My head was pounding again, but at least, this time, my mouth was just dry and tasted like leftover moderately expensive vodka. It wasn't entirely pleasant, but I was pretty sure I hadn't thrown up, so that was good. The thing that was not good was that I once again had no idea where I was or how I got there.

I groaned as I pushed myself up into a half-sitting position. To my relief, my stomach only did a couple mild somersaults. I opened my eyes and processed my surroundings.

I was on my own couch, which was weird since I had no clue how I'd gotten home, but I was grateful I was here. My couch was comfortable and that also meant I didn't have to spend the next couple hours trying to figure out where I was and how I would get home. I frowned. I really hoped I hadn't driven back. I remembered leaving my parents' house and parking somewhere. I rubbed my temples as I tried to recall if I'd left my car. I could be irresponsible, but I never wanted to be one of those idiots who got behind the wheel after drinking. As far as I knew, I never had.

I continued to take stock of my surroundings. I was fully clothed and nothing was buttoned up wrong or on inside out, so I assumed that meant I hadn't gotten lucky. I'd had a couple drunken hook-ups before and I always ended up with some part of my clothing being off.

Another good thing. The last thing I wanted to do was have to worry about getting some nameless random out of my apartment.

A noise caught my attention and I turned my head.

Oh shit.

Speaking of random.

Sitting in a nearby chair was a woman I'd never seen before. Caramel-colored curls, porcelain skin... she was gorgeous.

I let my eyes run down her body. She was dressed well in the sense that she looked good, but her clothes weren't overly expensive. She definitely wasn't a stripper and she didn't look much like the kind of women I usually picked up. Well, the smoking hot body did, but not the clothes.

Where would I have met someone dressed like that?

Where had I ended up last night?

I frowned and closed my eyes, pinching the bridge of my nose. I'd left the house, driven into the city. I remembered thinking about going to a club, but I hadn't. I'd decided against it, I was pretty sure. So where had I gone?

It hit me suddenly.

A bar.

I'd gone to a bar.

I opened my eyes and looked over at the woman in the chair. She was the bartender. Liz or Liv or something like that. She'd been nice. Accent of some kind. From the Czech Republic, if my memory was reliable, which I wasn't entirely sure it was.

What was she doing here? She'd been nice, but I didn't remember her flirting with me, which meant she hadn't brought me home thinking we'd fuck.

Shit. A thought hit me. I reached into my pocket, sure I would find my wallet empty. It didn't matter that she was still here. I'd met plenty of would-be thieves dumb enough to try to rob me and then pass out before escaping. I'd never claimed that any of the women I hooked up with were bright. It wasn't like I was into them for the conversation. Though I did have the vague recollection of thinking she was intelligent.

I opened my wallet and was shocked to see all of my credit cards were still there. I checked for the cash and that was there too. I frowned. Okay, so she hadn't tried to rob me. I was completely confused now. If it wasn't about sex or money, why was she here?

I started to stand and then stopped. That wasn't a good idea. I hadn't gotten sick last night, but if I kept moving, I might. I needed something to drink. My eyes fell on the glass coffee table. A glass of water and a couple pills were sitting there. I looked at the bartender. Had she put those here?

I picked up the glass and sniffed. Water. I took a sip and my stomach didn't rebel. That was a good thing. I reached for the pills next, turning them over in my hand to see if they were marked. I scowled. I didn't know what they were, but they seemed like as good an idea as any. Plus, I didn't have to get up to get them. They went down easy and I waited to see if they were anything good.

Hmm. Maybe that was it. I leaned back. Maybe she was here for drugs. Selling or buying. I looked at her. Maybe sharing.

But I didn't feel like I'd been high earlier, only drunk. Then again, maybe what I'd just taken was something good. As the throbbing in my head began to recede, I was forced to admit I'd taken aspirin. At the moment, however, I was glad that's what I'd swallowed. Now I wondered if I'd gotten the water and medicine out before passing out on the couch or if the bartender had done it. I was pretty sure it hadn't been me since I'd never been smart enough to do it before. I really hoped I hadn't left anything embarrassing in my bathroom or kitchen.

I sighed. I had no clue what I was supposed to do now. Did I wake the bartender up and ask her why she was here or let her sleep? How long was I supposed to let her sleep? If we'd had sex, I wouldn't have felt bad about waking her and letting her politely know it was time for her to go. But I didn't know why she was here and it felt kind of rude to wake her up. Plus, it would mean I'd have to get up, and while I was feeling better, I didn't want to press my luck.

