She cracked the eggs on the side of the bowl, careful not to get any eggshell in the bowl, whisked them, added a generous handful of cheese and a dash of pepper. A bit of red, green, and orange peppers, along with a few mushrooms, would make for a hearty breakfast.
In the process of flipping the bacon over in the skillet, careful not to splatter the grease, her mouth dropped open as Callan pushed aside the mesh curtain and stepped inside the van, filling the space.
His hair was wet and slicked back, his skin glistened with a few remaining water droplets, the scent of freshly cut grass and citrus mingled with the breakfast smells. A towel hung low across his hips, an amused smile played on his lips as he caught her staring. When he winked at her, she narrowed her eyes.
“You’re dripping on the floor. I wouldn’t want you to slip and break a leg,” she said sweetly.
“Ye look like you’ve seen a ghost, lass,” he teased. “Or is it the sight of my fine self that has you all aflutter?”
Daisy rolled her eyes, though her cheeks burned.
“Keep dreaming, Highlander. I was just thinking about how you might need a second shower after you try my omelet.” Then she took a large spoonful of candied jalapeños and added them to the bowl, along with the shredded cheese.
He pulled the curtain across the space, dividing the front of the van where she was cooking from the back so he could dress without her drooling. Though he was only a few feet away, she was close enough to hear him, making her feel all shivery inside.
When he pushed the curtain back, securing it, she looked him up and down as he stood there, one perfect brow arched.
The jeans looked like they’d been made for him, the black tee stretched across broad shoulders.
“Ye like what ye see, lass? Whilst I am happy to stand here as long as ye wish, I think the bacon is burning.”
The guy had the nerve to smirk as she quickly removed the bacon from the pan. It was crispy but thankfully not burnt, much to Frankie’s disappointment.
Before she could say something snarky, he was standing close enough she felt his breath on her bare neck. As she slid the omelets onto the plates along with the bacon, he grabbed the silverware, napkins, and their coffee.
“Enjoy.” She joined him at the small table, their knees bumping as they sat across from each other.
Callan took a hearty bite. “It’s delicious,” he said before his face changed and he fanned his mouth. When he jumped up to grab a bottle of water from the cooler they’d brought to keep extra water and other beverages in, she laughed out loud.
“A bit hot?”
“Saints. What did ye put in here, fire?”
“Cowboy candy.” At his blank look, she elaborated. “Candied jalapeño peppers. They’re even better in chili or on top of hot dogs.”
When they finished eating, Callan cleaned up. Happy to let him keep things neat and tidy, she let Frankie out once more before they got back on the road. Who would have thought a man who claimed to be from the 14th century would be such a neat freak?
By the time they’d packed up, several of the other campers had already left.
The keys jingled in the breeze as she held out her hand, hoping she wouldn’t regret the offer she was about to make. If he really was from the past, driving should be hard for him, because what modern guy nowadays didn’t drive?
The truth was, Daisy kept looking for small ways to test him, to see if he was telling the truth or if he really was suffering from amnesia or something else.
“Ready to try driving?” The look of nervous excitement on his face had her relaxing just a bit.
“Aye, it canna be so different from riding a horse, can it?”
“We’ll see.” She rolled her eyes. “Thank goodness I have good insurance.”
The empty lotfor the metal carriages beckoned as she maneuvered the van into the very center of the wide open expanse of concrete.
The scent of dew on the grass at the edge of the concrete filled his nose as he relished the feel of the sun on his skin.
With a deep breath, he accepted the keys, climbing into the driving seat.
“What do I do after I start the beast?” His voice was uncertain, his focus intense as he turned the key in the ignition. The engine rumbled to life, a gentle purr that seemed friendly enough.
“Put it in drive.” She pointed to the lever. “And gently step on the gas, the pedal on the right.”
