I loved Meg.She was my closest friend out of all the shop owners.We came from completely different backgrounds, but we'd easily clicked on the first day we met."I should look for another place to live."
Meg's lips quirked."I'd take advantage of the situation and enjoy it.Why worry about your brother?He's not here to give you rules and boundaries.You're not looking for anything serious, are you?"
Meg was notorious for not wanting a commitment, and it wasn't too hard to understand why.But me?My parents were a good example of a loving relationship.I always thought I'd meet the right guy eventually and settle down.I wasn't looking for a fling with my brother's friend.I had other things to worry about, like my entire life being uprooted."I have no idea how he feels about me."
Clara grinned."I have a feeling he's going to have a hard time if you walk around shirtless after your workouts."
I shook my head."Yeah, I'm not going to do that."
"But you could make things a little harder for him, if you know what I mean?"Clara said with the hint of a challenge in her voice.
It might be fun to mess with him.Especially since he made a ridiculous promise to my brother.
After we'd eaten way too many cookies, I packed up containers for them to take home.Then I showed them out.
I scrubbed the counters, cleaning the flour off the surfaces.I hoped that Morgan didn't mind that I'd had guests and taken over his kitchen.
I turned on some music and danced around the kitchen as I worked.Just as I was belting out the chorus of a song about a boy calling a girl he'd just met, I jolted because Morgan stood in the doorway, wearing sweats, his hair damp.
I held my hand over my heart, wondering if he was going to be shirtless all the time."You scared me."
He moved toward my phone, hitting Pause on the music."It might be because you're playing the music so loud.You didn't hear me."
I gestured at the kitchen."I'm sorry about the noise, the girls coming over, and the mess I made."
He shrugged, moving deeper into the room."You live here too.But I'll take payment in the form of cookies."
I nodded toward the covered dish on the island."I made these for you."
He raised a brow as he lifted the lid."I'm going to gain weight if you're living here."
"I can make healthy options without using so much sugar," I offered.
His brow furrowed."What would be the point of that?"
"I promise; you wouldn't even notice that there's no added sugar," I said with a smile.
He raised a brow."What if I want the sugar?"
"I love to bake.So whenever you have a hankering for something, just let me know."
"If you can cook as well as you bake, then you can stay forever," he quipped.
A warmth spread through my chest."I'm not as good at cooking as baking.I'm not burning things, but I'm also not winning any awards."
He bit into the cookie and groaned.
I was not prepared for that reaction.I knew people loved my baked goods, but I'd never seen someone show this much raw appreciation for them.He swallowed, and I watched his Adam's apple move and his eyes drift shut."I can't remember the last time I had a freshly baked cookie."
My cheeks heated at the compliment."I know your mom bakes, so try again."
He chuckled, taking another bite before answering me."I have six siblings; it's difficult to get any warm food at home."
I nodded."That makes more sense then.While I'm here, you get first dibs on everything."
He smiled, and my heart beat faster."I think I'm going to like having you living here then."
"Freshly baked cookies are a perk.If you don't mind that I took over your kitchen and a bunch of women showed up to hang out.We hadn’t talked about whether having guests was okay or not."
