We both groaned out loud when the alarm went off. "I need to get you a new job, " Diesel said. "One that starts at noon. " "I had that job. I like this one better. And my job would be fine if it wasn't for your job. " I dragged myself to the bathroom, stumbled down the stairs, and started coffee brewing. I fed Cat and ate half a loaf of bread while I waited for the coffee. I scrambled four eggs and ate them with two more slices of bread. I had a second cup of coffee and caught myself pawing through the trash, looking for muffin bottoms. I yelled for Diesel, but there was no response. I ran up the stairs and looked at the man in my bed. He was sound asleep, and from what I could see from the clothes on the floor and the half of him that wasn't covered by quilt, he was naked. I enjoyed the view for a couple minutes, thinking it would be nice to kiss the back of his neck, his bare shoulder, the small of his back . . . Good grief! Get a grip, Lizzy. "Hey!" I yelled at him. "Wake up. " "I'm awake. " "I'm hungry, " I told him. "And?" "And I'm not supposed to be. I'm not carrying the ladybug. Why am I still hungry?" "Can we discuss this in five or six hours?" "I'll weigh two hundred pounds by then. I just caught myself looking for muffin leavings. " "Honey, anyone would be tempted to do that. They were really good muffins. " "The cat ate them! They were in the garbage!" "Yeah, that's a little extreme, " he said. "If you come back to bed, I'll take your mind off it. " I mentally ticked off reasons to crawl back into bed. Number one: He was hot and mouth-wateringly handsome. Number two: I was almost certain he was a good person. Number three: He was already naked, so that awkward undressing moment would be cut in half. And here was the big, scary number four: I was possibly enamored. Diesel was fascinating, and hard as I tried to keep things in proper perspective, I found myself increasingly attracted to him. Of course, this morning I'd also felt that way about the muffins in the garbage. "Returning to bed has some appeal, " I told him, "but I have to go to work. Don't you want to get up and protect me?" "No. " "What if Wulf gets me?" "Wulf has crazy Steven Hatchet. He doesn't need you. " "Yes, but suppose he thinks I've got the charm and maybe even the rest of the inherited whatevers?" "It's no big deal. He'll do a strip search, and when he finds out you're clean, he'll turn you loose. " A strangled sound emerged from the back of my throat and my stomach got sick. "Ulk. " "You're right, " Diesel said. "It would be more fun if I did the strip search. " "That's not what I was thinking!" He swung his legs over the side of the bed. "I guess it was what I was thinking. Give me a minute and I'll drive you to the bakery. "