more.
It wasn’t there. And her arm was covered with something pink and fluffy, which had certainly not come from her suitcase.
She pulled her arm back under the warmduvet and closed her eyes for one complete millisecond before snapping them open and sitting up in the bed.
And then collapsed back down again onto the cushions with a groan and pulled the duvet over her head.
No wonder she hadn’t recognised the curtains.
This was not her cool airy apartment in California. This was Rosa’s living room and she had fallen asleep on the sofa.
And Ethan had carried her inside last night because she had turned into a pathetic weeping creature the minute they had brought Rosa home from the accident department. The rest of her family had been so wonderful and encouraging while she had been totally pathetic and embarrassed herself.
She had not even managed to reach her own bedroom.
‘Are you decent in there? I have coffee.’
She glanced down at her clothing before answering Ethan. She was wearing the same black dress she had put on the night before, which luckily was not creased beyond redemption, plus a long-sleeved pink sweatshirt with fluffy kittens on the front belonging to Rosa. In fact the only thing missing from her outfit were her shoes.
Yes, she was decent. And Ethan Chandler had put her to bed. And what else? She couldn’t remember anything past being lowered onto the couch and someone tucking the duvet in around her. Oh! Was that part of a dream? Help!
‘Coffee would be good,’ was her feeble reply as she pushed herself up on the sofa and drew the covers up to cover her chest inside the sweatshirt. Pathetic indeed.
Ethan breezed into the room carrying a tray with two steaming mugs of the most wonderful-smelling coffee and a paper bag, which he opened and presented to her as he collapsed down on the other end of the sofa, completely unfazed by the fact that she was lying on it.
The tray was made from the lid of a cardboard packing box, each coffee mug had a picture of a puppy on it and there was a marked absence of napkins or plates but, strangely, this was the kind of room service she could get used to.
‘Morning. I stopped by the bakery on my way in. The lovely Rosa is awake and in her kitchen and managing quite well considering the strapping on her wrist. Apparently these are her favourite cupcakes—oh, and I found these in my truck this morning. Yours?’
He held up the pair of gold, high-heeled sandals she had borrowed from Rosa the night before, and Mari gave him a look. ‘Ah, I didn’t think so. Feel free to help yourself to a takeaway breakfast. I brought enough for three.’
Mari reached inside the bag and pulled out a muffin in a bright pink paper case. It was covered in heart-shaped pink sparkles with a small blob of white icing at the centre.
Mari and Ethan both stared at the muffin for a second in silence before he laughed. ‘Well, that definitely suits Rosa.’
Luckily the next cake looked like double chocolate chip and Ethan grinned and clutched it to his chest in delight. ‘Your sister does have style. Coffee? The café was open.’
All Mari could manage was a single nod, and it took several delicious sips of the hot bittersweet blend before she was ready to speak. ‘Oh, that is just what I needed. Perfect.’
They sat in silence for a few minutes, but it was Mari who found the courage to break the truce and say what she needed to say. One adult to another.
‘Ethan.’
‘Um,’ he replied, between mouthfuls.
‘Thanks for last night. Sorry about thecrying jag. I’m … embarrassed about … well … what I must have looked like. Sorry.’
He shook his head and pursed his lips. ‘You’ve no need to feel sorry. You only have one sister. If she hurts, you hurt. I get that. Things will look better in a few days.’
Mari gulped down a surge of emotion which threatened to overwhelm her. Ethan had come to Rosa’s aid when she needed it, stayed with them when he did not have
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