God, if hed had sex with her, he didnt know if they could remain friends. Rosie was a marrying kind of woman, not a one-night stand. And he would never consider marriage again.
What the hell had he done?
* * *
HOW MANY EGGS do you guys want?
Two.
Three.
Rosie, Riley said with a long, exaggerated sigh, whats going on?
Rosie Carrington glanced over her shoulder at Riley. He was a big man, so she cracked three eggs for him, same as Harris. Im just making breakfast, Riley. No big deal.
Yeah, right. Just making breakfastat Ethans, dressed in his shirt, probably on the proverbial morning after.
Youre too smart to make assumptions, Riley.
Harris and Buck looked at each other, then snorted. Oh, theyd made plenty of assumptions, all right. Not that she blamed them. It was a rather damning situation.
Riley paid them no mind. Okay, so what are you doing here? Last I saw Ethan at the party, he was flirting with that sexy redhead and you were fuming mad at him for, as you put it, acting like an ass again.
Rosie concentrated on not overcooking the eggs. Last nightwell, she had been fuming mad. Come to that, she was still a little peeved. Most of the time Ethan was the best man around, easy to respect, easier to love. He was hardworking, levelheaded, conscientious. A firefighter with a moral code bone-deep. True, hed become something of a hound dog, but a good-natured one nonetheless.
Yet whenever people brought up his ex-fiancée, he went from being a great guy to a shallow, chauvinistic jerk who grabbed the first available woman. Rosie assumed he did that to prove to everyone that he was over his fiancée, that hed recovered. The opposite was true. It showed that he was still hurtingand that hurt her.
It had been over a year and a half, for crying out loud. Shed had enough. It was time to take matters into her own hands.
Rosie knew the men were uncomfortable to have found her here. If all went as she planned, theyd just have to get used to it. Besides, she was now decently coveredsort ofin a ratty old housecoat that shed located in Ethans closet.
Youre being evasive, Rosie.
Gee, Riley, Im twenty-six years old. I thought that meant I didnt have to answer to anyone for my personal life.
Harris scratched his head, making his black hair more disheveled than ever. You and Ethan have a personal life?
She ignored him as she poked a fork at the pound of sizzling bacon in the cast-iron skillet. Four men, all of them big bruisers, needed a lot of food to maintain their energy levels. You know, Im amazed you guys planned to go fishing all day without breakfast. Its the most important meal of the day. You shouldnt skip it.
The men smirked at that ludicrous comment. As firefighters, Ethan and Harris kept in the peak of health. Their jobs allowed nothing less. Buck owned a lumberyard and physical labor was part of his daily work week. He had muscles on his muscles.
And RileyRosie peered at him again. Riley was an evidence technician for the police department. A former member of the SWAT team, he now owned a self-defense studio where he taught sparring, grappling, Jeet Kune Do and Silat knife fighting.
Next to Ethan, Riley was the most intriguing, appealing man she knew. He could break a person in two without effort. But more often than not, he was as gentle as a lambespecially where women were concerned.
There wasnt much call for a SWAT team in the small city of Chester, Ohio, thank God, but Riley had only lived here about five years. Before that, hed evidently suffered some bad times, not that he ever spoke of it much. He tended to be a very quiet man.
Except for now, when he chose to badger Rosie.
I think well all survive fishing on an empty stomach. Rileys voice was dry, teasing.
Now you wont have to.
Harris leaned forward, sniffing the eggs. Thisll be better than the pork rinds Buck packed.
Buck shoved him in the shoulder. Ill just eat them all myself then.
Hey. Harris acted wounded by Bucks selfishness. You know I was just placating Rosie.
After wrinkling her nose at the lot of them, Rosie began toasting bread. She had half a loaf out and hoped thatd be enough. Ethan wasnt much on domesticity and therefore didnt have an abundance of groceries. His apartment was a pigsty, his kitchen a disaster and his cabinets all but empty.
She glanced at the clock. Shed give the big coward two more minutes tops, then shed drag him out of the shower whether he wanted to face them all or not. If he was still naked and wetwell, she wouldnt cavil. In fact, the idea appealed to her.
Dragging him out proved unnecessary when not five seconds later Ethan appeared in the doorway. His mellow brown eyes were bloodshot, his blond hair still wet and only finger-combed, his feet bare. Hed pulled on clean jeans and a gray T-shirt, and to Rosie, he looked better than breakfast.
