His perfect white teeth shone at me as he spoke, and I really began to notice the subtle differences between his appearance and Xander’s. Henry had slightly thinner pink lips and a rather deep-set dimple in his right cheek. His hair, though also dark, held light streaks of brown as well, and it was slightly more unkempt than Xander’s was.
“I’m fine. It’s just been an exhausting morning already, and we haven’t even had breakfast.” I laughed and rolled my eyes.
“I am hungry.” He nodded. “I’m just coming back from my morning run, and I am ready for pancakes and bacon.”
“That sounds good to me.” I nodded eagerly. “Banana chocolate chip pancakes with lots of syrup and bacon.”
“I’m a blueberry pancake guy myself.” He smiled and ran his hand through his dark hair. “Though I wouldn’t mind some chocolate chips. Maybe we can share?”
“Sounds good to me,” I said and adjusted my top as I stared at him. “As long as you don’t want some of my bacon as well.”
“Don’t worry; I never attempt to take bacon off of anyone’s plate.” He laughed, and I stared at his lips for a few seconds as I laughed along with him.
“Good, or I’d have to kill you.” I giggled and poked him in the shoulder with two fingers sticking out like a gun.
“Uh-oh, the warning has officially been issued.”
“Yep,” I said and winked at him.
“What’s going on here?”
Xander’s deep voice was directly behind me, and I couldn’t believe that I hadn’t heard him come out of the bedroom and down the corridor.
“Liv is going to share her pancakes with me, but she’s warning me to stay away from her bacon,” Henry answered his brother with a laugh. “I say that’s a fair price to pay to share breakfast with a beautiful woman.”
“Hmm,” Xander said in reply as my stomach flipped.
Henry had called me beautiful. I had to admit, his words made me happy. Maybe I would try and get to know him a bit better this morning.
“Maybe you shouldn’t be sharing everything with everyone, Liv,” Xander said to me obnoxiously as he looked down at me with a sneer.
“Excuse me?” I glared up at him, my mind off Henry as I gazed into Xander’s dark green eyes.
“Maybe you shouldn’t be so easy and willing to give it up,” he said softly.
I gasped. He paused as he looked me up and down, and then he grinned.
“Your pancakes, I mean. I wouldn’t be so easy to give them up. Henry’s a pig. He’ll gobble them all down before you can blink. And then you’ll regret having given them up.”
“I don’t think I’ll regret sharing my pancakes, though there are other things I regret.” I tried to remain civilized, though it was difficult. I didn’t want to embarrass myself in front of Henry or make him suspicious, but I so badly wanted to smack Xander. Hard.
“Oh?” He cocked his head. “Like what?”
“Xander, don’t badger the girl.” Henry gave his brother a reproachful look. “She just woke up.”
“I’m not badgering her.” Xander gave his brother a sharp look.
“I’m just saying, you just met her, and she doesn’t know your sense of humor, so go lightly on her.” Henry grinned at me. “We’re not family yet.”
“Thanks, Henry. I appreciate it.” I smiled at him warmly.
“Shouldn’t you be getting in the shower or something?” Xander’s eyes narrowed at me. “We wouldn’t want you to hold up our getting pancakes.”
“I’d worry about your fiancée, as opposed to me.” I looked at him distastefully. “I’m pretty sure she’s still in bed.”
“Well, I do wear women out,” Xander said smartly.
I gasped, all color leaving my face as jealousy stirred in my stomach.
