"I know, I know. Get a good night's sleep. Sleep late. The office will be closed tomorrow. I'll pick you up, feed you breakfast, and then take you shopping. Be ready at ten sharp."
"Okay."
"G'night, Jenny."
"G'night, Cage."
* * *
"Good morning, Jenny."
"Hm?"
"I said good morning."
Jenny yawned broadly into the pillow, stretched her pointed toes as far as she could reach beneath the covers, and pried her eyes open. Then she popped erect. Cage was sitting on the edge of her bed, smiling down at her. "Welcome back to the land of the living."
"What time is it?"
"Ten after ten. I arrived at ten o'clock on the dot, knocked, and got no answer. I went to the lobby to pick up an extra key and let myself in."
"I'm sorry," she said, raking the hair out of her eyes. She blushed becomingly under his ardent perusal of her sleepy disarray and inched the sheet up higher over her breasts. "I was exhausted."
"Hungry?"
"Starving."
"I'll go order breakfast in the coffee shop while you get dressed." He dropped an airy kiss on the tip of her nose before pulling himself off the bed.
"I'll be right there," she called to him as he closed the door behind him.
She looked fresh and rested when she joined him twenty minutes later in the coffee shop. She had dressed in a simple skirt and blouse, but had accessorized them with a paisley shawl tied at her waist under one arm. Her shoes had low heels and narrow ankle straps that captured Cage's attention as she crossed the casual dining room toward him.
He knew she had taken one of her first pay checks and used it to refurbish her wardrobe. She was dressing with more flair than she had when she was engaged to Hal.
"Am I late?"
"Your food just got here. I like your shoes, by the way."
"They're new," she said absently, eyeing the platters of food at her plate setting. "All of this is for me?"
"Yep."
"You don't expect me to eat it all, do you?"
"I expect you to make a big dent in it. Get busy. I'm outlining our attack."
"Aren't you eating?" she asked, spreading the napkin in her lap.
"I went ahead." His head was bent over a note pad where he was jotting down an extensive list of households items she would need.
Jenny was taken by the endearing picture he made. There were a thousand shades of blond and brown and ash in his hair, but it all added up to dusty blond color that looked rugged and perpetually wind-tossed.
His cheeks and chin had been closely shaved and the brisk scent of his cologne overwhelmed even the aroma of fresh coffee as the waitress filled Jenny's cup. His tawny brow was furrowed with concentration.
He was dressed in jeans and a sport shirt, but there was a raw silk jacket draped over the back of his chair. It was an odd wardrobe combination, and one only a man who flagrantly broke all the rules could get by with.
He was gorgeous in a sexy, dangerous way. Jenny knew just how dangerous his appeal could be. It drew a woman out of her shell until she didn't recognize herself anymore. Jenny had to consciously settle her stomach down before she could take a bite of food.