That shit is getting on my last goddamn nerve.
I only get it when I’m with Mia.
Maybe it’s…?
No.
No. Fucking. Way.
“Are you ready to eat now?” I blurt out.
She looks a little taken aback at my abruptness. “Yes.”
“Okay. Good.” I turn and walk down the hall.
I was short. I didn’t mean to be, and I know I’m having mood swings like a hormonal teenager, but I just can’t seem to control my emotions around her. My head is all over the goddamn place.
I hear the door click close behind me, then the gentle sound of flip-flops slapping against her feet.
The sound is like a beat inside my chest.
I’m out on the terrace before she is. It’s a warm morning, so I thought she might like to eat outside.
I set the table already. I called Paula last night and told her not to come in today. There’s not much that needs doing, nothing I can’t do myself.
It has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that I like being here with Mia. Alone.
Nothing at all.
“You mind if I eat with you?” I check as she takes a seat.
She’s still a guest here, and I have to remind myself of that. Even if I am letting myself get a little entwined in her life.
Her smile is a puzzled one. “No, of course not.”
“Cool.” I start to back away toward the door. “What would you like to drink?”
“Coffee would be great.”
I head in the kitchen. I have the food already on a tray, so I just add the coffee pot, cream and sugar.
“I made a few things,” I say as I come back outside. “I wasn’t sure what you would like, but last night you said you were easy to please…” I grin as I put the tray of waffles, pancakes, bacon and toast down in the middle of the table.
“You made all of this … for me?” She gulps. Her eyes are glittering.
A feeling yanks inside my chest like the pulling of puppet strings. I shift uncomfortably.
“Yeah, well, you are a paying guest.” I shrug.
Her face falls. “Yes, of course.” Her words are quiet, but they’ve affected me more than if she had yelled them at me.
I’m such a fucking idiot.
“Shit, that sounded…” I take the seat across from her. “I don’t make breakfast like this for everyone.”
Actually, I’ve never made a breakfast like this for anyone in my life before, come to think of it. I don’t do breakfast for the guests. Paula or Dad do. And if I did, they’d be lucky to get a bowl of cereal.
“You haven’t?” Her eyebrow lifts in disbelief.
“Nope. Scouts honor.” I tap two fingers to my temple.
“You were a boy scout?”
“Lasted a day.” I grin. “But it’s the truth about the food. I just broke my breakfast virginity with you.”
Her cheeks turn deep pink.
Too much?
Like I care. I want her. Bad. Fuck everything I’ve said these last few days about staying away. I can’t. I’m not holding back with her anymore. There’s something here with Mia, and I have to find out what it is.
Our gaze holds for one beat … two…
She looks away to the food. “The waffles look really yummy. Well, it all looks yummy. And the pancakes look … delicious, and the toast is…” She’s stumbling on her words. It’s cute to watch.
“Toast,” I finish for her with a chuckle.
As if on cue, her cheeks flush again. She starts to chew on the inside of her lip. Watching her do that makes my cock pulse and my heart race.
“You should eat. You missed dinner last night.” I push the tray toward her.
She pinches her lower lip between her thumb and forefinger. “I am quite hungry.”
Tentatively, she reaches out and picks up a waffle, putting it on her plate.
I sit and watch as she pours maple syrup on the waffle, then lifts it to her mouth and takes a bite. Her eyes close on the food, and the small moan that escapes her stands my guy to attention.
Fuck. Me.
It sounds exactly like the moans I spent most of last night imagining her making.
I shift in my seat, tilting my body from her view, then cross my leg over the other to hide the boner I’m now sporting.
I dig into the pancakes and start piling them up on my plate.
Dozer trots over and lies by my chair, giving me the doe eyes.
I take a pancake off my plate and give it to him. When I look up, Mia’s gazing at me with a smile.
My chest starts to ache again.
“This is a good waffle,” she says, tearing off another piece and putting it in her mouth. “Am I okay, to give Dozer some?” She gestures to my greedy ass dog who has swallowed the pancake I just gave him whole, and is now eyeballing the food in Mia’s hand.