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Grant slid the toast onto a plate and dusted it with powdered sugar. After adding slices of bacon, he started paring down a large strawberry.
His father set an impressive omelet, golden-brown and stuffed with a hearty mixture of ham, spinach, mushrooms, and cheese, onto another plate.
“What the hell are you doing to that strawberry?” Edward pulled his heavy eyebrows together and picked up his mug.
Grant frowned at the mangled berry on the cutting board. “Rory asked if I knew how to make a strawberry flower.”
“You couldn’t just tell her no?”
The kitchen door opened. “I had to eat an apple gummy worm as an appetizer.”
Rory entered, a disheveled beauty in slouchy sweatpants and a T-shirt that saidBack That Thing Up. Under any other circumstances, Grant would have crossed the room to kiss her, but with his father here, everything inside him locked down.
“Oh, morning, Edward.” She paused and gave him a little wave. “Didn’t realize you were here.”
“Didn’t realize gummy worms were a suitable food first thing in the morning.” He took another sip of coffee. “Or ever.”
“They’re not.” Grant set the plates on the counter and gestured for Rory to sit down. “Which is why she’s had to supplement them with nutritional paste.”
“Only in times of need.” She hitched herself onto a stool and picked up a fork. “This looks amazing.”
“My father made the omelet.” Grant added two sugars to a cup of coffee and set it in front of her. “A hidden talent.”
“I have a few.” Edward picked up a knife and plucked a large strawberry from the box. With a few flicks of the blade, he turned the strawberry into a perfect little rose.
“I’ll be damned.” Grant shook his head in amused surprise. “Did you learn how to do that at the diner?”
“No.” Edward presented the rose to Rory, who took it with a smile. “Since your mother was supporting us after I quit working there, I made breakfast every day. Roses were always Joanna’s favorite flower, but for years we couldn’t afford them. So I learned how to make them out of strawberries.”
“That is very sweet.” Rory gave Edward an“I’d never have guessed”look. “No wonder you’ve been married for so long.”
“I’d be nothing without her.” Edward glanced at the wall clock and poured another cup of coffee. “I’ll go see if she’s up. Leave the food out. I’ll make her breakfast this morning.”
After he’d left the kitchen, Rory hooked her leg around Grant’s thighs and pulled him closer. He bent his head to kiss her. His blood heated.
“Was that progress?” She rubbed his chest.
“I don’t know.” He ran his hand through her hair. Something loosened inside him, though he knew that had more to do with Rory than his father.
Still, a week ago, he’d never have imagined his father setting foot in the tavern kitchen, much less cooking here. If that was progress, then Grant would take it.
