in the bargain—a sweet guy who didn’t deserve the chaos she’d dumped on him.
“Eddie, I—”
He raised a hand but didn’t meet her eye. “If you don’t mind, I’ve reached my limit for tonight.”
“But I—”
“Sorry I kissed you. It was stupid. I should’ve asked first, and—”
“—lost my earring in your place. My sister’s earring, actually, and she’ll skin me alive if I don’t bring it back.”
He glanced up, blinking rapidly. “Oh. You want me to look for it?”
“Could I just—easier for me to retrace my steps.” Or stumbles. To tell the truth, her memory of falling into Eddie’s bed was pretty blurry, though her memory of what transpired in that bed was solidifying more each day. Lots of steamy details that made it harder and harder to look Eddie in the eye.
He bit his lip and stared at the floor.
“Just two minutes. In and out, I promise.”
He heaved a huge sigh. “Sure. Okay.” A wry grin twisted his lips. “You know the way.”
Silently, side by side, they walked to the parking lot. She climbed into her little Honda and followed Eddie to his place on Mason Ave. Lights still shone from his parents’ house. Marvelous.
Eddie rapped on her car window. “You coming or what?”
She pointed to the house and raised her eyebrows in a silent question.
“I’m sure they’re in bed. Mom feels more secure with the lights on.”
She closed her car door as quietly as she could and followed him up the stairs. Halfway up, a blinding motion-sensor lamp flashed on. She froze, back pressed against the wall.
“God, you’re jumpy.” Eddie tugged her sleeve. “That goes off all night. Raccoons, deer, cats…” He unlocked the door and waved her through.
Eddie’s apartment smelled of coffee, his herbal shower soap, and his woodsy cologne—a homey, welcoming scent that took her right back to New Year’s Day, to the split second of happiness between waking in his warm bed and panicking over her stupid mistake.
She gave her head a sharp shake, but the memory clung. This time, Eddie wasn’t wearing that heartstring-plucking, sleepy, sated smile. Eyes narrowed, arms folded, he stood with his back to the wall as if prepared for an attack.
She cleared her throat. “So, we, uh—went over there first, right?” She pointed to the sofa opposite his tiny kitchenette. “I was pretty wobbly at that point.” No surprise, after downing three of River’s champagne sparklers at the Bangers’ crew afterparty. She checked the couch, digging into folds in the fabric, then squatted to scan beneath.
“Here.” He kneeled beside her and switched on his phone’s flashlight.
“Nothing.” The floor was spotless. Weren’t single guys supposed to be slobs? Anyone looking beneath her own furniture would find dust bunnies big enough to double as pets.
Eddie pulled her to her feet.
“Thanks.” She shoved a hand through her hair. “So, as I recall, we—uh—made out here for a while. But we were still dressed at that point, right?”
Scarlet bloomed across Eddie’s sharp cheekbones. “Yeah. The clothes came off later.”
Steamy memories coalesced. The sensual scrape of his short beard at the crook of her neck. His clever fingers unhooking her bra and stroking her breasts reverently.
Eddie flexed his fingers, then clenched them as his gaze rose from her chest to her face and held for a long, tense moment.
Hoo boy. Move along. Resisting the impulse to fan herself, she stepped toward the TV. “I think we were standing when my sweater came off. That’s probably what knocked the earring loose.”
There’d been music playing, slow and smoky. He’d pulled her into his arms and swayed her in slow circles, his hips pressed to hers. And then he tugged her sweater up and off, tossing it—where?
She bit her lip and glanced around. “Eddie, do you
