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She watched the way the muscles flexed in his arm as he flipped the last pancake on the griddle and glanced at her. “It’s been a while since I’ve taken any time away from the ranch. I can do with a break.”
She put cream and sugar in her coffee. “It’s been a hell of a month.”
He picked up his own mug. “It’s not over.”
“Tell me about it.” She took a sip of coffee. “Thankfully, I planned to take a few days off so I won’t be missed at my salon and spa. As long as we’re not stranded longer than four days, everything will be fine.”
He slipped the spatula under the last pancake and put it on top of the stack before lowering the dome. He switched off the heat and flashed her his adorable grin. “So, you were planning on being here for a while anyway. I’m just a bonus.”
Charlee laughed. “That seems to be the case.” She tilted her head to the side. “I think a nice bonus.”
His grin broadened. “I’ll take it as you having forgiven me for all the years of teasing you.”
She rolled her eyes. “As if.”
He laughed. “I bet your businesses are busy for the holidays.”
“Oh, yes.” She nodded. “Christmas hair styles for parties all month, right down to Christmas Eve Day. Then after Christmas comes the New Year’s parties. My employees get Christmas Day off and the next three days after that.”
“Do they mind working right up to Christmas Day?” he asked.
She considered his question. “They do know when they’re hired that they might be working holidays, or in the case of Christmas, the day before. That’s a high-demand time and our clientele would have to go someplace else if we weren’t open. We are in business to serve our clients, and that’s what we do.”
“But you’re the boss,” he said with a smile.
“You bet.” She returned his smile. “I don’t style hair anymore and my managers are stylists.” Her smile was harder to keep fixed on her face. “And this year I just needed to get away.”
“I hope you’re hungry,” he said, “because we havea lotof food here. How much do you want?”
“I’m starving. I’ll take three pancakes and three sausage links.” She reached into a cabinet and brought out two plates that she set on the counter near the pancakes and sausages.
He pulled a couple of forks out of the silverware drawer, then filled two plates and put them on the placemats on the breakfast bar, along with the forks. Charlee grabbed a couple of napkins and Ace took care of the hot maple syrup. Coffee mugs were delivered to their place settings as well.
Charlee climbed onto a stool and Ace slid onto the one next to her. His shoulder brushed hers and warmth flowed through her as he spread butter on his pancakes and poured syrup over it and his sausages.
“You’re one ofthose,” she said with a laugh. “Maple syrup on sausages.”
“Don’t knock it till you try it.” He cut into his stack of five pancakes and took a huge bite.
“I have, and I say yuck.” She happily jabbed at a syrup-free sausage on her plate.
He chewed and swallowed as he shook his head and grinned. “That’s settled. We’re not compatible after all.”
Charlee laughed. “Who ever said we were?”
He cut a piece of sausage with his fork. “I’ve known we’re compatible from the day we met.”
She snorted. “What, I was all of eight. And you were ten or something?”
“Or something.” He smiled. “I guess I can get past the maple sausage thing.”
“Ha.Ican’t.” She shook her head. “How are things at your ranch?”
“Keeping the place going.” He shrugged. “You’ll have to stop by sometime, and I’ll show you around my not-so-organized place.”
She laughed. “I’d love to.”
“After all, I have my big brothers to look up to as examples.”
