“You’re very prepared for morning-after logistics.”
“I’m prepared for everything.” His eyes dropped to the towel. “Though I could also be convinced that clothing is optional.”
“Gabriel. It’s Friday. We both have work. Catering doesn’t take weekends off.”
“Right. Work.” He didn’t move. “Or we could call in sick.”
“I’ve got a tasting at two and a site visit after.”
“And I have a partners meeting at ten that Knox will murder me if I miss.” He sighed. “Fine. Clothes. Coffee. Responsible adult behavior.”
“Was that so hard?”
“Extremely.” He kissed her forehead and handed her the clothes. “Get dressed. Breakfast in five.”
His kitchen looked like it belonged in a magazine. She had glimpsed it the night before while the chef worked, but Gabriel had kept her at the table.
Now she could see the marble counters, professional-grade appliances, a coffee machine that probably required a certification to operate.
Gabriel stood at the stove, scrambling eggs with the attention of someone who had watched exactly one YouTube tutorial and was determined not to mess it up.
“The trick,” he said without turning around, “is low heat. Knox taught me. Though he’d say I still cook them too fast.”
“I still can’t believe Knox cooks.”
“Knox is full of surprises.”
She sat at the counter in the borrowed T-shirt and shorts. He was still in the sweatpants, and she wasn’t complaining. He set the plate in front of her with the ceremony of a waiter at a three-star restaurant.
“Breakfast. My entire culinary repertoire.”
“It looks edible.”
“High praise.”
She took a bite. The eggs were good—creamy, well-seasoned, not at all the rubber she had been half-expecting.
“Okay. These are actually good.”
“Told you.” He sat across from her with his own plate. “Tonight. Dinner.”
“Tonight?”
“Unless you’ve plans.”
“I’ve work until six. Maybe seven.”
“I’ll pick you up at eight.”
“Gabriel—”
“Too fast?”
She thought about it. About the eggs and the borrowed clothes and the way he had looked at her this morning like she was the best thing he had ever woken up to.
“No. Eight works.”
His smile could’ve powered the entire building. Less than an hour later, he walked her to the elevator.
