Angela’s head bobbed in agreement. “I should probably go back. I didn’t mean to barge in on your morning.”
“You think I’m bothered by that?” Jude asked.
She lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “It wasn’t the plan.”
“Where we’re concerned, there never needs to be a plan in order for you to come to me. If you need me, you let me know.”
Angela gave him a soft smile. “All I could think of was getting to you. I couldn’t figure out what to do.”
“I’m sorry if I haven’t helped you with that.”
“You have though,” Angela said, her expression earnest. “You’re right that Kiara and Julian made the decision that led to this situation, and it’s their responsibility to deal with it. I appreciate you just being here to listen to me as I had a meltdown.”
Angela's eyes locked with his, and something shifted in the air between them. Jude felt his heart rate quicken as she leaned toward him, her hands still clasped in his. The blanket slipped from one shoulder, and without thinking, he reached to adjust it over her sweater, his fingers brushing against her neck.
"Jude?" Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"Yeah?" His own voice sounded rough to his ears.
"Thank you for always being there for me."
“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
The morning light filtered through the windows, catching in her hair, illuminating her face despite the redness around her eyes.
He lifted his hand to her cheek, his thumb gently wiping away a lingering tear track. Her skin was soft beneath his calloused fingers, and she leaned into his touch.
“I really should go,” she murmured.
“Stay for breakfast with me,” he urged. “I have bacon.”
A smile brightened her face. “Do you think that will entice me?”
“I sure hope so,” Jude said with a wink. “It would me.”
“So the way to your heart is with bacon?”
“Or cinnamon buns.”
“Oh, I’ve already given you those. Does that mean I’ve made it to your heart?”
Jude lifted his brows. “Yes, it certainly does.”
Angela’s cheeks pinked as she gave him a shy smile. “Well, I wish I’d brought some for you this morning.”
“That’s okay. Let me make you some breakfast this time.”
“Okay. You’ve convinced me.”
Jude got to his feet, pulling her up with him. He wrapped his arms around her, cocooning her in the blanket.
For a moment, he just held her, then he placed a kiss on the top of her head. Releasing her, he said, “You can come sit at the counter and watch me cook, if you’d like.”
“I would like that,” Angela said. She took the blanket off her shoulders and laid it on the arm of the couch before following him to the kitchen area in the large open design.
“I was going to make some scrambled eggs for myself,” Jude said as he removed the container of eggs from the fridge. “Would you like some or do you prefer your eggs done another way?”
“Scrambled is fine,” she said. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
