Zeke’s voice snapped me back to the present, and I blinked owlishly at him. “Sorry, what did you say?”
He slid a plate laden with pancakes and bacon in front of me before taking a seat across the table. He passed me the syrup as he slathered butter on his stack. “I said, I think their weapon is ready, but I can’t figure out what they plan to do with it or the other machines they’ve built.”
I used the bottle of syrup and passed it back. He’d called up the holo-screen and absently accepted the bottle and set it down. Watching him study the data, a worry that had hidden in the back of my brain worked its way forward.
Lael was a lot of things, but he wasn’t stupid. He liked attention, and this would certainly get him that . . . but not the kind he wanted. Admiration, adoration, and envy were his game, not fear, disgust, or hatred.
I took a bite and was so distracted I didn’t realize what I’d done. “These are great, Zeke, but you don’t need to keep making me meals. I can help.”
He looked up and smiled like I’d hung the moon. “I love to cook. If Michael hadn’t made me find another career, I’d still own a restaurant or several. I appreciate your offer, and I’ll never turn down breakfast in bed, but I only get to cook for big things now. Family dinners, parties, that kind of stuff. Cooking for us is like a dream for me.”
Nothing he said was a lie, but he left out he wanted to make me happy. “Breakfast in bed, eh?” I raised one eyebrow. “We’ll need to be sharing a bed for that to happen.”
“Sorry.” He blushed, but it only added to how cute he was. “Presumptuous, much?”
I regretted my lame attempt to make a joke. “Not if I have anything to say. And if it helps, I will absolutely spoil you with breakfast in bed as often as I can.”
“I didn’t need more incentive, but it sure doesn’t hurt.”
The food he’d made sat untouched on his plate. “How about you study that after you eat?”
“I can multitask.” He picked up a piece of bacon.
“Actually, studies show you really can’t. You just do multiple things poorly.” I motioned with my fingers for him to close the display. “Besides, I’d rather eat with you, not the holo-screen.”
He tapped the crystal and the image disappeared. “We can debate the merits of multitasking later, but I can’t argue with eating together.”
We dug in and between bites, we talked about things other than the mission. I told him about my house outside of Raleigh, North Carolina, and he described his house in Alexandria. He explained hating the traffic, but he loved the history of the area and his home.
“You realize, I remember when Europeans hadn’t settled this part of the world. Back then there were no cities.”
“And Mom tells me about when the Greeks built the Parthenon.” He smirked. “You don’t need to remind me you’re older than me. I’m aware. Besides, I likeoldermen.”
I laughed at his comment. Age was different for angels than it was for humans. “I’m not sure I’m comfortable being your sugar daddy.”
Zeke stopped chewing and I could see his mind working. “Are you comfortable being my partner?”
Without meaning to, I pushed us to a point sooner than either of us wanted. If I had any doubts that I sucked at interpersonal relationships, I was giving myself a crash course. “Yes. No qualifiers or conditions. I’m sorry I’m so bad at this.” I ran a finger between us. “You make me so happy, I forget what I did the last few decades. Unfortunately, that’s probably looming large in your mind. I’m sorry.”
“It takes two to have a misunderstanding. Yes, your past is part of my thinking, but I still worry I’m pushing you into something you don’t want.”
I knelt next to his chair and took his hand in mine. The long, delicate fingers were deceptive in how strong they were. Just like Zeke. “I promise you, I’m doing exactly what I want. I know why you think you’re pushing me, but the only nudge you gave me was to live again. And for that I’ll always be grateful.”
“I can’t promise I won’t have my doubts, but I’ll remember what you said.” Zeke squeezed my hand before his playful spark returned. “Now, get up. That’s my position, remember?”
Gods, what he did to me. I returned to my chair, unable to wipe away my smile. “Can you please stop doing that until this is over? We can’t do that if one or both of us is killed.”
The sobering reminder killed the mood. I’d wanted to do that, but it still felt like a bucket of ice.
“I’d call you a buzzkill but you’re right.” He tried to give me a smile, but it didn’t light up his eyes like usual. “If you’d like more, I have extra batter.”
I declined his offer and we finished quickly. When I insisted on cleaning, he pulled up the data and resumed his examination. While he studied, the quiet moment let my brain return to the nagging feeling I’d had. Today’s actions felt wrong. We were missing something.
“This makes no sense,” Zeke said. His brow was creased, and he turned his head sideways as if that would help.
I dried my hands and joined him at the table. “What doesn’t?”
“This is an analysis of the data I obtained while we were inside the barn.” He slid over to make room for me. “The generator is creating energy at around 9000 megajoules a second.”
