“Is your brother still asleep?”
Shaking her head, Capri said, “That man never sleeps. I actually haven’t seen him since I’ve been up. He’s either outside fixing something that isn’t broken or in the basement gym, working out. I’ll call later to see what you guys are up to,” she said, swinging her bag over her shoulder.
After they said their goodbyes, Capri was out the door, and Nahla was organizing the groceries. Once she had everything put away, she decided to make breakfast for Cannon. Capri said it was his favorite meal of the day, and after he’d saved her twice already, Nahla figured it was the least she could do.
It took her about thirty minutes to finish up, but when she looked at the spread she’d created, Nahla realized she may have overdone it. Deciding to eat while she waited for Cannon to grace her with his presence, she looked around, trying to rememberwhere she had seen plates. Just as she remembered, Cannon strolled through the kitchen entrance.
She unintentionally tucked her lip between her teeth as she gave him a once-over. He was rocking a white T-shirt, gray sweatpants, and matching socks this morning. One hand was casually tucked under his shirt, allowing her a glimpse at what she knew was a well-sculpted six-pack.
Realizing she was staring, Nahla looked away quickly and cleared her throat.
“Good morning. I made breakfast.” She tried to hide her face by turning back toward the stove and picking up the spatula she had been using to cook. She felt Cannon approaching her from behind. Standing over her, he looked at the bacon, sausage, eggs, and pancakes she had prepared.
“I see. It looks good as hell.”
Taking a deep breath, Nahla turned to face him. He was closer than she thought, and her body brushed against his as she whipped around.
Because she was eye level with his chest, she had to look up to meet his eyes.
“Have a seat,” Nahla said softly. “Let me make your plate.”
She half expected him to protest, but he just turned around, headed toward the barstools, and took a seat.
Once she had made his breakfast, she set it in front of him and watched as he paused, closed his eyes, and silently blessed the food. She then made herself a plate and joined him at the island. He was already digging in, and if the rate at which he was eating was any indication, he enjoyed her cooking.
Confirming that, he said, “This is good as hell, Nahla.”
She smiled softly. “Thanks.”
They ate in silence for a while, and Nahla remembered that she hadn’t texted her sister back.
“Uh, Cannon?”
The nervousness in her tone made him focus on her instantly. They’d only known each other a short time, but he’d already learned that she wasn’t the timid type. She said what she felt, so whatever had her voice wavering had him immediately concerned.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,really. It’s just that my father is sick. He has congestive heart failure and has monthly appointments . . .”
“I’m sorry he’s not doing well,” Cannon said, feeling truly sorry.
His grandmother was doing much better now, but about a year ago, she had gone through some serious health challenges that really tested their little family. Cannon and Capri had been scared as hell that they might lose her, so he could only imagine how Nahla felt about her father going through it.
“Thanks. He has an appointment today, and even though it’s my sister’s turn to take him, she can’t get off work, and she asked me to fill in for her.”
Cannon nodded. He didn’t know why she was nervous to tell him that. Family was everything, and he would never get in the way of Nahla seeing about hers. As long as she knew he was coming with her.
“I don’t have a problem chillin’ wit’ you and your pops today, La. My job is to protect you, not to stop you from caring for your people.”
She smiled a little and glanced at the countertop before looking at Cannon again.
“I appreciate that, but . . . my father’s cardiologist is in Lyle. That’s where I have to take him.”
Oh.
Well, . . . thatwasa problem for him. He was not feeling the idea of her going back to the same town that was coming for her. Not so soon after she had been threatened.
“I see,” was all he said as his mind tried to come up with a plan that worked for him. Of course, he would be driving them, but he would prefer it if none of the people gunning for Nahla even knew she was in town. They wouldn’t take either of their cars. He doubted that the two men he’d handled saw what he was driving, but whoever pulled up to her house the day before definitely had. To be on the safe side, they would swing by his home and switch to his other truck before picking up her father.
