He chuckled as he reached the bathroom.“Let me change, and then I’ll show you how it’s done so you can do it yourself whenever you want.”
I offered a polite smile and a nod.
Once he was inside and the door was closed, I released a long breath of relief and fished my Birkin bag out from under the comforter. I rummaged this time for my compact mirror. Flipping it open, I checked my face, smoothed my hair, snapped the mirror shut, and tossed it back in.
I didn’t hate my bare face; in fact, it looked good right now. I was fortunate to have naturally dark features and thick lashes, so my eyes were always well-defined, even without makeup.
As a bonus, I found some lip gloss and put it on. My lips were seriously chapped after yesterday, and the moisture was near orgasmic as it touched my thirsty skin. I needed to brush my teeth, but I hadn’t seen a toothbrush anywhere. Hopefully, there were some in the extra supplies he brought in.
Retrieving the phone from the bag, I shoved the device under the mattress. It was an obvious hiding spot, but he didn’t seem aware of its existence, so hopefully he wouldn’t think to look. If he had known about it, I was sure he’d have taken it by now.
I heard the doorknob rattle and slid my bag under the covers once more. I sat on the bed, trying to look nonchalant with my legs crossed at the ankles. The door opened, and he stepped out, fully dressed.
“I put a new toothbrush in there for you. It’s next to the sink. It’s pink.” He grinned.
How was he always a step ahead of me?
Maintaining my bratty persona, I rolled my eyes at him and applied my usual air of indifference.“Coffee, Gray, please,” I mock-begged.
He rolled his eyes, dishing the attitude right back, and made his way to the stove. He pulled down a Moka pot that was hooked on the chain of utensils. I’d seen those often enough—it was an Italian thing. That made sense.
I picked at a loose thread on the comforter.“So, were you, like… taking a cold plunge just now?” I asked.“Is that what the gym bros call it?”
He poured warm water from the kettle, which was already on the stove, into the bottom chamber of the Moka pot. Next, he added several scoops of coffee grounds to the filter, screwed the top on, and placed it over the hottest burner.
Soon, steam escaped from the spout, a sign that the coffee was brewing and rising to the top. The air filled with its rich aroma, and I felt a shiver of anticipation. The Beaumonts, myself included, were obsessed with coffee in any form.
“I wouldn’t know what‘gym bros’call it,” he disparaged.“But sure, cold plunge and bath. That’s how I clean up out here.”
I grumbled, recalling our conversation last night and how there wouldn’t be warm showers in my future.“So you said yesterday. Does this mean I’ll be stuck sponge-bathing forever, like some old lady in a nursing home?” I asked.
His grin returned, and I wasn’t against it; his face had this special way of lighting up the entire space with that smile.“Unless you want to try a cold plunge, then yeah, sponge bath it is.” He shrugged.“You should try the river, though. Who knows, you might like it.”
I scoffed hard and loud.“No way. A sponge bath is fine, thank you. But… I’m making you wash my hair. You said you would, after all.”
Another grin graced his lips before he turned to the refrigerator and took out a pitcher.“Milk?”
I tilted my head in question.“Don’t tell me you have a cow somewhere.”
He laughed.“No cow. Powdered milk, I’m afraid. It’s actually pretty good. The farm supply store back in town stocks a decent local brand.”
My eyebrows shot up. I never imagined I’d be stirring reconstituted powdered milk into coffee and brewing it off-grid in the Canadian wilderness. Yet, here I was; new experiences were abounding.
I was Wilderness Betty Beaumont now, and this was a whole new frontier.
He tilted the pitcher of milk from side to side in question.
“Um… sure?” I agreed.
He grabbed a mug, poured the coffee from the Moka pot, and added the milk. He strode across the expanse between us and handed it to me, and I brought it to my lips, taking a sip without a second thought.
I moaned instantly, without meaning to.
My body was deprived of caffeine after being drugged and kidnapped for two days. And damn… that powdered milkwasgood. I already knew this would be the first of many cups today. I needed to refuel.
“Breakfast?” he asked.
With the cup glued to my lips like a lifeline, I nodded. My stomach felt insatiable after having gone without food for so long, too. I was a literal glutton and needed to make up for lost time.
