“I felt really bad about leaving you last night in your condition.I hope you don’t mind.I thought you might need some food this morning.”She gestured to the pans on the stove.“There’s water on the table, and I have coffee, if you want it.”The smell of coffee and bacon registered as soon as she mentioned the coffee.
“I don’t mind.”With any other woman I might have, but not with Emma.I filed that to ponder later.I glanced at the table.A pitcher of water and glass sat there.I made a beeline for the table.I needed that water.I poured a glass and chugged it down.Nectar of the gods.I poured another one.Even better.I might survive the consequences of last night.
I turned so I could see her.“You didn’t have to do this.”She seemed completely at ease in the kitchen.That chef had trained her well.She moved effortlessly around as she cooked.There was something pleasurable about having her there.Emma fit in my kitchen as if it had been built for her.
“I wanted to.”
The aromas of bacon and coffee made me realize I actually felt hungry, even as my growling stomach reminded me.
And there it was—embarrassment and more than a dash of guilt.“Sorry about last night.”I shook my head.
Emma looked over her shoulder from where she stood at the stove.“For what?Having too much to drink?”
“That and falling asleep on you.”I’d finally remembered I passed out in her car.
“No worries.”She waved the spatula in the air and turned back to the pans on the stove.“I will say I was glad when you woke up enough to get from the car to your bed.You’re heavy.”
“I’m a man in his prime.”I mentally smacked my forehead.Damned ego.
“I didn’t say you weren’t, but you’re still heavy.”She flipped the bacon out of the pan onto the waiting paper towels.“I’m doing scrambled eggs or would you prefer them some other way.”
“Anything you cook will be fine.”I drank more water.“You mentioned coffee?”
“There sure is.”She spun from the stove, took a mug from the cabinet, poured the coffee, and brought it over to me.
“I didn’t mean for you to serve me.”
“Not a big deal, but only for today.I snooped around to find everything I needed for this feast.I know it was intrusive, and I’m sorry.”
I sipped my coffee and moaned as the rich brew slid down my throat.“You can snoop all you want.If you cook half as good as this coffee is, I’m set.”
Emma laughed and went back to the stove.Within a few minutes, eggs, bacon, and toast were set in front of me on plates I very rarely used.I usually grabbed take-out on my way home from work because I wasn’t much of a cook.
I picked up my fork and took a bite of the eggs.Delicious.Light and fluffy.Bacon crisp and the toast…perfection.
Emma surprised me at every turn.“Where did you learn to cook?”
“Remember?I told you I spent time in the kitchen with the family chef.She taught me very well, and I experimented a lot when I got out on my own.”
I nodded.She had told me that.“Do you like to cook?”There were a few things I could cook, but I preferred not to.
“Sometimes, but it’s hard to cook for one.”
I’d heard people say that something tasted so good, they practically licked the plate.I enjoyed a good meal, but that licking the plate thing never made sense.Until this morning.
“Emma, this was delicious.Thank you.”I stood and picked up my plate, then gestured to her plate.“Are you finished?”
“I am.I can clean up.”
“You cooked.I’ll clean up.”I grabbed her empty plate and carried both to the sink and rinsed them.
Emma picked up our mugs.“More coffee?”
“Yes, please.”I loaded our dirty breakfast plates and utensils into the dishwasher as she refilled the coffee cups.
I’d only brought a few women here, but none fit like Emma did.I was amazed at how comfortable I was with her in my home.
“Let’s sit in the family room,” I said as she walked toward the table.
