“Yep. Is that okay?”
“Yes, baby. You can eat whenever you want. Is there a specific time you like to have breakfast?”
“Maybe like eight? But I don’t want anyone to go out of their way for me. I can manage.”
I shake my head. “Gretchen is in her element, and that extends to breakfast, too. She cooks a full spread every morning, but if you have specific preferences, just let her know. I’m sure she’ll get things rolling in the kitchen soon.”
“I’m easy, but I feel weird wandering into the kitchen and being waited on.”
“You’ll get used to it, baby. I’ll go with you today. I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable. It’s your home now.”
Her face falls. “Right… Do you think the sheriff is going to find prints on that package?”
“I don’t know. I’ll call him this morning. Dallas is going to spend more time going through your Ring doorbell footage, too.”
“I hate that he didn’t find anything yesterday. If someone walked up to my mailbox and stole a package, that would be on the system.”
“I know. He’ll look again. He was frustrated yesterday. He thinks he missed something.”
Melody sighs. “I’ll talk to my assistant and get the routing information. Maybe that will help?”
“Definitely.” I kiss her one more time, then reluctantly stand and pull her to her feet. “Get dressed. I’ll bring coffee.”
I back out of the room. When did I become such a sap that I don’t even want to leave my woman to go to the kitchen?
After jogging down the steps, I emerge to find Gretchen already at work. She smiles. “Coffee?”
“Thank you. I’m going to take a cup up to Melody. She’ll come down in a few hours to eat.” I head to the fridge, open the door, grab the creamer, and fix my girl her caffeine fix.
“Tell her to let me know if there’s anything specific she likes to eat in the morning. Yogurt? Granola? Hot meals? Whatever she needs, I’ll make sure to have it for her.”
“Thank you, Gretchen. It means a lot to us that you’re here.”
“I’m just so glad this house is filling with young people in love. The mansion is coming out of a deep sleep. Soon it will be fully alive.”
“You’re a gem among gems.” I fill my own cup and take both upstairs.
Melody is already at her desk. I come toward her from the side and set her coffee near her elbow, not wanting her to think I’m snooping. I can’t see her screen.
She grabs the mug and takes a sip. “Perfect. Thank you.”
What’s perfect is my girl. She’s wearing a white tank top that doesn’t quite hide her white bra. Her gorgeous hair is in a messy bun on top of her head. Various notebooks and sticky notes have taken up residence on the desk. She looks ready to roll. When I entered, she was already intently staring at the screen with her mouse in hand.
“You’ve got your phone, right?”
She picks it up from next to her and gives it a shake. “My boyfriend even charged it for me overnight.”
I grin. “Text or call if you need me. I’ll be back in a few hours to go to breakfast with you.”
She turns back to her screen, waving dismissively at me.
After eating, I escort my girl back to her office and then join Dallas downstairs in one of the rooms he’s claiming as his own office. The door is open, so I step inside, but hesitate because Arianna is with him. He’s sitting at the desk, and she’s standing between his legs.
“Sorry. I’ll come back,” I say as I turn around.
“No, stay,” Arianna calls out. “I’m leaving. As soon as this neanderthal finishes lecturing me about library safety.”
Dallas growls. “Baby, with that attitude, you’ll end up standing all day because your bottom will be too sore to sit on that cute stool behind the checkout counter.”
