“I’m so sorry, Demi. I nearly peed the bed when I heard you screaming,” she laughs.

“You?” I question. “I sat on your husband.”

“God, I’m sorry.”

I don’t tell her it’s okay because right now I’m mad as hell. I just had my best friend’s husband lying on top of my naked body.

Wendy pushes her curly blonde hair behind her ears and fixes her brown eyes on me. “Are you okay?”

Am I? I guess I am other than having the living shit scared out of me. “What are you doing here?” I ask for the five thousandth time.

“Jeff’s mother offered to keep the kids tonight, but she wanted to stay at our house because she says they break too much stuff at her house. With Jeff in between jobs, we didn’t want to spend the money for a hotel. I didn’t think you’d mind. I left you a voicemail.”

I’m not upset they’re here; they’re always welcome in my home. However, I would have liked some forewarning, but I can’t be mad at her—just the situation.

“I just had your husband pressed against my naked body,” I moan in embarrassment. Wendy rolls her eyes.

“He’ll be living off that for years,” she jokes making me cringe.

“Not to mention Connor probably saw me naked,” I gripe.

“Oh, poor Connor,” she mock gasps. “I’m sure seeing a beautiful naked woman was just awful.” I roll my eyes . . . again. “Get dressed,” she moves toward the door. “I gotta make sure Jeff didn’t break his toe.”

When I head downstairs after dressing, I find everyone in the kitchen. Jeff is leaned against the counter while Wendy sips a glass of juice. Connor is standing with his arms crossed by the back door. Wendy smiles brightly and takes Jeff’s hand, leading him out of the kitchen.

“It was lovely meeting you, Connor,” she says. “I think I’ll just get Jeff to bed. It’s been a bit of a stressful night for him.”

“Goodnight,” Connor replies. “Nice to meet you both.”

As they pass by me, Jeff has his eyes squeezed closed and head turned away from me.

“I have clothes on, Jeff,” I tell him.

“Sorry about all that, Demi,” he murmurs as they keep going. “I didn’t see anything.”

When they’re up the stairs and out of hearing range, I sigh and look to Connor.

“Well, now that you’ve been properly welcomed home,” I joke. “I am so sorry about all of that.”

He takes a deep breath and releases it. “I heard you scream and . . .”

“Thank you for coming so quickly. I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

Connor’s mouth curves slightly on one side and his gaze meets mine. “It was quite the welcome home party,” he chuckles, and even I join in as my embarrassment begins to subside. I can’t imagine how crazy he thinks we all are. Our gazes remain locked even as our laughter begins to ebb.

“Do you like to sleep in or are you an early bird?”

“You don’t get to sleep in when you’re in prison. I don’t think I could sleep in if I tried,” he replies, his gaze leaving mine and darting to the floor.

My chest tightens with his words. Through the rollercoaster of an evening we’ve had, I seemed to have forgotten where he’s been and what he’s done. He’s a felon. A violent one and if I’m honest, it scares me somewhat. But on the other hand, I know it’s only the stereotype freaking me out—once a violent felon means always a violent felon. And that makes him dangerous. But I don’t feel that when I’m with him. Quite the contrary. I actually feel . . . safe.

“I’ll make breakfast in the morning. I think the plumber will be here early so just come on down and join us. Wendy and Jeff are early birds, too.”

He doesn’t agree, but simply nods once and says, “Goodnight,” as he exits the back door. After he leaves, I crawl on my sofa and cover myself with the throw. My guestroom is taken, and there’s no way I can sleep in the master. But lumpy sofa or not, my exhaustion quickly consumes me, and I drift off to sleep.

“You, in no way, did that man justice when you described him to me on the phone the other day,” Wendy murmurs, before sipping her coffee.

Ignoring her as I don’t want to discuss just how attractive Connor is, I ask, “Where’s Jeff?”

“Shower,” she answers simply. Standing, she grabs a piece of bacon off the paper plate near the stove where I’m cooking.

“Would you like to help me here or is this like a vacation for you?”

“Vacation?” she snorts. “I’m away from my kids. This is like staying at a five-star resort.”

“Demi!” An all too familiar voice yells as the sound of the screen door to the back porch squeaks open and slams closed.

“In the kitchen,” I huff, realizing this morning is going to be anything but relaxing. Poor Connor is going to get the full brunt of just how overbearing and nosey my family is.

Lexi, my baby sister, strolls in the kitchen, giant sunglasses covering her eyes that undoubtedly are red and smeared with makeup as she recovers from a massive hangover.

“What are you doing here?” I ask her as I fork another piece of bacon on the plate.

“I was on my way home from a friend’s house,” she mumbles as she pulls a coffee mug from the cabinet and begins pouring herself a cup.

“Did you manage to get out before he woke up and asked for your number?” Wendy grins from where she sits at the kitchen table. Lexi’s mouth pops open as if she’s insulted.

“Are you implying I was leaving a one night stand?”

“Not implying,” Wendy clarifies.

Lexi snaps her mouth shut and shrugs. “It went something like that.” Plopping down on the chair next to Wendy, she asks, “So where’s the jailbird?”

“Shhh!” I hiss at her. “He’ll be down any minute and don’t say shit like that in front of him.”

“He just got out of jail,” Lexi yawns. “What else do we have to talk about with him? Politics? World news?”

“Lexi, I swear if you make him feel uncomfortable I’ll tell Mom you’re having sex with anything that has a penis!” I threaten.

“Morning,” a deep voice calls and I nearly jump out of my skin when I realize it’s Connor. He’s wearing a pair of basketball shorts and a fitted black T-shirt, showcasing his muscular body. It takes a moment before I realize I’m staring at him, my eyes tracing each of the intricate tattoos that run down his arms.

“M-morning,” I stutter. “How’d you sleep?”

“Pretty good, thanks.” There’s an awkward beat of silence as the two of us just stare at one another until Lexi clears her throat.

Standing, she approaches holding her hand out like she’s some kind of Southern debutante.

“You must be Connor,” she states the obvious and offers her hand politely as he takes her it and shakes it awkwardly. Something tells me he’s not used to polite ladies—not that Lexi is one. “I’m Lexi, Demi’s younger sister.” I cut my eyes to Wendy, who just chuckles behind her coffee mug. She loves to point out she’s the younger one.

“It’s nice to meet you,” Connor replies with a kind smile before his gaze darts back to me. “Mind if I wash up?”

“Not at all. I left a towel and washcloth in there if you want to shower.”

“Thanks.” When he’s left us, I realize the kitchen is silent, and I’ve been staring at his back as he walked down the hallway. When I look to Lexi, her mouth is hanging open, and she’s watching me. Even with her sunglasses on, I know her eyes are bugging out.

“What?”

“What do you mean, ‘what?’” Lexi hisses as she seizes my arm and drags me to the table forcing me to sit. “How about we start with Mr. Gives-Me-Lady-Wood-Just-Looking-At-Him, huh?” I look at Wendy and see she’s pressing her lips together to keep from laughing.

“What about him?” I ask, stupidly. There’s no denying Connor is extremely attractive in a rugged and dangerous kind of way. But I refuse to talk about it with Lexi.

“Really?” she asks in disbelief. “You want to play dumb?”