She could begin showing her appreciation by getting out of bed and making him a cooked breakfast before they started their day. It would soon be time for the pair of them to set off to work, she realised as she glanced at her phone screen. Gasping in shock at the lateness of the time, she quickly got up, showered and dressed then ran downstairs to get there before he did. She heard him humming to himself before she was halfway down the hallway.
‘Why are you up already?’ she asked, not expecting him to have got down before her and hoping it didn’t have anything to do with her telling him how nervous she was about the job he did. She also couldn’t help feeling a little disappointed that her plan to do something nice for him had been quashed. Clearly Joe had had the same idea as she had done. ‘Did you sleep OK?’
‘I did,’ he replied as he cooked. ‘You?’
‘Sort of,’ she said, not admitting to spending the night going over and over how exciting it had been getting closer to him. ‘I’m sorry about the way I acted last night.’
He stopped and turned to her. ‘You’re not sorry about what happened between us, I hope?’
‘What? No, not that. That was nice.’
He gave her a cheeky grin. ‘Nice?’
‘Stop it, Joe. You know what I mean.’ She cringed. ‘I meant what I said about your job.’
‘Ah, that.’ He turned back to the cooker and continued what he was doing. ‘Do you still feel that way?’
‘Yes, it’s a concern of mine. But I’m trying to reconsider after what you said about life itself being full of risks.’
‘I’m glad.’
‘Anyway,’ she said, wanting to change the subject. ‘I was going to cook for you this morning.’
‘Don’t let me stop you.’ Joe turned, holding the pan in one hand and a spatula in the other. ‘Want to take over?’
Amused to see him wearing one of Lindy’s aprons, she grinned and pulled out a chair, quickly sitting down on it. ‘No, you seem to be doing well. I’m happy for you to feed me.’
‘Damn, I should have waited in bed for a bit longer before getting up.’ He smiled over his shoulder. ‘I won’t make that mistake twice.’
‘What’s the plan for today?’ she said, changing the subject. ‘The usual?’
‘That’s right.’ He cracked a couple of eggs into the pan next to the bacon and Skye was transfixed by his muscles moving as he did. ‘How many?’
Taken off guard for a moment and unsure what he meant, she had to think back to what he had been saying. He looked over his shoulder at her again. ‘You OK?’
‘Sorry, I was miles away.’
‘Everything all right?’
‘Yes, just not quite fully awake yet probably. Sorry, what did you want to know?’
‘One egg or two?’
‘Oh, just the one for me, thanks.’
Having cooked her egg, Joe served their food. Skye thanked him and began eating, relishing every peaceful moment alone with him.
Skye finished her food and leant back in her chair, her hands resting on her full stomach. ‘That was delicious, thank you.’
‘I’m glad you enjoyed it,’ Joe said, putting the last forkful of food in his mouth.
‘Do you enjoy cooking? You seem relaxed doing it and certainly know what you’re doing.’
She couldn’t help thinking that wasn’t all he knew about. Then catching him watching her, wondered if he was confused or simply embarrassed by her double entendre.
Skye took his empty plate with hers to the sink and began washing up, hoping he didn’t notice how pink her cheeks had become. She turned on the hot tap and squirted some washing-up liquid into the bowl, swirling the water around to foam it up.
Skye sensed an atmosphere between them. She turned slightly to look at him. ‘Something wrong?’
