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I looked at the dining room table and just now noticed the stack of pancakes, carafe of orange juice, jug of milk, scrambled eggs, a bowl of fresh strawberries, and even some home fries. I knew my expression was probably shocked as hell when I looked back at her.
“I hope it’s okay that I’m here early and made breakfast?” She brought the bacon over to the table and set it down, smiling at me.
“Where the hell did you find all this?” I hadn’t meant to say it like that, and I was about to apologize for the gruff tone, but her chuckle had me feeling a little bit lighter, clearly showing me she wasn’t easily offended.
I walked over and sat down, looking at the spread. Jax and Charlie were going to fall to their knees and worship her for feeding them.
“On the way here, I saw a little farmer’s market being set up. I was surprised it was open this early, but they had fresh eggs and oranges, even the potatoes. That’s all I planned on making, but I ended up stopping at Randall’s Quick-N-Go. And you know how early they open. Got some pancake mix, a gallon of milk, and then of course the bacon.”
I’d given her a week’s-worth allowance for food and cleaning supplies if she needed it. I hadn’t expected her to use it this soon, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t damn impressed and excited she had.
“I’ll do a proper grocery haul and cleaning supply run later this week, but I figured a nice full breakfast would be a nice good to the week.”
I looked up and saw her smiling. Damn, she looked good with a smile. “Hell, I think I’ve just fallen in love with you.” I hadn’t meant to say that out loud, and as I watched her cheeks turn pink, I realized I probably embarrassed the fuck out of her. I mumbled my apologies and pointed to the chair across from me. “Please, sit down and join me. Because once Jax and Charlie come in, there won’t be any food left.” That was the damn truth. Those boys had a bigger appetite than I did.
She nodded slowly and sat down, looking at the food. I could see the pride on her face. Hell, could she see how happy I was in this moment?
“I haven’t had a home-cooked meal in… hell, I don’t even know.” I started digging in, throwing food on my plate like I hadn’t seen a meal in too fucking long. I was about to put a piece of bacon in my mouth but stopped mid-bite and looked at her, realizing I should’ve been a gentleman and let her start eating first. She was watching me with this little smirk on her face. “Sorry,” I mumbled.
She shook her head and held up her hands. “Oh don’t be sorry. I’m glad you’re excited about breakfast. And I actually really enjoyed making it. I haven’t cooked like this since…” She cleared her throat and shifted on the chair, and I could see whatever she thought about hit a little too close to home. “I haven’t cooked like this since I lived at the ranch with my dad. It’s really nice to be able to prepare meals for people again.”
That tugged at my heart, and I cleared my throat, a part of me wanting to go to her and pull her off the chair, to pull her in for an embrace. I didn’t know why that feeling overcame me like it did, but I didn’t do it, because I didn’t want to look like a fucking creep.
But the truth was, not going to her seemed so fucking wrong.
It felt abhorrent.
I set the bacon down and waited for her to get some food. I watched as she reached for a strawberry, brought that big, red berry to her mouth, and took a bite of the plump flesh. I was transfixed as her straight, white teeth sunk into the fruit, her pretty pink lips forming around the roundness of it, and all I could think about was running my tongue over that little drop of juice that started to slip along her bottom lip. She pulled the strawberry away and ran her tongue over her lip, getting that little bead of sweetness. I had to hold in my fucking groan of pleasure at the sight. She was starting out the dining room window, and thank fuck for that, because I had no doubt I looked positively feral right now as I stared at her.
Fuck, man. Keep your shit together.
It was only when she continued eating her breakfast that I did the same. I focused on the food and not the images of her eating that damn strawberry. Because as it was, I was already starting to get a fucking hard-on.
