Wild looked good on her. He’d like to see her wild in more ways than her hair. For the moment, he’d better get that French Toast started and try and ignore the fact she only had his flannel shirt covering her. Leaning forward, he kissed her on the forehead, then rose. When he got to the doorway, he couldn’t help but take a peek as she climbed out of bed. Those long slim legs slid out from beneath the sheets, and he held back a moan.
By the time he got the eggs out and cracked, he heard water running in the hall bathroom. A minute later, she stumbled into the kitchen and dropped into a chair, her head in her hands. Whoa, he couldn’t get enough of seeing her in his shirt and wool socks. Especially with her bare legs in between.
Instead of focusing on how she looked, he poured her a cup of coffee and placed the mug in front of her on the table.
“Praise be to the coffee fairy.” She took the container of milk, put a splash of it in, then loaded it down with sugar.
Sitting next to her, he got her attention, then said, “Is that why you’re so sweet? Because of all the sugar in your coffee?”
“You’ve discovered my secret.” She laughed, then tipped the mug back up for a sip. “What is that cinnamon smell?”
Oops. His French Toast. Bounding to the stove, he rescued it before it burnt and flipped the pieces onto two plates.
“Let me help.”
Her wandering around his kitchen, dressed as she was, gave him ideas he shouldn’t be entertaining at the moment. “Take these, and I’ll get the syrup and butter.”
When everything was on the table, she didn’t waste time digging in. He’d love to talk, but he couldn’t tear her away from eating to look at his mouth as he spoke.
Still chewing, she signed,Thank you so much. It’s delicious.
He’d remembered those from their restaurant lessons.You’re welcome.
Once she’d finished off her breakfast and coffee, she gazed up at him. “Do you mind if I take a shower before we go? We still have time, right?”
“Depends on how long you take in the shower.” He could think of a few things that would keep her occupied there for a long time. Not when they had to get to work, though. His thoughts needed some cooling down. Probably a good thing they had to walk to the hospital in the snow.
“I need to text Evan before we go,” she said, picking up her phone from where she’d left it charging last night. “Make sure he goes over and shovels us out. I doubt he’ll have to work today.”
In the bathroom, he showed her where the towels were and the basket of girly soaps and shampoos his mother had given him when he’d moved in. He wasn’t sure why she’d done that but was happy now that she had.
“I’ll give you a pair of sweatpants to wear while we walk to the hospital, otherwise your pants will be soaked again like they were last night.”
“Good idea. Thanks.”
The awkwardness of standing in the bathroom doorway made him back into the hallway. Waving his hand so she’d face him, he said, “I’ll leave them on your bed.”
Nodding, she closed the door, and the shower turned on. Must get away and think of something else. It wouldn’t do him any good to dwell on what she was doing in there.
After finding a thick pair of flannel-lined sweats—nothing but the best from his family—and tossing them on the guest bed, he donned his own clothes. Forget dress slacks for him today. He tugged on black jeans and a gray sweater over his button down. Sifting through his ties, he picked out a simple one, since it wouldn’t really be noticeable under the sweater.
Once he was ready, he attacked the dishes in the kitchen, tidying up and shutting off the coffee pot. Carli walked in a few minutes later, her top half pretty in the blouse she’d worn yesterday but the sweats baggy on her. Her curls were damp and hanging around her shoulders.
“I’m quite stylish today, aren’t I?”
“You’ll look better once we get to work. Your hair will freeze, though, if you go out with it wet.”
“I know. I was going to ask if you had a blow dryer and a brush. I didn’t see one in the hall bathroom.”
Back in his room, he showed her where everything was, then left. When she came out, her hair looked more subdued than usual. It must have shown on his face because she made a face.
“I usually use a diffuser, so my hair’s a bit wacky today.”
Stepping closer, he lifted his hand to her hair and laced his fingers through to grasp the nape of her neck.
“Feels soft and perfect to me.” The kiss was minty fresh from newly brushed teeth. All the better to prolong it. That nagging in the back of his mind about his job kept hammering away, so he finally released her and smiled.
“Are you putting your CIs in?” He hated to admit it, but it was far easier to talk to her when she could hear some of what he said.
