He turns around, eyes flicking over me in that shirt, his mouth twitching like he’s trying not to smile.
“I am. Sit,” he says, like it’s an order.
“Cole, it’s six a.m.,” I say, rolling my eyes as I slide into the chair anyway.
“Yeah, and I have a ranch to run,” he grumbles. “But you need to eat and so do I.”
He sets a plate down in front of me, then a mug of coffee. It’s warm in my hands, comforting, and even warmer going down. He sits across from me, the table small, meant for two, like this space was always waiting for us.
“This looks so yummy,” I say with a huge smile, laughing a little.
“What’s funny?” he asks, taking a sip of his coffee.
He squints at me. “Wait… is that my shirt?”
“Oh look at that,” I say innocently, glancing down. “Here, you can have it back.”
I pull it up and off in one smooth motion and hand it to him, taking a bite of bacon like this is completely normal. I’m topless. He’s frozen.
Speechless.
“You,” I say, chewing, “cooking me breakfast. I did not see this coming.”
“Yeah,” he says slowly, shaking his head, “well, I didn’t see you eating breakfast with your tits out either, but here we are.”
I lose it. I laugh so hard I have to put my fork down, and he laughs too—real laughter, not the gruff half-smile he usually gives me. It feels easy. Too easy.
I shake my head, my smile softening. “What are we gonna do?”
He reaches across the table and grabs my hand, his thumb rubbing slow circles into my skin like he’s been doing it forever.
“We’re gonna have fun. Right?”
“Right,” I say, squeezing his hand back.
Then—
Bang. Bang. Bang.
“Is Cole in there with you?” John’s voice carries through the door. “He didn’t come home last night. I wouldn’t bother you, but I see the lights on. I know you’re up.”
Panic.
We both jump. I bolt for the bedroom, throw on the first dress I see, my heart racing. Cole’s pulling on his boots, trying not to laugh.
We’re both silently losing it.
“Back door,” I whisper. “Go out the back door, now, now.”
He grabs my face, kisses me quick and hard.
“It’s not like I want them to see us either!” he murmurs.
“Shut up,” I hiss, brows furrowed.
“I’m coming, John!” I yell, trying to sound normal as I rush to the door.
When I open it, I’m breathless.
