“I have cereal and toast with lotsa butter if I’m hungry.”
“Cereal? So boring. What about pancakes?”
She popped her eyes wide open with excitement. “You can make pancakes?”
“Yeah. Why?”
The child leaned forward as if to share a big secret. “Mommy makes yucky pancakes.”
Reece uttered a guttural laugh. Score one for him. “I make some mean pancakes. Wanna see?”
“I can’t have anything special on Mondays.”
He cocked a brow in surprise. “Why not?”
“We eat healthy food on weekdays. Mommy says I’m allowed to pig out on weekends.”
“Well, your mom’s asleep, and she wouldn’t know. It’ll be our secret.” He winked. “What do you say? Let’s go eat us some pancakes.” He stood and offered her a hand.
“You talk funny.” She giggled but took his hand and followed him to the kitchen.
****
ARIA ROLLED ON HERside and opened her eyes. An unfamiliar whiff filled the air. She jerked upright and sniffed. Pancakes?Who’s making pancakes?Her gaze dropped to the clock on her bedside table. Just after ten. Geez, she never slept in this late. She rubbed her face with both hands, then smoothed her hair back. Fortunately, the office remained closed every alternate Monday. She yawned and stretched. Perhaps her late-night visitor had something to do with her indistinct tiredness.
Visitor?Oh shit.
As panic stirred, her gaze shifted to the spot next to her. Prisha tended to curl up in a ball at the bottom of the bed. She pulled back the covers. Empty. As a precaution, she’d made her daughter sleep in her room last night and locked the door. Well, a fat lot that did. Her daughter was capable of unlocking doors, and her inquisitive nature made her seek out the stranger.Shit.A man roamed her house with Prisha running around.
Fear kick-started her brain cells. She threw the covers aside, jumped out of bed, and grabbed her gown. Securing the sash around her waist, she hurried barefooted to the kitchen. The heavy smell of pancakes and cinnamon blasted her nostrils. She ignored the stark rumble of her tummy. Nothing, however, prepared her for the sight of the kitchen when she entered.
Confusion startled her and halted further movement. “What the hell’s going on here?” Anger replaced her fear.
“Look, Mommy, we made pancakes.”
Prisha, with her unusually messed mouth, held up her hands. She showed Aria something that probably tasted like a pancake filled with chocolate and ice cream yet resembled a page out of Prisha’s coloring book. However, her daughter’s joy held her attention most. She’d never seen Prisha take this quickly to a stranger. Not even on her first meeting with Aria’s friend, Kelly. Until Laney, Kelly’s daughter put in an appearance. The discovery that the stranger made Prisha happy, scared Aria. She moved to her daughter’s side and slid an arm around the child’s shoulders.
“I could tell.” God, who did this man think he was? Taking over her home and pandering to her daughter as though he were a long lost cousin. The spotless kitchen she’d left before going to bed now resembled Junior Masterchef. Only, in the show, kids usually cleaned as they cooked. A mixture of flour, chocolate sauce, ice cream, and cinnamon dusted her countertops and the table. The fridge and some cupboard doors also featured chocolate sauce handprints. She shifted her gaze.
Their late-night visitor, sat at the table, his mouth stuffed with a pancake. Even his beard feasted on the sweet indulgence. He offered Aria a placating smile. “Sorry ’bout the mess. We had a cooking and eating contest.”
Unsure whether to laugh or tell him to get out of her house, she shook her head. His intense gaze twinkled with an easygoing familiarity. Did she know this man? Hadn’t he asked her whether she recognized him? Despite racking her brain, she remained blank. Aria made a mental note to question him later and merely nodded.
“I won, Mommy.” Prisha intruded on her thoughts.
“Hey, who says you won. I did,” Reece teased with a touch of chocolate sauce to Prisha’s nose. The easy friendship with her daughter tensed Aria’s insides.
“No. I won.” The little girl pouted and earned a chuckle from him.
“Fine. You win. This time.”
“Taste the pancake I made, Mommy.”
Aria shook her head with a warm smile. “No, Sweetpea. I need a shower first.”
“I could help,” Reece offered.
“What?” Aria arched a brow in puzzlement.
