He pulled down the hood, revealing his sweaty face. “It’s me,” he said, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
“Did you just get back? I didn’t hear the door open or close.”
“Yeah. I used the back door and went to the beach,” he replied, casually wiping the sweat from his forehead.
“At this hour?” I blurted, a mix of surprise and worry in my voice.
He laughed softly. “Yeah, don’t worry. I didn’t have to rescue anyone naked in the water this time.”
I laughed along with him, but a pang of jealousy twisted in my chest. What if he’d gone with someone? Another girl? I guess this is what I meant when I told him to keep his side conquests discreet. I was going to have to live with that.
He gestured to the kettle on the stove, already heating up. “Is this what you came down for?”
I blinked, surprised. “How did you know?”
“My mom is the same way. She makes tea when she can’t sleep. My second guess was a midnight snack.”
“Like chocolate pecan cookies,” I practically moaned. I could taste the salty and sweet combination in my mouth and needed them desperately.
“You know how to bake?”
“Do I know how to bake?” I scoffed. “I’m an expert.”
“Let’s bake them then. Show me how it’s done... wifey.”
He laughed and walked over toward me, giving my hand a squeeze.
I needed a distraction. Fast.
I grabbed the ingredients from the pantry and set them on the kitchen island. I started by setting up the mixer and measuring the sugar.
”Your tea,” Austin said, handing me a warm mug.
I gave a quick nod, setting it aside on the counter as I kept moving through the motions. Butter next. I liked the methodical nature of baking; if you followed the recipe to a T, the results were predictable. No surprises.
“Why are you up?” he asked, but I focused on the mixer, unsure how to respond.
“Can you soften this in the microwave for thirty seconds?” I handed him a mug with a stick of butter inside, choosing to sidestep his question.
The corner of his mouth lifted into a smirk. “Sure can, Chef.”
I shook my head and focused on the mixer in front of me. “Why areyouup?” I shot back at him. “And running around the lake at the ass crack of dawn.”
He laughed and handed me the mug with now softened butter. “I didn’t realize dawn had an ass crack.”
I grabbed the towel and smacked him with it as he held up his hands. “I’m innocent.”
He came around the island so he was standing next to me. Just as I turned around to grab the vanilla, he snaked his hands around my waist and leaned down. “I was thinking about you, Mrs. Honey.”
His mouth was right against my ear, and his warmth wrapped around me. My traitorous body melted into him.
“Truth or lie?” he murmured in my ear. I turned so I was facing him. His eyes were dark and hooded.
“W-What?”
All of this was so confusing because we were supposed to be roommates. It would be far less complicated that way.
“Do you want the truth or do you want me to lie?”
