I was in the military. If I woke up to unexpected noises, I'd be grabbing my gun before my brain fully processed consciousness. The number of times I've come awake with my fist already swinging, my body in fight mode before my mind catches up, and I'm expecting her to just be okay with a strange man in her temporary home?
Fuck. I really am an idiot.
"It's been a long time since I talked to a woman," I admit, setting down the spatula and holding up my hands. Same gesture as last night. Non-threatening. Harmless. "Long time since I tried to be a gentleman. Clearly, I forgot the basics. Like not scaring the shit out of someone who's already vulnerable."
Lily's grip on the pepper spray loosens slightly, but she doesn't put it down. Smart. She shouldn't.
"You have a key?" Her voice is tight.
"Master key. All of us do, in case of emergencies." I pull it from my pocket and set it on the counter, sliding it toward her. "But I shouldn't have used it without asking. That was wrong. I'm sorry."
She stares at the key, then at me, then back at the key. I can see her trying to decide if I'm genuinely apologizing or just saying what she wants to hear. If I'm actually safe or just better at hiding the danger.
The robe shifts as she moves, and I catch a glimpse of the curve of her breast. Full and soft and absolutely bare underneath that thin terry cloth. No bra. Probably no panties either. Just Lily's naked body wrapped in Sierra's too-small robe, and my cock immediately takes interest despite the completely inappropriate timing.
I force my eyes back to her face, but it's too late. She caught me looking.
Her cheeks flush, and she glances down at herself, seeming to realize for the first time exactly how much of her body is visible. The robe gapes at the chest, shows the upper swell of her breasts. Clings to her wide hips and thick thighs in a way that makes my mouth water.
"I should—" She backs toward the bedroom. "Let me just… I'll get dressed."
She disappears before I can respond, and I hear her moving around in the bedroom. Quiet murmurs to her daughter. The rustle of fabric.
I turn back to the stove and flip the bacon, trying to ignore the fact that my cock is half-hard and my brain is full of images I have no business entertaining. Lily's curves. Her full breasts. The way that robe barely contained her body. What she'd look like without any barriers at all.
I need to stop it. She's a single mom who slept in her car last night. She's vulnerable and exhausted and the last thing she needs is me eye-fucking her over breakfast.
When she returns, she's wearing the same clothes from yesterday. Purple cardigan and tight jeans that hug her thick thighs. She's put herself back together as best she can, but I can still see the exhaustion in her eyes. The wariness.
"I made enough for three," I say, gesturing to the plates I've set out. "If your daughter's hungry."
"Rosie's still sleeping." Lily hovers in the doorway like she's not sure if she should come closer. "She'll be up soon, though."
"Coffee's fresh." I pour a cup and set it on the counter, stepping back to give her space. "Made it strong, but there's cream and sugar if you want it."
She edges into the kitchen, keeping the counter between us, and picks up the coffee mug. Takes a sip and closes her eyes like it's the best thing she's tasted in weeks. Maybe it is.
"Thank you." Her voice is softer now. Less afraid, more resigned. "For the coffee. And the breakfast. And for not being a serial killer."
"Day's still young." The joke falls flat, and I wince. "Sorry. Bad sense of humor."
"It's fine." She takes another sip of coffee, studying me over the rim. "So, are you going to tell me why you really brought me here? What you actually want?"
Direct. I like that about her, even if the question makes my jaw tighten.
"I told you the truth last night." I plate the bacon and eggs, sliding one toward her. "There's a kid involved. It's cold. I had an empty cottage. Simple as that."
"Nothing's ever that simple."
"Maybe not." I lean against the opposite counter, maintaining distance. "But sometimes it is. Sometimes someone just needs help, and you happen to be in a position to give it."
She doesn't look convinced, but she picks up a fork and starts eating. Small bites at first, like she's testing whether the food is safe, then larger ones as hunger takes over. I watch her eat. Probably creepy, but I can't help it, and wonder when the last time was that she had a real meal.
"What are you doing in Blackwater Falls?" I ask when she's halfway through the plate. "You mentioned looking for work last night, but this town isn't exactly a job market hotspot."
Lily sets down her fork and meets my eyes. For a moment, I think she's not going to answer. Then she sighs, her shoulders slumping.
"I'm trying to survive," she says bluntly. "I've been going from town to town for six months, taking whatever work I can find. But nobody wants to hire a single mom who has to bring her kid to work. Nobody wants the liability or the complication."
