Reina was probably a better cook than me, but I wanted to do something with this restless energy, and her door was closed when I walked by.
I started the coffee machine, then mixed batter for the pancakes, dropping in chocolate chips instead of blueberries, hoping that was the right choice.As close as I was to her brother, Tom, I didn't know Reina that well.
When I had gone over to Tom's growing up, she was usually in the kitchen baking or pouring over cookbooks.When I was in high school, I was involved in the career and tech program, learning electrical.I was so engrossed in learning the craft that I didn't pay much attention to anything else at school.After I graduated, I built my electrician business, and now my joint venture with Cooper and my brothers, Sterling Brothers Contracting.
By the time Reina walked into the kitchen, I had a stack of pancakes on a plate.
Her gaze snagged on my bare chest.
I wasn't used to living with anyone besides Tom, and he never cared if I walked around shirtless.But I should have thought about how Reina would feel about it.
"Grab a pancake and some coffee.I just need to get a shirt."
She smirked."Don't cover up on my account."
"I'm fairly sure Tom would have something to say about that," I said to remind myself that I needed to be careful around her.
I grabbed a clean shirt from the laundry room and pulled it on.When I returned to the kitchen, she'd placed two pancakes on her plate and poured a generous amount of syrup over the top.
"You like sweet things?"I asked, pouring myself a cup of coffee from the carafe.
She gave me a bemused look."I own a bakery."
I raised a brow as I turned to face her, leaning against the counter."So that's a yes."
"It's my weakness."She ate a bite of a pancake, closed her eyes, and moaned.
That made me think of sex and how she'd sound when I moved inside her.I gritted my teeth.I shouldn't think of her in that way.
She wasn't attractive, sweet, or enticing.She was Tom's sister.Off-limits to me.
"Have you heard from Maddox?"She licked her finger, and all the blood in my body went south.
If she started sucking on her finger, I couldn't be held responsible for what I would do next.I wanted to be the one sucking syrup off her finger, so I forced myself to look away."He said to meet him in an hour at the bakery."
She swallowed hard."Logically, I know I was in a fire last night.I can still smell the smoke, and my throat is raw.But it didn't seem real.It feels like a bad dream.But once I see the bakery, everything will come into focus."
Her vulnerable admission brought me back to reality."We don't know what the damage is yet.He didn't say anything.Maybe they were able to salvage the kitchen and front area."
She let out a breath."I hope so."
"You're welcome to stay here as long as you need to."
"Thanks, Morgan.I appreciate that.But I don't want you to feel like you owe me or my brother anything."
"I promised Tom?—"
She held up her hand."Let's get something straight.Tom doesn't get to dictate what goes on in my life."
He didn't want to leave his younger sister unprotected, but at the same time, she was an adult and could take care of herself.
Her forehead creased."You're not going to tell him what happened, are you?I don't want to worry him."
I knew the drill when he was deployed."As long as you're safe, there's no need to tell him."
She narrowed her eyes on me."You mean safe with you?"
"I'll help you get the bakery up and running again.By the time he's on leave, everything will be fixed, and you'll be back in your apartment."I'd make sure of it.