I looked at her again. She was curled in the chair, her long legs tucked up under her, her hand cradling her cheek. Asleep, she didn't look old enough to drink legally, much less be a bartender. Her lashes were impossibly long and I tried to remember what color her eyes were.

Livie. That was her name. And her eyes were green.

It still didn't tell me why she was here.

I wasn't sure how much time passed, but at some point, I realized that I really needed to take a piss. As I slowly got to my feet, I was actually a bit relieved that I had to go since that probably meant I hadn't pissed my pants during the night. It didn't happen often, but I'd have been lying if I said I'd never done it.

When I came back out into the living room, the bartender was starting to wake up. I walked over to the couch. but just perched on the arm rather than sitting down again. I was worried if I did, I wouldn't get back up.

I managed a smile. “Morning.”

She flushed as she straightened, smoothing down her clothes. “Good morning.”

I figured I'd get the elephant in the room out of the way. “This is awkward.”

She laughed, a soft, low sound. She stood. “I do not know what you remember from last night.”

“Not much,” I admitted.

“You passed out while I was running your card for your tab,” she continued as she pulled her hair out of its ponytail. Her curls tumbled over her shoulders. “I could not wake you, so I had a taxi bring us here. You paid.”

I was aware I was staring at her, but I couldn't stop. She'd had my credit card, but had only used it to pay my bill at the bar and then for a taxi? I would have to check my account to be sure, but I didn't see where else she could've used it.

“And you stayed?”

She gave me a stern look, the kind that I'd seen Hannah give her kids. “No one else was here and I could not leave you. What if you had become ill?”

Now I started to wonder if I'd guessed her age too young before. She sounded much more like my mother than some sexy model wanna-be.

“Thank you,” I said. “I really appreciate you doing that for me.”

She nodded and looked around. I wasn't sure what she was looking for until she picked up her coat. I wasn't sure why I was surprised that she was getting ready to go. She'd stayed because she'd wanted to make sure I didn't get sick. Now I was awake. Problem solved.

“So, um, did you drive?” That was a stupid question. “I mean to the bar. Do you need to go back there to get your car?”

She shook her head. “I take the bus.”

“I can give you cab fare,” I offered. “I don't know when the next bus runs.”

“I will wait,” she said. “I do not mind.”

“Livie, right?” I said as I stood again. “You could've taken everything out of my wallet and sent me to the drunk tank, but you didn't. Let me at least send you home in a cab so you don't have to wait in the cold.”

I could see on her face that she was debating the offer. She didn't want to stand at a bus stop in February, but there was pride on her face and I knew she was thinking of it like charity.

“Think of it as payment for baby-sitting me.” I gave her my best charming smile. Or at least the best one I could muster in my current condition.

That got me a partial smile. “Thank you.”

I pulled out my wallet and handed her a few bills. I didn't even bother to see how much I gave her. She followed my example and didn't count it. She put it in her pocket and picked up her purse. We looked at each other and I realized she didn't know how to stop the awkward silence any more than I did. Should I tell her I'd see her later? Thank her again?

I was saved from having to figure things out when someone knocked on the door. I went to it, wondering who it could be. As soon as I opened it, however, I wished I hadn't. I wished I'd just pretended I wasn't home.

“Blayne.” My father's voice would've made it clear that he wasn't happy with me, even if I hadn't been able to feel the disapproval radiating off of him. He stepped past me into my apartment without waiting for an invitation.

I supposed I couldn't really blame him. I wouldn't have asked him in anyway.

“Good morning to you too,” I muttered as I turned and followed him.

“I called you.”

“I turned off my phone.” I wondered if I could get Livie out without her having to hear whatever shit it was my father would say. That hope vanished the moment he stepped into the living room.

“Is she why?” He pointed at Livie, like she wasn't even there. “Is this the reason you fucked everything up for our family?”

“Dad,” I hoped interrupting him would work.

“No,” he snapped. “I will not let you stand here in an apartment I'm paying for and watch some good-for-nothing gold digger ruin everything!”

“She's not a gold digger!” I didn't know much about Livie. Hell, I knew practically nothing. What I did know was that she was kind enough to take care of a complete stranger and expect nothing in return. What I said next, however, came out of nowhere. I hadn't thought it at any point and I sure as hell hadn't planned it, but I said it anyway. “She's my fiancée.”