I wrapped my hands around hers and locked them at my chest. “This is my favorite.”
She smiled, gazing into my eyes. “Sleep well?”
I nodded. “So well, I slept in.”
“Seven does not count as sleeping in,” she declared, pulling me back under the covers.
We spent a good hour there, and only a few seconds of that were devoted to talking.
Eventually, we forced ourselves out of bed, taking advantage of the last warmth of the fire to dash to the bathroom for a shower.
Gen held a hand under the water, testing the temperature. “Sorry. It takes forever to run warm here.”
“Not as long as it takes upstairs in the west wing,” I observed.
Gen grinned. “Number one reason to move in with me down here?”
I shook my head. “Like I said, you could live in a shack with no bed or running water, and I would be there with you, loving every minute.” Then I smiled. “But, yes. Warm water has its advantages.”
An advantage we made full use of, showering for much longer than my usual three minutes.
“What?” Gen asked, picking up on my thoughts when we toweled off.
I shot her a weak smile. “Sleeping in, then taking a long shower. I’m definitely getting soft.”
She play-smacked my stomach. “Nothing soft there, mister.” Then she glanced down and winked. “No asparagus effects either.”
I caught her in my towel. “If this relationship is going to work, we’re going to have to ban Bene’s bad jokes from the bedroom.”
“We’re in the bathr—” she started, all snarky.
I cut her off with a kiss, then mumbled, “Bathroom too.”
It was only meant to be a quick kiss, but one led to another and another, and we would have landed back in bed if the in-house bell system hadn’t ring just then — the only part of the château’s 1930s wiring in that still worked reliably.
I groaned. “If that’s Bene ruining a perfectly good morning with a call to breakfast, I’ll kill him.”
Gen patted her stomach. “I could eat, though.” Then she grimaced. “But I’m not looking forward to the teasing.”
“Let them tease,” I declared, grabbing my clothing.
And tease they did, especially Bene.
He cracked a huge, theatrical yawn when Gen and I entered the dining room, then made a show of checking the clock.
“Oh, look who’s last to breakfast,” he announced. “And who’s coming to breakfast with whom.”
“Oh, leave them alone, Bene.” Mina chided.
“He’s just jealous,” Gen said, making a show of kissing me.
Bene shook his head sadly. “It’s true. I’ve been secretly lusting after Roux for years, and now I’m heartbroken.”
“So heartbroken, you’ve eaten almost all the bacon?” Mina challenged.
“I’m drowning my sorrows,” he declared.
I sat in my usual place and poured myself a cup of coffee. I was going to need it with this gang.
