Page 76 of Perfection

“If you don’t like it, you don’t have to eat it,” York said.

The little girl turned her big eyes upward and gaped at him, her adoration clear. “Okay.”

He set two more plates on the table and sat. “The same goes for you.” He looked at Kindra. “I’m a huge breakfast fan myself, but I know not everyone is.”

The conversation tapered off as they ate. York watched them intensely, and Kindra seemed genuinely uncomfortable. He wondered why.

* * *

“It’s delicious. Thank you,” she said, peering at him through lowered lashes.

He nodded and shoveled forkfuls of scrambled eggs laced with Tabasco into his mouth. His manners were somewhat on the rough side. He ate with gusto, a look of sheer enjoyment on his face. The difference in GEI and Coder mannerisms was something she had not considered before. To be honest, she had not thought much about Coders at all. She watched him as unobtrusively as she could, fascinated.

There was no control, no censorship, no judgment—at least not at this moment. His attitude was contagious, and she slowly adopted more enthusiasm for the taste and texture of the food, all more richly flavored than what would have been produced in her kitchen. The eggs were fluffier, the bacon crisper, the orange juice sweeter. Even Brianna’s zeal increased until her food was gone.

Kindra followed his hand as he shook out more Tabasco. He caught her watching.

“It’s hot sauce. Would you like to try some?”

She sunk her teeth into her lip. “I’ve never…”

He used his knife to push some of the seasoned eggs onto his fork, then held it inches from her mouth. “Here. Taste.”

She hesitated. The idea of him feeding her was so shocking, she held his gaze. Something, though she didn’t know what, clicked inside her. It was a pleasant feeling. It was something like…freedom. She opened her mouth and took what he offered.

She chewed, then swallowed. Immediately, she coughed, grabbed the glass of juice, and drank. “Hot.” She fanned her lips.

“But good, eh?”

“Yes.” She nodded along with her hoarse whisper. It was an invigorating taste, even if her tongue burned. It made her feel quite alive—more than she’d ever felt before.

His gaze held hers as she licked her lips, drank, then licked them again. Abruptly, he stood and cleared the table.

“I want to go back to Mr. York’s house,” Brianna said. “He has so many cool things.”

Kindra looked to York. Good heavens, he’d had stuff everywhere. Who lived like that? Obviously, he did.

“You are going to stay here with Nanny Sally while we go to work,” Kindra told her daughter. “Just like any other day.”