Page 26 of This Bitter Sweet Temptation
“God, please. The smell’s helping.” She throws me a look from under her long lashes, her eyes almost purple in the dawn. “I’m grateful. Still disgusted you’re this functional, though, no lie.”
I shake my head.
“You’ll feel human once you’ve eaten and started moving around.” I finish off the toast, buttering it to perfection, then drape my apron over the nearest chair. “I thought we could talk over breakfast. It’s easier when there’s food.”
“Talk?” She gives me a skeptical look.
“We need to. Last night didn’t go down like I wanted, and I regret that. Let’s start over today, Miss Blackthorn, and sort this out.”
“I guess. You’re lucky that bacon smells like heaven.” She inhales sharply.
My lips turn up.
She says it like she hates admitting it.
“Is it possible to cook bacon any other way? Unless you burn it to hell and back,” I say, motioning to her as she stands. “Have a seat. I’ve got this.”
“I’m never up this early. I feel like death.”
She could’ve fooled me.
When she’s standing like this, bathed in soft sunlight, there’s no ignoring the woman she’s become. Her full breasts crowd the loose top she’s wearing, and it’s painfully clear she’s not wearing a bra.
My jaw clenches.
Do not look down, you asshole. Do not.
I do.
I wish like hell I’d had time to change after running. I turn around and shift my shorts, taking my sweet time plating up her portion, hoping to everything holy she doesn’t notice my hard-on.
What the hell is wrong with me?
Her ass must be enchanted. I feel bewitched.
An ugly side effect must be having the cheesiest pickup lines ever lodged in my brain. I’d rather eat a bowl of nails than say this shit out loud, much less keep thinking it.
She drops into the nearest seat at the large marble island and looks at me again. “I wasn’t expecting you to cook. Not in a million years.”
“Didn’t think you were. I’m a free agent. Not a damn robot programmed to carry out orders. I wanted to start this day right for both of us, so I went to work.”
This is an apology.
Hopefully, she accepts.
“I, um… right. I appreciate it.” She sounds like she’s fighting every word. “And I guess I’m sorry, too. For going off on you lastnight. I’m still a little sensitive with everything here and it’s not okay.”
My turn to be surprised.
“Thanks. We were both processing, I’m sure. I shouldn’t have pushed you so hard to figure it all out while you were digesting the news.”
“No. But I get why you did. I’m still kinda reeling.”
“It was a lot to take in. The old man loved his surprises.” I continue plating up. “Also, I like having a plan.”
“If you didn’t, I’d wonder if you were really Holden Verity.” She smiles. I can practically feel her staring at my back. “It must kill you not knowing what we’re going to do, huh? With Gramps, there was always a road map.”
We.
