The sunlight smacked me right across the eyes, a rude awakening after the restless night I’d had. I groaned and burrowed deeper under the blanket, bargaining with the universe for just five more minutes. No such luck. My brain had already betrayed me.
Rouger.
Dammit, the man needed to get out of my head.
With a sigh that came from my toes, I shoved back the blanket and swung my legs over the edge of the bed. The hardwood was icy under my feet, sending a shiver up my spine. The whole house still carried that faint tang of sawdust and varnish, no matter how long I’d left the windows cracked. The Victorian wore its scars openly: peeled wallpaper, half-sanded floors, unfinished trim…and every imperfection seemed to whisper his name.
I raked a hand through my hair. Focus, Mel. You’ve got th
