Page 19 of Promises & Pumpkins (Haunted in Hazy Cove #1)

Harper

“Oh good. You’re awake,” Miles said, walking into his bedroom. I pulled the blanket up over me, realizing I was still half in my costume from the night before. “Good morning.”

“Good morning.” I hummed, taking the mug he offered me.

The strong, sweet scent of the coffee drifted toward me before my first sip, and I hugged the ceramic against my chest. “What time did you get back last night? Did we…?” I looked around the room for any evidence of scattered clothing and an evening I didn’t remember but should have. There was none.

Miles laughed, climbing back into bed and scooting up against me. “You don’t think you’d remember if we had sex last night, troublemaker?” He smirked, running his hand along the inside of my thigh in a way that reminded me I would definitely not have forgotten about a night with him.

“I don’t know. You might have to refresh my memory so we can be sure.

” I giggled when Miles leaned in and nuzzled his nose against my neck, snarling against my ear in a way that made goosebumps form on my skin.

I gasped when he gently bit down on my earlobe.

“Wait, wait. What if we wake up Maddie?” I whispered.

“We won’t if you’re quiet.” Miles took the mug he’d just given me, setting it on the nightstand next to the bed before he hovered over me.

Then he lifted one hand, bringing it to my side, and tickling me as he buried his face against my neck.

The gentle contrast of his lips and tongue along my jawline compared to the sharp jolt of being tickled was overwhelming, and I squealed, realizing the volume when he smirked.

“What are you guys doing?” Maddie asked from the doorway. Her voice was small and sleepy, and she held a well-loved bear cradled between her arm and her side.

I jumped back, pulling the blanket around me while Miles sat up. “Nothing,” I said too quickly. If she were any older, the suspicion would be impossible to avoid. As it was, she may already be suspicious that we were doing more than nothing.

Maddie scrunched her nose and looked at us for a minute before shrugging and letting her face return to its normal innocent, relaxed state. Either she believed me, or she didn’t care. “I’m hungry,” she announced.

“I guess you better go get her some breakfast,” I said, looking over at Miles who looked half torn between content and blocked.

“Why don’t you meet me down there, sweetheart?

I’ll be right there.” Miles didn’t have to say it twice.

Maddie nodded, turned around, and darted for the kitchen.

When he heard the barstool sliding across the tile, he wrapped his arm around me and pulled me against him.

“You’re really good with her,” he said, kissing my cheek twice before getting to my lips.

I hummed against his kiss. “I’m not,” I said between pecks. “Maybe I just like you.”

“Do you like me?” Miles asked, sitting up and flexing while the cocky smile on his face grew larger. Did I like him? I had insisted that I didn’t, but the butterflies in my stomach were strongly arguing against it. I nodded.

“Yeah. I think I do.” My cheeks warmed with each word and the more I was sure I was blushing, the more intently he stared.

“Well, that’s good, troublemaker. I think I like you too.” When he kissed me, I inhaled the restraint he held himself with. “Now what do you think about cereal?” Miles nodded toward the door and the hallway that led to an anxious little girl at the end of it.

I sat up, tucking my legs under me and shrugging. I reached for the closer-to-room-temperature coffee, and my stomach grumbled. “I like cereal too.”