My hands shake as I reach for my fork, completely at odds with his easygoing nature as he slides into the chair across from me.
You can do this, Kiki. You have eaten food before.
I nod toward his empty section of the table. “Aren’t you eating?”
He shakes his head. “Not much of a breakfast guy on my daysoff.”
I stare at my plate. Then at him. “You put, what, two thousand calories’ worth of food in front of me, and you’re going to sit there and watch me eat it?”
His mouth twitches. “Something like that.”
I take a bite and, of course, the pancakes are amazing. To-die-for good, actually. “Wow, these are delicious.”
Eddie winks, taking another swig of coffee. “Told you.”
I settle in, forgetting for a moment that I’m the only one wolfing down this insane breakfast.
He drums on the table with a simple rhythm. “So… about last night. We should probably discuss it.”
I force down the bite of pancake and rest my fork on the plate, because I know I’m not eating anymore after this chat. “Okay.”
Part of me wants to jump in and apologize. Beat him to the proverbial punch. Another part of me wants to crawl under the table and hide, and yet another part wants to grab my purse, dash out the door and run home.
Since I’m not up for running right now, I go with the first option.
“I’m sorry if I was too… exuberant. Too loud. Too much.”
His fingers still, a look of surprise crossing his face. “Never apologize for that. You were incredible, Kiki.”
I was? Wait, he’s not bothered by my impetuous actions? God, if I had behaved like that with Drake, he’d be furious.
“You need to keep doing that every time, because—” Eddie blows out a hard breath, running a hand along the back of his neck.
“Wait a second. Every time? You want to do that again?”
Something shifts in his expression as he gets up to grab a refill of coffee. “Okay, I guessyoudon’t.” He takes a sip, grimacing. “Was this a one-time deal for you? Crazy,off the wall birthday sex? I mean, could it have been with anyone, and I just happened to be there?”
The man is so far removed from the truth that it’s laughable. Does he honestly think I used him as a quick birthday lay?
I chuckle, earning an incredulous look from Eddie. “Sorry. I can’t believe you think that’s what I set out to do… with you. Honestly, I figured it would be the other way around. You’d be the one regretting everything.”
“I don’t make blueberry pancakes for just anyone.”
God, this man is amazing. A real laugh bubbles out of me, softening the surrounding tension.
“They are damn fine pancakes, but?—”
“I hate that word,” he groans.
“Seriously, my life is a mess, as you know. Even if it weren’t, I’m too old for you. I’m forty. And you’re… fuck, you’re perfect.”
Didn’t mean to say all that aloud, but too late now.
“That’s enough.” Eddie pulls my chair from the table, crouching in front of me, his hands resting on my thighs. “We’re going to have this conversation one last time about your age.”
I huff out a weak breath. “Doubtful.”
“I’m not kidding.” He grabs my hands, pressing a kiss to my fingers. “I don’t care how old you are. It wouldn’t matter if you were twenty-five. It wouldn’t matter if you were sixty-five.”
