Inodded and attempted to mask any disappointment from showing through my expression.Wasshe eager to get out of here?
“Coffee?”Ioffered and pointed to the machine.Whydid my voice sound so off this morning and unlike my own?
“Sure.”
AfterIpoured her a cup, adding a splash of milk as she requested,Iasked, “Howabout breakfast?”
Shetipped her head. “Doyou have time?Youmentioned you had to work today.”
Ihad indeed told her that as we chatted last night.
“Ido, but we both need to eat.Istill have an hour or so untilIstart my shift.”
“Okay.”
“Great.Enjoyyour coffee.”
“Andthe view.”Shestepped over to the picture window. “It’sbreathtaking.”
Sowas the vision of her before it.Idrew in a deep breath, turned, and tried to focus on what to make.
ButasIstood in the kitchen gaping at the fridge likeI’dnever seen it before, my mind raced.Shewas my mate, and she was leaving my cabin after breakfast.
Itried to shake off the nerves and focus on making scrambled eggs and toast.Sweatformed on my forehead.ShouldIask her to stay here in the mountains longer?
Ofcourse not.Webarely knew each other.Shehad a daughter and a job awaiting her and couldn’t drop everything because my world had been turned upside-down by a discovery she wouldn’t even comprehend.Shewas a witch, not a shifter.Shewouldn’t feel the mate bond the wayIdid.Ifumbled with the spatula, trying to act likeIknew whatIwas doing.Instead,Iended up burning both eggs and toast, and smoke filled the cabin.
Great.AsIaired out the cabin, swishing a dish towel to escort the smoke outside faster, she grabbed another towel and aided in the process.Talkabout killing the mood.
Oncethe kitchen was cleared of smoke,Cassandratilted her head and stared at me. “Iseverything okay,Valen?”
“Everything’sfine,”Ireplied, trying to sound unfettered but heard the strange, higher lilt in my tone that signaled everything was far from fine.
Iattempted to salvage breakfast with a new round of eggs, but the stench of burned toast was not appetizing.Igrabbed a dish towel and tried to brush out the lingering smoke.
Cassandragasped. “Itcaught fire!”
Thesudden sight of flames bursting from the end shocked me.Ilet out a shrill sound of surprise.
Damn, this morning grew worse by the minute.Howcapable wouldCassandrafind a man was who almost burned down his cabin while trying to cook a simple breakfast?
Humiliationgrew like gnawing hunger.Whatthe ever-loving twin peaks was wrong with me?Ithrew the dish towel outside into the snow to douse the flames.WhenIreturned inside, my cheeks were as hot as the flames.
“Didyou get burned?”Cassandraasked with concern in her eyes.
“No.”Iavoided eye contact, feeling as clumsy as a newbie on a bunny hill who crossed his skis and fell on his ass.
HowcouldIeven think about a potential future with this woman whenIcouldn’t even get us through breakfast without looking incompetent?
CASSANDRA
Whatthe magical stardust happened between last night and this morning?Valenwas nothing like the charismatic shifterI’dspent time with this weekend.Whywas he acting so strange?Thesmell of burned food lingered in the cabin, and it was cold after he’d opened the doors to let out the smoke.
Heset a plate of unburned eggs and toast, which he managed after the disastrous first attempt. “Idon’t usually set things on fire whenIcook.”Hegave me a sheepish look.
“Don’tworry about it.”Igrinned. “Weall have kitchen mishaps.”
“Didyou sleep okay?” he asked as he sat at the table.
