“The coffee and bacon did.”
“It’s almost done.Are you hungry?”
She leaned on the counter next to the stove and wrapped both hands around her coffee.Callum stepped away from the stove and pulled her close.“You doing okay this morning?”
She blew on her coffee, nodding with a sleepy grin.
He’d never been more aware of a woman in his life.He wanted his hands on her, unbuttoning the shirt, dragging down the pants, peeling away the layers until his palms ran over her smooth skin.That wasn’t going to happen in this kitchen, but still, he gently took her mug from her and kissed her lips.
She sighed against him.The antsy energy that had itched in his arms since the moment he heard her footsteps upstairs calmed.Not that he didn’t need so much more from Grace, but if she were in his arms, he was breathing easier.
Her kisses feathered against his mouth.“I’m doing better than I was sixty seconds ago.”
Callum had never lived with a woman.Never made a woman breakfast, and sure as hell hadn’t held someone in the kitchen for a good morning kiss, and he never wanted this to stop.Fuck, he was gone for her.Actually, that had been the case for years.
“What else are you making?”she asked.
Sherlock meowed from the living room as if he had input.
“What do you want?”He squeezed her hips.
“Pancakes?Toast?What do you want?”
Her.
He pulled the cast iron off the heat and shuffled the bacon onto a stack of paper towels.“Whichever is easier.”Then he’d drag her upstairs, shut the door, and have what he really wanted.His heartbeat hammered.
“We could make that… later.”Her eyelashes fluttered, and her tongue darted over her lips.“And go upstairs?”
“Great idea.”He took her hand in his and crossed the kitchen.They needed to find themselves behind a locked door.“We should—”
The click, click, click of Argos and Toto trotting down the stairs slowed Callum and Grace in the living room.Alicia stood behind her dogs.Her gaze dropped to their joined hands, then she acted as if she had seen nothing.“I can’t believe I’m up this early for a second day in a row.”She eyed Callum as she walked toward the kitchen.“This didn’t happen before you showed up.”
“There’s bacon on the counter,” Grace said, like it was a peace offering.
He didn’t let go of her hand and couldn’t get her up the stairs fast enough.
The dogs whimpered and trotted back into the living room.
“Come on, boys.Give them privacy,” Alicia called from the kitchen.
Grace faltered on the stairs.He faced her; her jaw fell open, embarrassed and guilty.His lips parted, ready to coax her the remaining few steps, but spotted Argos and Toto, attentive and watching… the front door?Their heads tilted as if hearing what he couldn’t.
Their low growls rumbled.Their fur stood up.His blood ran cold as their barks sounded in a way he’d never heard from them before.Callum jerked Grace behind him—and the front window exploded.
Chapter Fifteen
GracescreamedasCallumtossed her behind him.
The dogs and cat erupted, barking and growling and hissing as the animals charged into the living room.Alicia called her pets, and none obeyed.
Fire climbed the drapes.Fuel and fire burned.Grace watched in horror.Fire skimmed over the shining accelerant glistening on the hardwood floors with a whoosh, eating into the pink rug where glass and a shattered bottle lay.
“Get the leashes.”Callum remained calm amid the spreading fire.“Where’s the cat carrier?”
Alicia returned with the leashes.“In the shed.”
He snatched a screeching Sherlock and handed him to Grace.
