Stevie Wonder’s “Living for the City” fill the air as I stretch my arms over my head.

Which is pounding. I blink open an eye, the light of day instantly zapping my retina and making me want to climb into whatever blanket cocoon I can manage. Don’t believe anyone when they tell you that you can drink the same amount you once did in college … because this side of a hangover at twenty-seven feels like I got run over by a dump truck.

“Oh, good morning, sunshine.”

The end of the bed suddenly becomes heavy, and everything that happened last night comes rushing back at me. Jake, the bar, too many glasses of wine, sex. Great sex, orgasm-inducing sex. I stretch my legs out, remembering the post-ache of great sex that I haven’t felt in far too long.

“Are you one of those dreaded morning people?” I don’t peek my eyes out for fear of the sun.

Strong hands grip my legs under the blanket, and a flash of his hands on me last night has my body tingling even in its tired state.

“You know it. I got in a run around the monuments this morning and then came back to make you breakfast. You can thank me later.” Jake’s cheery voice invades my blanket fort, and I peek my head out.

Sure enough, he sits on the edge of the bed in running shorts. And that’s it. Just running shorts.

My tongue almost spills out of my mouth, because damn I guess I hadn’t been able to fully see him in the sex haze of last night. He was a gorgeous specimen, with long toned arms and a six-pack sprinkled with just the sexiest amount of hair. Beads of sweat still clung to his happy trail, and that was getting every part below my waist very happy again.

And then my stomach growled.

He chuckled. “Looks like I didn’t make that breakfast a second too soon. Come on, there’s bacon.”

Sitting up, the sheets pooled around me and I am suddenly aware that I was naked. Very, very naked. “Um, do you have like …”

I trailed off when his gaze seemed to linger on me, his green eyes turning molten emerald. Jake cleared his throat, his dimple coming out as he smirked. “Let me get you a T-shirt.”

“I don’t have to stay …” We’d hooked up, this wasn’t a thing.

At least I didn’t think it was. We’d had one bad date, an honest conversation about how he wasn’t looking to be a father and I wasn’t looking to supply Lennon with one, and then we’d done the horizontal hula. That didn’t mean he had to make me eggs.

“I want you to stay.” His simple sentence was said with a shrug.

That adorable look on his face, paired with a body I could, and had, licked from head to toe, weakens my resolve.

“I know what was said last night but … I want to spend time with you, Samantha. I don’t want to just screw each other’s brains out and then high five when you walk out the door. Although, that sounds really nice. But, no, I do want more. And that may be more than you were looking for when you booty-dragged me out of that bar, and we don’t know each other that well, but I like you. We can go slow, see where this goes.”

He was right, I wasn’t looking for a hookup buddy. To be honest, I barely had time to paint my nails, much less meet someone for casual sex. I also didn’t really have time to date, but there was a spark between us that I hadn’t found in a long time. Some unspoken thing that we just had, and I had to admit that when he’d asked me out the first time, I knew instantly that I’d explore it.

“I think I can do that. That is … if you made the eggs sunny side up.” I got out of the bed in all my naked glory.

His eyes fell down my body, which wasn’t perfect, but was still okay in my eyes. I had stretch marks on my boobs and a faded C-section scar from where they’d taken Lennon out. My legs were toned from chasing around a three-year-old, and I thanked good genes for my thick hair and slim arms.

Self-consciously, I put my hands over the scar at the bottom of my stomach.

“Don’t do that, you’re beautiful. Honestly, I think it’s kind of sexy.”

I rolled my eyes. “Okay, what are you, Mr. Perfect? Your sweetness is going to make me gag.”

“Well, don’t go that far yet … because I scrambled the eggs.” He walks across the apartment to the kitchen, my eyes following his ass the entire time.

I go to his dresser and grab a T-shirt for myself, my comfort level in his place surprising me. I follow him, my mouth salivating for a cup of coffee. And to my delight, a steaming mug is sitting on the small table near his counter space.

“Ah, the nectar of the gods …” I dove straight for it, taking a huge gulp and feeling my system kick somewhat back into gear. “What time is it anyway?”

Jake chuckles, loading two plates with breakfast food and bringing them over. “Coffee addict, huh? It’s about nine.”

“You get up before nine on a weekend? Why? There is no one jumping in your bed, or begging you for donuts.” I fold my legs underneath me and revel in the newness of this.

It feels comfortable but strange all at the same time, eating breakfast with a man who I’m just getting to know. Intimately. That makes me blush internally.

“How do you know that I’m not jumping on my own bed, demanding donuts? Or that Bryan isn’t doing so?” He points his fork at the wall, indicating Bryan’s place just on the other side.

The playlist switches to “Fire and Rain” by James Taylor, and I tap my foot to the classic song. “Touché. Pretty good playlist you have going there, Jake.”

“I’m an ice cream and music connoisseur, what can I say?” He smiles around a forkful of eggs.

“And so humble about it,” I tease him, finishing my coffee, and holding out the mug. “More please.”

“Should I just bring you the pot?” His foot hits mine under the table, and a warming sizzle of Saturday morning bliss spreads over me.

“That would probably be beneficial to all involved. Do you have to work today?” I wasn’t sure what kind of hours he kept.

“I don’t, which is rare. There aren’t any major events this weekend, although I could probably make a good chunk of change if I parked the truck on the national lawn today. But I have to give myself some days off. I employ a few drivers who will make the rounds to the neighborhoods tonight, but I’m playing hooky on this beautiful Saturday. How about you, any plans?”

I finish my plate and rest my elbows on the table, admiring the way the light makes his hair a dark golden color. “Lennon slept over my mom’s house, and I was actually supposed to go over there for breakfast.”

“Oh shit, do you need to go?” His expression changes to one of guilt.

I lay a hand over his, liking the way it feels under my palm. “Relax. If I needed to get somewhere, I would just go. I think you know by now that what you see is what you get with me, I’m not going to sugarcoat.”

“And I particularly like that about you, you know.” Jake scoots closer, clearly abandoning our food.

He wraps his arms around my waist, his T-shirt rising up past my hips. Fingers making circles on my skin, sending shockwaves of memories of last night through my system. Leaning in, I press my lips to his, basking in the sheer spontaneity of what was happening.

“Do you think Jenna is over at Bryan’s?” The thought popped into my head and past my lips.

Jake let out a loud laugh. “I made you breakfast and am trying to seduce you over it, and you’re thinking about your friend getting laid.”

I had to crack up too. “Sorry, I was just wondering!”

“We could go check if you want to? Although, I’ve walked in on my fair share of Bryan’s female friends, and now that I have my own place, I’d like to avoid that as much as possible. But for you, anything.”

I scoot back into him. “Nah, let’s get back to that seduction over the breakfast table before I have to leave.”

“I could even pull a Bull Durham and spill a gallon of milk if that would be sexy to you?”

My giggle was swallowed by Jake’s mouth, and then there was no more laughing matter.