But if you come, trust Rath. He will never lead you astray. His loyalty is unprecedented, and he will take care of you.
I wish I could have gotten the same opportunity.
I know we’ve never met, but I do love you, Alivia.
Until we meet, all my love,
Henry.
I will do my best, Henry. I promise.
“RISE AND SHINE, PRINCESS.”
I breathe the words right into Ian’s ear. When he lashes out with a fist, I hold up the frying pan, blocking his blow. But he springs off the couch faster than I expect, diving for my legs. I go down on top of him with a yelp. Determined not to be bested, I twist, wrapping my legs around his neck and attempting to squeeze.
But Ian is a rolling, writhing snake and he springs to his feet. I dangle with my legs still wrapped around his neck, the two of us back to back, me hanging upside down.
For half a second, a smile crosses my lips.
But with a great yell, Ian flips me over his shoulder. I manage to twist slightly as he does and land on my back. Hard.
Ian pins me to the ground, forearm across my throat, clutching a stake in his hand. He pants, eyes wild and wide. They go even wider when he realizes it’s me.
“What do you think you’re doing?” he asks as confusion takes over his expression. But his voice is loaded with annoyance.
“Trying to prove I’m not a useless little flower,” I say with a snide smile. Ian is shirtless, his bare skin pressed up against my stomach since my shirt has ridden up during our wrestling match. “I may not know how to defend myself yet, but I’m not all that delicate, either.”
Ian stares at me, his eyes going back and forth between mine. And slowly, a smile chips its way onto his lips. He lets out a little chuckle. “Yeah, you’re Henry’s daughter, all right. He was a defiant little prick, too.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” I say as Ian stands and pulls me to my feet.
“What time is it?” Ian asks.
“Clock in your room says nine-thirty,” I say as I move to the kitchen. I’m starving, and that was one of the main reasons I woke Ian. “I figured twelve and a half hours of sleep should be enough.”
“Damn,” Ian says as he shuffles off to the bathroom. “Can’t remember the last time I slept that long.” He only half shuts the door before he starts taking a leak.
It’s disgusting, that’s for sure. But I also find myself shaking my head and laughing. Ian is a man who’s used to living alone and doing his own thing.
“I was thinking of making pancakes,” I call as I hear him washing his hands.
“I don’t think I have any of the stuff,” he says as he walks out. “I don’t keep too much around here. Might find everything at Lula’s though.”
“To be honest, your grandmother kind of terrifies me,” I admit as I start pulling out the flour and sugar and all the ingredients he does in fact have. “And the only thing I see you don’t have is maple extract. Think she’d have that?”
“Not a chance in hell she doesn’t,” he chuckles. I don’t think he’s realized he’s only wearing boxers. Even when he slips his shoes on and opens the door. It’s really difficult not to enjoy the shirtless view. “I’ll be back in a sec.”
I smile to myself and blush as I turn back to the kitchen.
He doesn’t have a mixing bowl, but I find an empty, big sour cream container that works. No measuring cups, either, so I have to eyeball everything. But when you’ve worked at a bakery for four years, it’s not too much of a challenge. By the time Ian returns with the maple, I’ve already got them cooking in the same skillet I used as a shield to Ian’s blow this morning.
“Thank you,” I say as I take the bottle from him and start on the syrup.
“You like cooking?” he asks as he leans against the fridge and watches me.
He really should put a shirt on. Because it’s really hard not to stare at those perfectly defined abs and chest muscles.
I shrug, pretending I wasn’t looking. “Before I moved here, I supported myself by working in a bakery. Cooking paid the bills.”
“Well, I’d offer you free rent in exchange for your skills, but you’ve got a much nicer place to stay when all this settles down.”
I glance back at him over my shoulder and laugh. “I’d offer you free rent for your vampire deflecting skills, but I don’t think you’d take me up on it. You’ve got others who need you.”
He gives a little one-sided smile and a tiny nod.
Once breakfast is ready, we sink onto the couch. Me cross-legged, facing him, Ian with his legs stretched out and his feet on the wobbly coffee table.