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He noticed. “You’re staring.”

“I’m making sure they’re still the best pancakes in Manhattan.”

He took another bite, considering it with exaggerated seriousness. “They’re acceptable.”

“Acceptable?”

“I don’t want this place becoming overconfident.”

Claire stole a bite from the edge of his stack.

“Hey.”

“I’m conducting independent research.”

“You have your own breakfast.”

“Yes, but yours is relevant to the itinerary.”

Noah leaned back. “There’s an itinerary?”

“No.”

“Claire.”

She reached for her coffee. “There may be a loose sequence of events.”

“Is it color-coded?”

“That is irrelevant.”

His grin widened. “It is.”

Despite his teasing, he ate every bite of breakfast. When the check arrived, he reached for it automatically.

Claire grabbed it first. “No.”

“Claire.”

“Today, I’m taking care of you.”

“You bought the coffee.”

“And now I’m buying breakfast.”

“I can pay for our pancakes.”

“I’m aware. That is not the point. You will probably pay for every other pancake we have the rest of our lives. Let me have this.”

Noah studied her for a moment before releasing the check. “Fine.”

Claire narrowed her eyes. “That was suspiciously easy.”

“I’m learning to accept care.”

She stared at him.

He smiled. “A wise man once said it wasn’t a weakness to let somebody take care of you.”