Chapter 17
I find Reed standing in the kitchen the next morning in nothing but a pair of black shorts. I walk up behind him and wrap my arms around his waist. “Good morning,” I whisper to his back before placing a kiss there.
He leans into the hug and places his hand over mine on his stomach. “It is now.”
I slide to his side and lean against the counter. “You know how to cook?” I ask as he flips a pancake.
He laughs. “I know how to read a box if that’s what you mean.”
My eyes have wandered down from his face to his bare chest. God, I love being able to oogle him openly here.
He cocks an eyebrow at me. “Speaking of cooking, we should go shopping today. Tim told me about a wholesale store in town here. We might be able to get you some equipment at a discount. Then we can spot-buy everything else as needed. At least get you set up enough for the events already booked.”
I push up and sit on the counter next to him. “Sounds good. I reached out to the local culinary school too. They said there are many students who would be willing to work for me during school for extra cash. At least the job is somewhat in their field even if I’m not a professional or anything.”
Reed stares at me with a stupid smile on his face. He looks so proud of me. It takes my breath away for a moment. I squirm uncomfortably because I don’t know how to handle it. “What?” I ask.
He bites his bottom lip and then steps in between my legs. “You’re amazing,” he whispers before kissing my lips.
I smell something burning and push him back. “Reed!” I laugh. “The pancakes!”
“Fuck!” he yells as he tries to pull them off the heat, but it’s too late. They are completely black.
I throw my head back laughing, and he stares back at me. “Shut up!” he jokes.
He walks back over in between my legs and places his hands on my bare thighs since I’m only wearing his t-shirt. “This is your fault, you know.”
“My fault?” I fake offense.
“Yes.” His grip on my legs tightens. Then his lips begin traveling up my neck. “How am I supposed to focus on food when I’m hungry for something else?”
I moan as my eyes roll up to the ceiling. “You know, Ellie told me there’s lots of great breakfast places in town if you don’t want to waste time cooking, there might be time for other things.”
He growls into my neck as he lifts me off the counter. He slams his mouth against mine as I wrap my legs around his waist, and he carries me back to the bedroom.
We get back to the cottage a little after three. The whole back of Reed’s truck is full of new catering supplies. Who knew there was so much needed? Well, some of it was probably not a necessity, but Reed insisted on getting everything.
We walk back into the house, and Reed wraps his arms around me from behind. I snuggle back against him and sigh. “Do we have to go home?”
He lightly kisses my shoulder and squeezes me tighter. “I have a deadline at work.”
“You’re the boss. Change the deadline,” I complain.
He chuckles. “Unfortunately being the boss requires me to pay my employees, which also means meeting my customers’ deadlines.”
I step forward out of his arms and turn to face him. I sigh. “So this is it then, huh? Back to reality?”
He gives me a half smile and reaches his hand to my arm. “Wren, we need to tal-.” He’s cut off by the doorbell ringing.
He glances toward the front door and then back at me. I shrug because I don’t know who it could be. “One second,” he says as he jogs over to the door.
He looks startled when he opens it. “Dad?” he asks.
His dad walks into the cottage, and I open my eyes wide as well. “Mr. MacCallum? Is everything okay?” I ask because I have no idea why else he’d be here.
He gives me a smile that doesn’t reach his eyes. “Everything is fine.” He turns to Reed. “A moment?”
I give Reed a questioning look behind his dad’s back, but he just shrugs like he has no idea either as he follows his dad into the spare bedroom. It’s not like the cottage is very big, so I could probably still hear them from here, but I tiptoe closer to the door anyway.
I hear Reed first.
“What are you doing here?”
His dad sounds angry. “What am I doing here? What are you doing here?”
Reed doesn’t respond, so his dad continues. “You’re lucky your mother doesn’t know about this. It would kill her if she found out. Don’t you think she’s been through enough recently? C’mon, Reed! Now you’re here taking advantage of that poor girl.”
“It’s not like that,” Reed grits out.