Chapter 8

NICCO

I woke to Hope moving. The sun was up and bright and, when I squinted at my watch, I could see that it was after ten. I rolled to my back and watched her, waiting for her to completely wake up.

She stretched and she opened her eyes a little bit before they flew open, looking at me with her long lashes framing them, her hair fanned out over the pillow.

“Oh my God!” she said, sitting up, pulling the blanket off me. She saw my bare chest and gasped again.

“Oh my God!” she repeated, pulling the sheet up and over me. She looked down at herself. I chuckled.

“No, I didn’t undress you. It’s a shame. That dress is too pretty for wrinkles and I’m pretty sure you are hiding a spectacular body underneath.”

She gave an audible sigh of relief and then looked at me with narrowed eyes. “Why aren’t you dressed?” she asked.

“Relax. I’m wearing boxers.” I couldn’t help but burst out laughing at the look on her face. “Would it be so bad to wake up naked next to me?”

She bit her lip and