“You better not be cooking.”
But he was. Because what a really major hangover needed was a good fry-up. It was about the only thing his father had appreciated him for.
Judith protested loudly when he began pulling out the ingredients, made an even louder fuss when he began cooking. Then went silent when it became clear he was going to ignore everything she said.
“Bastard,” she muttered when he put a plate of eggs, bacon, toast, and baked beans in front of her. “This will not make me feel any better.”
“Just eat it.” He pushed over the glass of orange juice he’d filled up for her. “And don’t forget to drink this.”
“I’m not hungry. Or thirsty.”
“You need something in your stomach and you need rehydration.” He leaned his elbows on the breakfast bar and looked her in the eye. “Of course we could just talk about those texts you sent me.”
Judith murmured something that sounded extremely rude but picked up her knife and fork obediently and took a hesitant bite. Then another. Then another.
“Not so bad, huh?” he asked.
“Can’t talk. Eating.”
Ten minutes later, she wiped her plate clean with a piece of toast and put that in her mouth, too. “Don’t look so smug,” she said, pushing her plate away. “It doesn’t suit you.”
“It worked, though, right?”
“Maybe.” She picked up her glass of orange juice. Took a sip. “Had a few hangovers, have you?”
“Not so much these days. I did a lot of hangover cooking for Dad.”
She blinked a little at this. “Your dad?”
“Yeah, Mr. I’ve-Never-Met-A-Bottle-Of-Vodka-I-Didn’t-Love. Don’t tell me you didn’t know that?” Surely she must have. Joseph knew. Had covered for him enough at school the times Caleb was late, cleaning up after another binge or because he’d been all night at the hospital, taking the old man in for yet another detox.
“Oh, yes. I just…forgot.”
An awkward silence fell.
Caleb shifted against the bench, annoyed with himself for even mentioning his father. It wasn’t as if the old man’s drinking was a great conversation starter. “Anyway,” he went on, “I hope you realize I’m not just a pretty face.”
She gave him a dark look. “Not even that, some would say.”
“No.” Then, unable to resist the temptation, he added, “Apparently some would say I’m hot and sexy.”
Her mouth tightened. “I was drunk. I didn’t know what I was doing.”
“So you’re saying you would have sent those replies to any guy who happened to text you last night?”
“Probably.”
If that was truly the case then why was she blushing? Okay, to hell with it. This probably wasn’t the best idea he’d ever had but he wanted her to say it.
He rested his elbows on the counter again. “You know what I think?”
“No, not particularly.”
“I think you’re lying.”
“I’m not.”
Oh yes she was. He knew that look. He’d seen women give it to him before. When they were turned on and pissed off about it.
“You think I’m hot,” he said, and it wasn’t a question. “You think I’m sexy.”
“I do not.”
“Methinks the lady doth protest too much.”
“Methinks the gentleman should stop talking right now.”
For a minute they stared at each other and something changed in the air between them, a charge of electricity building. The blue spark in her eyes glowed and he found he was holding his breath, waiting.
Tell me you want me, Jude. Say it.
She looked away from him abruptly, finishing her glass of orange juice, putting it down with a click on the dark granite countertop. “Well, thanks for breakfast,” she said, her tone brisk.
Annoyance, combined with a healthy amount of disappointment, twisted hard in his chest.
“Scared, baby girl?” he drawled softly.
Color burned on her cheeks. “Scared? Please, what would I be scared of? Oh, and if you call me that again, I’ll kill you.”
“It would be worth it.”
She slid off the chair. “Go home, Caleb.”
He wanted, very much, to make her stay. To make her acknowledge their attraction, the attraction she was so intent on avoiding. But she still wasn’t well and he wasn’t that much of a bastard. Not yet anyway.
“I still need that picture you promised me.”
“I’ll email it to you.”
“What about that kiss you also promised me?”
She didn’t miss a beat. “I’ll send it as an attachment.”
He laughed. “Man, that’s harsh. After I postponed an important meeting to look after you this afternoon.”