Her heart felt full to bursting. You okay?
He sent her a cautious sneer, hooked a chair, yanked it out from the table and dropped heavily into it. Ill live, if thats what you mean. His mean, red-eyed look moved around the room to encompass each of his friends. Im not going fishing today.
Of course not.
We understand.
Youre an ass, Ethan.
That last was from Riley, of course. He seemed to love provoking Ethan. Rosie shook her head. Theyd all known each other foreverwith the exception of Riley who was late to the group, but had quickly become a good friend. They lived to give each other a hard time, so presumably, they were letting Ethan off the hook this time because of her. Since she and Ethan needed to talk, she didnt object.
Without a word, she set a cup of strong black coffee in front of Ethan. He drank half of it, cursed when he burned his tongue, then glared at her. Youre not my housekeeper or my cook.
With the way you live, you couldnt pay me enough to be either.
Harris snickered. Buck held his breath.
Riley said, You are a damn slob. When was the last time you cleaned?
Whats it to you, Mom? He drank the rest of the coffee and Rosie silently refilled his cup. He muttered his grudging thanks.
Riley lounged back in his seat. Because his censure was so obvious, his silence was more annoying than chatter would have been.
Rosie served the men. When she started to take her own seat, Riley stood to pull out her chair. Ethan growled at him, and Riley growled back.
Men. They could be so unaccountably strange. Dig in, fellas.
The next few minutes were filled with sounds of appreciation as the men practically inhaled the enormous amount of food shed set on the table.
In all the time shed known Ethan, shed seen him drunk twicethis being the second time.
It amazed her that Ethan could eat such a hardy meal after a hangover. Other than his bloodshot eyes and listlessness, you wouldnt know hed been so miserable just half an hour before.
Harris finished first. Damn, that was good, Rosie. He patted his flat stomach. If I come back tonight, will you cook dinner, too?
Ethan pierced her with a direct stare. Rosie smiled. Sure, Harris. Come on by my house around six. I planned on making stew today.
His brows shot up. Really? I mean, I was kidding, but hell, Im always up for your stew.
Ethan pierced her with a direct stare. Rosie smiled. Sure, Harris. Come on by my house around six. I planned on making stew today.
His brows shot up. Really? I mean, I was kidding, but hell, Im always up for your stew.
Buck pushed back his empty plate. If that sorry sack is invited, then naturally Im coming, too.
Ill make plenty. Rosie loved to hang out with the guys. Because shed had a tendency to tail her older brother wherever he went, shed grown very close to the lot of them. She had very few female friends, thus the guys had become the sum total of her social circle.
Riley shook his head. Youre both mooches. But what would one more matter? Count me in.
Ethans chair scraped back across the floor. He snatched up his empty plate, caused an awful clatter as he roughly stacked the rest of the empty dishes, then moved to the sink. He kept his back to them all as he scraped the plates before nearly throwing them in the dishwasher.
The men looked at each other, shrugged, then prepared to leave. One by one they gave Rosie a hug and a hardy thank-you, with Riley choosing to go last.
He tipped up her chin. Ill be back by three. You want to come by the gym? Maybe work off some tension? He gave a meaningful nod of his head toward Ethans rigid back.
I suppose thatd be better than killing anyone, huh?
Riley laughed. Youre getting good, sugar, but not that good. Not yet.
Ethan jerked around. Just what the hell does that mean?
Harris and Buck hunkered out, muttering to Riley that theyd meet him in the truck.
Riley crossed his arms over his chest and faced Ethan. Shes taking lessons.
With an expression of incredulous disbelief, Ethan looked from Rosie to Riley and back again. What kind of lessons would those be?
His tone was so suspicious that Rosie laughed. Self-defense, mixed with some knife fighting. She took a stance and chopped the air with a fist. Im going to be lethal.
Rather than appeased, Ethan appeared more livid. What the hell are you doing that for? Has someone been bothering you?
She resisted the urge to say you and shook her head. I just like staying in shape and knowing I can take care of myself. Im single, remember?
Ethans face turned red and he strangled on his reply.
Pulling the tigers tail, Riley said, Dont worry, Ethan. Im real gentle with her.
