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Jeff yawned and stretched, squinting as sunlight filtering in through the windows hit his eyes. He had never been much of a morning person.
He pushed the blanket off and swung his legs around to the side of the bed. Yawning again, he rose and started walking toward the hallway. Jack jumped off the foot of the bed, where he'd been curled up, and went after him.
The young man passed by the guest room, the door of which was open. His peripheral vision caught a hint of a mess in the bed when he remembered that Ashley had spent the night.
She was anything but a mess... The pretty blonde had stopped by unexpectedly after her signing - which, unfortunately, she'd had to share with his brother - her ex-boyfriend. She'd told him all about that experience, not leaving out the fight they'd had after all the fans had cleared out of Best Buy.
Jeff ran a hand over his face as he stood there in the doorway of the guest room. His gaze traveled to the bed again, where Ashley lay still asleep amid the black blanket and black-cased pillows. She was on her back, her head slightly turned, shaggy blonde, black and pink hair mussed. Her right arm was outstretched a little, as though reaching for something or someone beside her. One of her small, dainty, pink-toenail-polished feet was exposed, not covered by the blanket. She looked so tiny and angelic in her sleep, and Jeff couldn't imagine how, in nearly three years of knowing her, their relationship had merely been in passing, and because of Matt.
Well, the friendship they had so recently forged actually was because of Matt. If not for him and his stupid cryptic comments, he and Ash might have never really spoken. He supposed that, for that one key thing, he was grateful toward his brother.
He was still standing there a moment later when the blonde began to awaken. She gave a little stretch, her right hand going to her face as she rubbed her eyes.
"Jeff?"
The rainbow-haired warrior came back to his senses. Clearing his throat, he issued a greeting to her.
"Mornin', Ash."
She yawned, one hand going to the side of her mouth. Then, she sat up and pushed the blanket aside as Jeff's cute little dog ran over and up onto the bed.
"Hello, Jack," she sang cheerfully. She pet him and bent forward as the dog licked her face. She laughed.
The young man stood there and watched the scene in silence. It was pretty cute to see his dog and the diva getting along so well. He suddenly realized she still hadn't said good morning back to him, and it stung a little. He ignored that, but couldn't do the same with his hunger as his stomach growled.
Finally, the blonde stepped onto the floor and got up to make her way into the hall. Jack was right at her heels.
"Good morning," she said as she smiled up at Jeff. "Thanks again for letting me crash here, by the way."
"Anytime," the younger Hardy said, "and you don't need to thank me." He stared at her for a beat. "C'mon, let's have some breakfast. I'm starved."
"Sounds good to me."
Ashley followed the young man through the house until they reached the kitchen. She lowered herself into a chair and propped her elbows onto the table, her hands covering her eyes.
"Still sleepy?" he questioned as he opened the refrigerator door.
She shook her head.
"Nah. Well, just a little. It's funny, though - I really had a great sleep. That bed is so comfortable."
Jeff had his head inside the fridge as he searched for something for them to eat while his ass was the only part of him visible to her. The little blonde laughed.
He came up with an egg in his hand.
"What?" he asked, completely guileless as to the reason for her laughter.
Ashley waved him off with one hand.
"It's nothing... It was just that I was talking to you, but all I could see of you was your ass!"
"Oh." For some reason, the young man was slightly embarrassed.
"Don't worry," the blonde quipped, "it's a very nice ass." She giggled girlishly as she studied his facial expression.
Jeff smirked, then smiled. He even let out a small chuckle of his own before thanking her.
"So," he went on, "scrambled eggs sound okay to you?"
She nodded, licking her lips.
"Sounds great to me. It's quick and easy, and I bet you're a good cook," she said.
"Well," Jeff said, cocking his head to one side, "not the best... But I do okay."
The blonde rested her chin on her hands and watched with amusement as he puttered around his kitchen. It felt quite nice to be domestic, for a change. She was enjoying spending time with him, getting to really know him as a friend. He was pretty much the exact opposite of his brother, and for some reason, she found herself eternally grateful for that.
She smiled as she felt Jack suddenly tickle her feet, realizing he was licking her! She bent over to pet him, enjoying herself for the first time in days.
A few minutes later, Jeff had breakfast done and ready to serve. He turned to see Ashley playing with his dog again and smiled. For some reason unknown to him, it felt as though this wasn't going to be their first breakfast ever together here in his house. Spending time with her felt so natural and nice.
Ashley suddenly looked up and realized Jeff had placed a plate on the table before her.
"Yay!" she exclaimed, a bright smile adorning her pretty face. She bounded up to wash her hands before returning to the table.
The young man smiled at her, his gaze not leaving her - not even as he fed Jack a minute later.