Reese slumped. “Fastest boner killer in history.”
Laughing, David answered the phone.
“We may have an issue,” Chance said.
Boner killer was right. “What?”
“Someone was poking around the McCormick garage. Might not mean anything, but I want you three to watch the video and see what you think.”
Fuck.“Okay, send the footage when it’s ready.” He hung up.
Mati buried her face between their chests, her voice muffled. “Again? This sucks.”
Yes, it did.
He explained what was happening as he towed them to the kitchen, grabbing their work bags on the way. He needed to unpack, and they needed to set up. After a brief discussion, the breakfast bar was determined to be the best place for Mati and Reese because it would allow them to watch him work in the kitchen.
He was pleased this was something they might actuallylike. Most people didn’t get it. Most people thought it was weird his kitchen was the same size as his living room and eating area combined. The first thing he’d done after buying this unit was renovate this space, and he’d had to be talked out of making it bigger.
“You’ll have plenty to see,” he said as he stored his things and started pulling ingredients out of the fridge. He’d been planning to do some of this after they’d gone to sleep, but if they wanted to watch him cook, they were welcome to.
Also, for the first time in longer than he cared to remember, David didn’t think he needed something to keep him busy all night.
“Are you making dinner? You don’t have to cook for us, you know,” Reese said, smoothing his hand over the warm brown granite counter. David liked the contrast of Reese’s long, pale fingers against the swirls of color ranging from coffee to cream.
“I’ll get to dinner, but first I want to start a big batch of sauce. And at some point, probably tomorrow, I need to make mozzarella.”
Reese blinked. “I’m sorry, but did you say you’re going to makecheese?”
“Yes? I mean, I know it’s a little weird, but it’s fun. You guys will like it.”
“I have no doubt,” Reese said.
Mati leaned over the counter and poked David’s arm. “And it’s not weird.”
Reese didn’t look like he agreed with that assessment.
David bit back a smile. “I like to cook. It settles me.”
He busied himself, embarrassed by his confession, and worried that next he’d blurt out that cooking was how he kept his anxiety at bay.
Reese eyed the large stock pot and mountain of tomatoes. “If we go through that much sauce, we’re going to have to spend a lot more time at the gym.”
David laughed. “You’ll get plenty of this, but it’s not just for us. My friends have a baby and I’m going to send them enough frozen sauce in batches to last them a while, and a lasagna. And my neighbor, Ellie, is having a hard time with her hip in this cold weather, so she’ll get some of the same. I’ll have Chance come and deliver it all.”
“Are we keeping you from plans?” Mati asked.
David waved it off. “It’s okay.”
Reese frowned. “So, weare.”
“I can visit them another night,” David said.
“Anything else?” Reese asked.
“Well, I’m supposed to play hockey,” he admitted.
Matilda perked up. “You are?”
