“You cook?” he teased.
She didn’t roll her eyes, but she considered it. “I’ve cooked you breakfast once before as I recall, so you are well aware that I have a few life skills beyond memorizing other people’s words and hitting my mark, thank you—scrambled and sausage?”
He gave her one of those looks containing equal parts fondness and desire. “Yes, please.”
* * *
Sten brewed himself a pod of coffee and set the table as Maddy bustled around the kitchen getting the food on. It was fun, just being with her, doing simple, everyday things—waking up together, sharing breakfast.
They sat down to eat. “This is really good,” he said, after his first bite.
“So, then. It’s confirmed. I can fry sausage and scramble eggs. Yet more proof that I’m a woman you shouldn’t underestimate.” She sipped her coffee and looked downright smug.
He wanted to jump up, grab her, slam his mouth on hers and carry her back to the bedroom again. But he had to remember that last night was her first time. She was probably sore.
Over on the counter, her phone buzzed with a text. She ignored it.
“You need a ride anywhere today?” he asked.
“Nope. And really, you don’t have to drive me everywhere. I’ll just call a cab.”
“Cab service around here isn’t the best,” he warned. “Sometimes it takes them forever to show up.”
“I can wait. It’s not like I’m on a tight schedule or anything.”
“Maddy. You need a ride, you call me.”
She spread marionberry jam on her toast, taking great care to spread it out to the crusts. “Are you saying youwantto drive me?”
“I’m saying I’m my own boss and my schedule is flexible. I’m saying just call me and I’ll take you where you want to go.”
She set down her knife. “So many things I love about Oregon, including the amazing marionberry jam.” She took a bite, chewed it slowly and swallowed. How could the sight of her eating toast be so sexy?
Was he over-the-moon for her? Definitely.
But it was okay. It was fine. As long as he kept things in perspective, why shouldn’t they both have a really good time together?
She studied her toast as though considering where to bite it next. “But do youwantto drive me?”
He wanted to do a lot more than drive her. Why not just admit it? “Hell, yes.”
She slanted him a glance. “Because you want to be with me every minute you can, right?”
“That’s right.” It came out sounding like a growl.
“And I want to be with you.” She showed him those dimples. He was a goner, no doubt about it. “Fair enough, then. I’ll call you when I need a ride.”
Her phone buzzed. She just sipped her coffee and enjoyed a bite of scrambled eggs. Then the phone rang.
“Fine,” she muttered to no one in particular. She got up and answered it. “What is it, Rudy?” Her lush mouth a flat line and her turquoise eyes stormy, she listened to whatever her assistant had to say. “Just tell Myra that no, I haven’t had a chance to read it. I am on vacation, and she knows it. I’ve told her like five hundred times—and you know what? I give up. Just have her call me. I’ll tell her myself. Again... Yeah. Thanks... It’s not you. You’re the best. Mmm-hmm, bye.” She ended the call. “Sorry,” she said. “My agent is about to call and when she does I’m not going to say what she wants to hear. Myra’s a powerhouse. She’s not nice when you tell her things she doesn’t want to hear.”
“You want me to leave?”
“No. Although, I confess, you will probably wish you had.”
Maybe he would. But he stayed where he was. This was her life and it wouldn’t hurt for him to witness a reminder of that.
The phone hadn’t finished the first ring when she answered it. “Myra. Rudy said it was urgent. What can I do for you?”
