When the alarm goes off, I swear to God, I want to stab it. Repeatedly.

The obnoxious ring continues, but I can’t move to turn the damn thing off. Exhausted, I peel open my eyes and realize I’m still at Daren’s. He’s half-draped on top of me, which is usually how we wake up when I stay over.

His face is pressed to my bare chest, his thigh draped over mine. I brush the hair out of his face—his beautiful, scruffy face. The face I would kiss right now if it weren’t glued to my breasts.

I chuckle. “Hey, Clutch. I need to go to work.” He doesn’t budge, his deep breaths coming in a consistent rhythm. “Honey, come on.” I finally shake him a little. “I need to go to work, but you’re on top of me.”

He groans. “But I like being on top of you.”

Laughing, I attempt to roll him off again, but he squeezes me tighter and says in a sleepy voice, “Have a good day, babe. I’ll miss you.” He leans up and pecks me on my cheek before he flops onto his back and passes out again.

I love how easily he says those words. Little flutters of happiness bubble inside me.

He told me so much more than I expected last night. The man poured his heart out. I can’t say it was easy to hear about his relationships with Clem and Veronica, but knowing I’m the first person he’s ever opened up to about what happened in high school makes me think maybe we could really do this.

After a quick shower, I wrap a towel around me and dig around the living room, looking for my phone. I never walk off without it, but Daren and I got carried away. When I unlock it, I find four messages. Shit.

My leg jiggles as I listen. The first one has me in a panic. Roger wanted me to come in early, but by the last message, he had the problem under control. Another reporter is already covering my shift and I can work from home if I want. Okay.

I call Roger, just to be sure.

“Sorry for that first message, Maddie.” He sounds distracted. Papers shuffle in the background.

“No problem. Sorry I couldn’t make it. I accidentally left my phone in the living room and didn’t hear it ring.”

He yells at someone in the background and then coughs into the phone. “I’m serious about you working from home. I’m afraid I’m going to walk in one morning and find you keeled over your desk, dead from exhaustion, and I don’t want to be held responsible for it.”

A little laugh escapes me. “Are you sure? I can get a little done on that—”

“Keep your butt home. Or else. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Before I can respond, he hangs up.

All righty.

After tossing on one of Daren’s t-shirts, I grab a cup of coffee and settle down at his kitchen table. It’s strange to have an unexpected free morning. I dare say it’s delightful.

All of my stuff is here already, and rather than dragging everything home before I’m caffeinated, I opt to wake up and read through the headlines first. Powering up my laptop, I scroll through a few stories and jot down notes on some follow-up ideas.

My stomach gets the best of me after a while, and I wander to the refrigerator. When I glance at the clock, I realize it’s much later than I expected. Almost eight-thirty. I figure Daren will be up soon and I decide to make us breakfast.

Daren.

God, I don’t know why last night made such a difference, but the stupid butterflies in my stomach are rioting at the thought of him.

If someone had told me I’d be grateful I found my ex cheating on me, I would have laughed in their face. But right now, I am grateful because it brought me to this point. It brought me Daren.

Which reminds me.

Pulling out my phone again, I slide my finger over the images until I find the one I want. The one of Jacob and that girl.

And then I hit the delete button. Because that part of my life is over.

Feeling lighter than I have in months, I head back to the kitchen.

A stupid grin pulls at my lips as I pull out what I need from the fridge. Eggs, cheese, mushrooms, tomatoes. I crack several eggs in a bowl and am about to start whipping them when two large hands come around my waist.

“Jesus Christ, you scared me!” I just barely get the bowl down on the counter in one piece.

Daren burrows against my neck and kisses me. “I thought you had to work.”

“My schedule changed at the last minute, so I’m working from home. Well, here for now, but I was about to get out of your hair.”

He growls against my ear, sending goosebumps down my arm. “Stay. If you don’t have to go, don’t. I have practice, but I shouldn't be too late.” His hands wander under my t-shirt. “Mmm. No underwear. Easy access.”

I laugh and attempt to keep myself upright. “I’m trying to make you breakfast.”

He nibbles on my neck for a moment before he stops with a growl. “I need to get going. I wish I could just hang out with you today.”

He nuzzles against me, and my heart floods with emotion.

I open my mouth to say something, but nothing comes out.

Daren slowly spins me around. I wrap my arms around his neck.

He grins. “Gotta say I like seeing you in my kitchen first thing in the morning.”

Jesus. Could he be any sweeter? How on God's green earth did I ever resist him in the first place? “Go shower. I'll make you a quick omelet before you go.”

His face burrows into my neck, and he just holds me for a few minutes. When he steps back, for the first time in my life, I totally understand what it means to be captivated by someone's stare. The emotion behind Daren's eyes makes me hold my breath.

He clears his throat. “What are you doing tonight?”

Thinking about my to-do list, I shrug. “Just paying bills. Doing some laundry and a little research. Why?”

“Think you could do that another night? I'd like to take you out.”

I still. “Like as in a—"

"As in a date.”

He wants to take me out. A real one. Teenage Maddie nearly passes out.

We've been on lockdown at his place since we started getting together. Him asking me out definitely makes this feel more like a relationship. My stomach flutters at the thought, but before I can get carried away, I remember the reason we've been hiding out in the first place.

I start to open my mouth, and he shakes his head. “We'll be careful. You won't get busted, babe. I promise. I'd never do anything to jeopardize your career.”

Staring back at him, seeing the sweet expression on his beautiful face, the last thing I want to do is say no. Because, holy shit, Daren Sloan wants to take me on a date. We've been sleeping together for weeks, so I'm not sure why this makes me practically giddy, but the thought of us spending time together like a real couple does funny things to my heart.

Taking a deep breath and a leap of faith, I nod. “Okay. Let's do it.”