The next morning, I woke up to bright sunlight streaming through my eyelids. I forced my eyes open, shielding them with my hands.

"Morning, Sleeping Beauty."

Luke's voice broke through my sleepy fog. I turned my head to see him walking through the door with two cups of steaming tea in his hands.

"Hey," I said, sitting up.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, nodding his head towards the bed.

"Alright, actually. It's really comfy."

He chuckled. "I slept on that thing for an entire year. Believe me, it's not as comfy after that long."

"A whole year? Why?"

"Whilst I renovated my bedroom. I pretty much lived in here and the kitchen."

I smiled at him as I took the hot mug from him. "Thanks."

"I debated making breakfast, but I figured breakfast in bed isn't really a friend thing to do."

My cheeks burned. Were we really discussing acceptable boundaries as soon as I woke up?

"I did, however," he continued, a smirk tweaking at his lips. "Think that going out for breakfast would be a friend thing to do."

I grinned. "Are you forgetting the key thing about that?"

"What?"

"I don't particularly want to go out in public in my birthday suit. That would definitely not be a friend thing to do."

"Valid point," he said, laughing. "I guess it's a good job—" he bent down behind the sofa and plonked my bag down in front of me "—I got these then."

I gasped. "How did you get that?"

He grinned. "Ask no questions get told no lies."

I laughed. "But I am asking."

"Just be happy you got your clothes."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Hmmm. I will let it go—for now."

He smiled. "Good. Have you got plans for today?"

Right on cue, my phone started ringing. Luke's eyes locked onto mine. After a couple of seconds, he turned around and grabbed it from the coffee table.

"His majesty himself," he said, looking at the screen before passing it to me.

Nerves churned in my gut. Should I answer or let him sweat it out a bit longer? Whilst I deliberated, it rang off, giving me my choice.

Luke put it on the duvet next to me and took a swig of his drink. An awkward silence stretched between us as the elephant in the room became a depressing reality.

"I'll go and grab a shower real quick then I'll run you back to Marcus," he said, his voice resigned and dare I say almost pained.

On instinct, I reached out and grabbed his forearm before he could move. "I don't have any plans today," I said quietly.

His eyes flickered to my phone, saying what his words failed to.

"I told him I would talk to him when I'm ready and I meant it. He's going to suffer with this for a while yet."

A small smile tugged at his pink lips. "Are you sure?"

I snorted. "Err...yeah. He needn't think he's turning this around on me and getting away with it."

"I really hope we never fall out," he said, chuckling.

"Why's that?"

"I don't fancy being tortured hour after hour wondering if you're ever going to speak to me again."

I laughed. "Are you trying to tell me that I need to speak to him today?"

"No," he said, very quickly. "I think he deserves all the silent treatment you can give him. I'm just pleading my case in the event we ever argue."

I couldn't help but grin at him. A swell of heart bursting joy flowered inside me, suddenly making me really grateful that I had this guy in my life. "So where are you taking me for breakfast?"

"It's a surprise," he said. "Any chance I can book you for the whole day?"

I raised my eyebrows. "The whole day? I thought you had the rooms to do today?"

He flashed me a devilish grin. "I called in a favour from Joanna. She owes me plenty."

"Luke, bless her heart, she's a single mum."

"She doesn't have it as hard as what you think, Cat. Besides, the extra money will help her."

"Ok. What have you got in mind?"

He wiggled his eyebrows at me, then placed his hand over mine, still on his forearm. He squeezed it gently and gave me a warm smile. "Something that will make you smile for days to come."

"Ooo, this sounds interesting."

He took my hand from his arm, holding it in his warm hand for a few seconds before placing it on the duvet. "I'm going to head to the shower. I'll be as quick as I can."

I sipped at my tea, enjoying the sweet milky brew he'd thoughtfully made me this morning. He disappeared upstairs, leaving me alone with my thoughts, which right now, was a dangerous thing.

As much as I didn't want to admit this to myself, I found myself attracted to Luke and that attraction only grew the more I spent time with him. I realised then that uncertain times loomed ahead, and I had no idea what would happen.