“Apology accepted.” He sent me a sideways smile. “We’re sleepin’ in tomorrow.”
I smiled back. “How about I wake you up with pancakes?”
He furrowed his brow. “How’re you gonna make pancakes?”
“Didn’t you see the freeze-dried eggs?” I asked. “And there’s powdered milk.”
“Delicious. All right, chef. I’m all yours.”
Ugh, that would be nice.
He went back to work on the insect netting, and I asked how he was going to attach it.
“ABDT,” was his clever response.
“Huh?”
“Always bring duct tape.”
Oh. I snorted softly.
This was…a little too nice. Cozy.Fun.
James and I worked in silence. We sat on the floor, leaning against our beds, eating our bread and preserves, and sorted through the puzzle pieces. He went for the border, and I made sure all the pieces were facing up.
The artwork on the box was very pretty. It was a painting of some old town in Germany.
I took a sip of my honey water and found a corner piece, and I extended it to him.
He took it and placed it with the other two he’d found.
We were supposed to sleep, but he was the one who’d wanted to get started on his puzzle.
I yawned and finished my last piece of bread.
“By the way, I would like to steal this hoodie from you,” I said. “May I? It’s absurdly soft.”
He glanced over at me. “Thieves usually don’t ask. You’re a horrible criminal.”
I laughed.
He dropped his gaze to the puzzle again. “Keep it. It looks better on you.”
Aw, shucks. Because I was all but drowning in it?
“But that gives me pancakes all week,” he added.
“Deal,” I chuckled.
With the last puzzle piece turned, I sat back and enjoyed the moment. I was getting sleepy, but I was in no rush to leave my spot. I was finally warm again, and I had James to watch.
As unwise as it might be, I wanted him. Even if there was no date or anything serious at the end of the road, I wanted to see if I stood a chance.
The question now was, could I seduce him?
CHAPTER 6
James Hyatt
