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“It looks fantastic.” She took a seat at the table. “And I’m starving.” Cole poured her a cup of coffee before he sat across from her. “Thanks.” She smiled at him and shook her head with a small grin.
“What? Why are you shaking your head?”
“It’s nothing.” She chuckled a little as she cut a piece of pancake. “I’m just really surprised, is all. You don’t seem like the type of guy who cooks breakfast. Or really, cooks at all.” She popped the pancake in her mouth and Cole had to force himself to look away from her mouth.
It wasn’t the first time he’d heard something similar. “Well, I don’t know why the kind of men you know don’t cook, but I think it’s a pretty important skill to have.” He laughed. “Besides, working on the ranches in Australia, it kind of becomes a necessity. At least as far as backcountry cooking goes. And it doesn’t hurt with the ladies.”
“Well, I think it’s pretty awesome.” She took another bite and closed her eyes as she did so. “This is delicious, Cole. Really.”
“I’m glad you like it.” It was the truth; he was pleased that she was enjoying it. Despite the fact that Amber seemed to be having a full body experience with her breakfast, it was refreshing to cook for a woman who actually ate. Most of the women he’d cooked breakfast for just pushed the food around the plate while chugging their coffee. And that was after keeping them up all night.What kind of appetite would Amber have after a night together?
The thought slammed into him and he was glad he was sitting because there was no way he’d be able to hide the effect she was having on him. Amber was different, that was for sure, even if he couldn’t quite put his finger on what made her different. “Eat up,” he said in an effort to distract himself from his growing erection. “We have a big day today.”
She grinned at him. “Is that right?”
“It is. I spoke to Josie this morning and she gave me her list of things that need to be done, so we’re going to get started with some of the small stuff.”
“Like what?” Amber held a piece of bacon poised at her lips.
He tried not to look at her, but it was a losing battle. “The first thing we’re going to do is pull up some flooring.” It would be hard, dirty work. Nothing sexy about it at all. The perfect distraction. “Are you up for it?”
She chewed her bacon slowly before she shrugged. “Of course. And then later…”
Instantly, Cole’s mind raced with the possibilities forlater.
“There’s a sleigh ride.”
It took a moment for Cole to push aside a dozen or so dirty thoughts that filled his head and catch up with what she was saying. “A what?”
“A sleigh ride.” Amber repeated herself. “Although I don’t think there’s quite enough snow for it. Besides, you did say you’d go to the festival with me, didn’t you?”
He laughed. “I did. But I believe I said that I would pick the activities.”
Amber put a scoop of scrambled eggs on her plate and shrugged. “Well, just in case you forgot, I thought I’d help you out.” She nodded toward his mostly untouched plate of food. “You better eat something.” She winked. “We have a big day ahead of us.”
ChapterFive
“I’m so sorry, Amber.”
“It’s fine, really.” Amber paced the small hallway and examined the faded yellow linoleum. Cole had gone out to the garage to get tools. Whatever tools one required to pull up flooring. She really had no idea at all. The fact that she’d even agreed to help was almost laughable. No doubt Cole would regret asking her because she had absolutely no experience with such things.
“You’re really going to help Cole with the floor?”
“I guess I am.” She laughed as she walked to the open door and leaned against the doorjamb, where she could watch Cole in the detached garage. “Maybe I really am full of surprises.”
Josie didn’t even bother hiding her laughter on the other end of the line. “Right, Amber. I love you. But when I think of you, I do not think of someone full of surprises.”
Amber straightened up and frowned, despite the fact that her friend couldn’t see. “You never know,” she said. “I just might be.” Cole turned at that moment and smiled in her direction, sending her insides into some sort of somersault meltdown. “Remember, I told you I’m trying something new. I need a change.”
“And house renos are where it’s at, huh?”
“They might be.”
“Whatever.” Josie chuckled again. “But do me a favor, okay?”
“What’s that?”
“Keep my brother out of trouble while he’s there.”