Rosie thought Ethans eyes might cross. Instead he fumed in silence for nearly a full thirty seconds before stalking out of the room.
Oh, boy, Riley rumbled under his breath. He gestured for Rosie to precede him as he headed to the front door. Ethan waited for them there, holding it open, his impatience to be alone with Rosie plain.
Riley walked out into the hallway. Be good, kids.
You know Im always good. But I cant make any promises for Ethan.
He winked at her. Youll keep him in line.
Ethan snapped the door shut, then turned both locks with a dreadful sense of finality. When he faced Rosie, she decided a strategic retreat was in order; he did not look like a happy man.
In fact, he looked very unhappy. Or maybe riled was the word. Yeah, he looked downright riled. She supposed Rileys teasing flirtation hadnt helped matters.
Ethan was used to Harris and Buck razzing her. After all, theyd all grown up in the same neighborhood. The three of them had been best buds with her brotheruntil her brother had slipped off with Ethans fiancée.
Riley was new to the mix, and while they all liked him a lot, Ethan apparently didnt take Rileys teasing the same at all.
Shed made it all the way to the bathroom when Ethan caught her arm. Rosie.
There was so much warning in the way he said her name, she kept her back to him. Hmm?
His sigh parted the back of her hair. Dont play games. He caught both arms and turned her around. What were you doing here this morning in my bed?
Sleeping?
His jaw worked, his eyes narrowed. Reaching inside the neckline of the housecoat, Ethan fingered the collar of his shirt. His gaze settled on her mouth. Why arent you wearing your own clothes?
Very slowly, realization dawned on Rosie. Oh, my God. You dont remember, do you?
An arrested expression crossed his features. His pupils expanded until only a thin ring of light brown remained. His straight, dark brows pulled together. Just what am I supposed to remember?
Indignation reared up, followed by humiliation. Ethan Winters. You have no idea what happened last night, do you?
He blustered with his own dose of exasperation. I know damn good and well we didnt have sex.
Rosie gasped, not because he was wrong, but because he was so sure that he hadnt touched her. What was she? Chopped liver? She felt just contrary enough not to reassure him. Yeah, and how do you know that if you dont remember?
Muscles tensed, Ethan let his smoldering gaze take a leisurely trip over herbut he only got as far as her breasts. You were wearing a shirt. And panties. When I have sex with a woman his gaze rose and locked on hers shes buck naked. Not half-dressed.
Rosie dropped back against the wall with a thud. Her heart had started bouncing around with his first hot look, and his words had nearly brought her to her knees. Oh, she could only imagine what Ethan did when he had sex, but she believed him: the woman wouldnt be wearing clothes.
She cleared her throat, then had to clear it again when he flattened both hands to the wall on either side of her head. At five-nine she was a tall woman, but Ethan stood six-two and towered over her. He leaned in the smallest bit, probably trying to intimidate herand doing a good job of it, but not for the reasons that he might assume. She wasnt afraid of Ethan and she never would be.
But she was extremely aware of him as a man.
She stared at his sternum and gave an irrefutable reminder. You were drunk. You couldnt have gotten your own clothes off, much less mine.
Ethan considered that, then smiled. True. And being that drunk, I doubt I could have gotten a boner no matter what you did.
With another gasp, Rosie shoved him hardwith no visible effect. I didnt do anything.
You must have taken off your clothes, because as you just said, I was too damn drunk to accomplish it on my own.
Her eyes narrowed. Not too drunk to flirt with that redhead.
He stared past her shoulder. After a second, his eyes lightened and the right side of his mouth kicked up. Yeah, I remember her now. Whered she go?
Oh, that was one nasty little shot too many. Rosie stomped on his toes. Given that she was as barefoot as he was, it wasnt an overly painful move. But he did jerk back, giving her a chance to duck under his arm. She stormed into the bathroom and slammed the door. Hard. She took a lot of satisfaction in clicking the lock into place.
Ethan didnt beat on the door. He just said, You have to come out sooner or later.
She felt like beating on the door. Or on his head. Instead she took two deep breaths to gather her calm. My clothes are in your laundry room. Your precious redhead dumped her drink on me, so until you run them through the wash, I cant wear them again. Id smell like a lush.
Silence stretched until Ethan finally said, Oh.