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“Yes!” she yelled.
“You can have pickles when you get home from school. Right now, you need to finish your breakfast so you can go get dressed or you’ll be late.”
“This omelet is delicious, Andrew,” Skye said. It rivaled her Monday morning omelet at the Kitchen. Only thing missing was the buttered biscuits.
He blushed. “Thank you, Miss Skylar,” he said to his plate.
She’d met Everly’s manny when she’d come down to the kitchen, intending to make a cup of coffee. He had facial features associated with Down Syndrome and had a sweet personality. While her coffee brewed, he’d explained in detail and with pride in his voice what his duties were. He was a charming young man, and she liked him immensely.
They were seated around the large kitchen island, and it surprised her that she didn’t feel like she was crashing the party. The family—and it was apparent that the Churches thought of Andrew as family—made her feel as if she belonged here at breakfast with them.
Everly dropped her fork, then threw her hands in the air. “Done!”
“Good job, kiddo.” Parker stood. “Let’s go get you ready for school.”
“I go to kindergarten, Miss Skylar. Next year I go to the big girl’s school. Daddy said when I go to the big girl’s school I can take my lunch, and he’ll put pickles in it.”
The girl was adorable. “Well, that sure is exciting.”
When Skye picked up her plate to carry it to the sink, Andrew vehemently shook his head. “That’s my job, Miss Skylar.”
“Give him your plate. He takes his job seriously,” Tristan whispered in her ear.
How had he sneaked up on her like that? His warm breath caressed her skin, sending a shiver through her. His lips were so close to hers that she’d only have to turn a little for her mouth to touch his.
“Can I have your plate?” Andrew said.
She tore her gaze away from Tristan’s mouth. “Here you go. Thank you, Andrew. Your omelet was as good as Katie’s at the Kitchen.”
He blushed again. “Miss Katie taught me how to make it.”
“Well, you were obviously a great student.” The people in this town really did take care of each other.
His smile was beautiful. “I can make it for you again.”
“I’d love that.”
“She means another day, Andrew,” Tristan said when Andrew headed for the refrigerator.
“Oh, when?”
“We don’t know. I’ll tell you when Miss Skylar will be at breakfast again.”
Everly’s cat came flying through the doggie door, followed by Fuzz. They raced past, disappearing from sight. “He’s not going to eat the cat, is he?”
“He hasn’t so far.” Tristan laughed. “If you could see your face. I’m kidding. They do this every morning. They’re working off all the energy they stored up overnight. Watch.”
Half a minute later, the two animals sped by—except the cat was now chasing Fuzz—and blew back out the doggie door. “They’re hilarious.”
“They’re clowns, is what they are.” He took her hand. “Come. While we’re waiting for Parker to get back, I’ll tell you what Mason had to say.”
“Isn’t this Parker and Everly’s rooms?” she said as they walked down a hallway. “I don’t want him to think I’m invading his space.”
“Yep. We’ll talk in his office since he’ll be joining us,” he said as he opened the door to one of the rooms.
A beautiful mahogany desk sat in front of a wall of windows, and a distressed brown leather sofa was against the wall. Instead of sitting in the two chairs in front of the desk, Tristan led her to the sofa. He waited for her to sit, then he sat next to her.
“Did I tell you how much I liked seeing you in my bed when I got home last night?” He took her hand again and linked their fingers.
