Surely the house appreciated them to. If it could talk, it would have thanked them. Surely, the house had been tired of my moping around the halls with only the dogs barking to end the silence.
I’m glad they’re here.
I checked my watch and figured everyone would be up by now. It took me no time to shower and dress.
I’m going to beat her to making breakfast. She’s always doing it and telling me no. This time, I’ll show her.
When I rushed down the stairs, I stopped in the doorway.
Ebony was already at the stove.
I frowned. “Really?”
She glanced over her shoulder and laughed. “I told you that I’m the one that makes breakfast.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I want to.”
“You’re trying to be helpful.”
“Just trying?” She fake pouted. “I’m not being helpful?”
“You know you are.” I crossed my arms over my chest and watched. She wore a fitted cardigan sweater. It was long and hugged every curve. “You’re spoiling me.”
“Not even a little bit.”
“If you keep this up, I’m going to forget how to make breakfast for myself.”
She shrugged and gestured with the spatula at the window. “That’s fine. I’ll be right over there in the back of your property. You can just get dressed every morning and walk on over.”
“Hmmm.”
She hit me with that heartwarming smile. “We’re family. Remember. Mi casa su casa. Well. . .it’s already your house anyway, but you get what I mean.”
“I do and I will take you up on that invitation.”
Heavy trampling sounded on the stairs.
The kids are up.
I chuckled to myself, knowing what would come next.
“Yoshiro, can we take the dogs out and feed them?” Kia stared at me. Her bruises had left. She looked like a normal little girl now—no stress around her eyes. No swelling among the sadness.
“You’ve got it.”
“Come on, Poppy,” Kia called behind her. “We’re feeding the dogs.”
“Yes!” Poppy raced down next.
Jalen followed her. He’d been in the middle of putting on his sweater. Part of it dangled on one arm as he tried to get the other one in. “Wait! Don’t go without me.”
Ebony shook her head. “Everybody calm down.”
Salt and Pepa barked and jumped. Sometimes they were worse than the kids.
Once they barreled out of the house, I walked over and stood next to Ebony, reveling in her familiar scent. When I knew she wasn’t looking, I inhaled deeply. “What are you making?”
“Bacon and eggs. Oh could you get the bread and some plates out.”
“Of course.” I picked the plates first since they were so close to her. It gave me the opportunity to brush against that lovely body as I reached into the cabinet.
Her body shivered, shoving me on edge.
She faltered with flipping the bacon over. “Shit.”
I smirked. “You need help?”
She blushed. “No.”
I wouldn’t touch her again this morning. But her reaction was enough to give me hope. It told me that we were both attracted to each other. Or maybe it was all in my head. All my yearning creating a reality that might not be there.
She glanced my way. “You didn’t get the bread.”
“Oh. . .sorry.” I hurried, grabbed it, and brought the loaf over to her. “There you go. . .queen.”
She laughed. “Are you flirting to get more bacon and extra eggs? All you have to do is ask.”
“That wasn’t flirting. I just called you a queen.”
“Hmmm.” She turned the pan of bacon off, placed them on a tray to drain, and returned to the eggs.
“How did you sleep last night?” I asked.
“Good. Like always. That bed is super comfortable.”
“I was thinking that the kids could sleep in the other rooms. Surely, you all would be more comfortable.”
She bit her lip. “Yeah. . .but. . .”
“You’ll think about it?”
“Yes.” She turned my way and for a few seconds her gaze strayed to my arms. “You’re not cold with just a shirt?”
“Nope.” I joked. “In fact, I may take this shirt off, but kids are around.”
Her gaze hit my chest and then lowered a little to my crotch. She swallowed and returned to the eggs.
Yeah. There’s an attraction there. Even if she’s not ready to realize it.
I could see it in her eyes, in the way her skin flushed, and her breathing went shallow the more I came near.
Be patient.
It took everything in my body to hold myself back. I wanted to yank her to me, take her into my arms, and crush my mouth against those lovely lips. But if I rushed it, she would walk away. Would it be too much for her to handle? Would she see me like an erratic beast—no better than Wyatt? Would her comfort with me go? Would the only option for her be to rush away? Escape?
Ebony’s soft voice pulled me from my thoughts. “So, I woke up early and rummaged around the attic some more.”
“Okay.”
“I found a box of Christmas lights and an old plastic tree. I don’t know how soon we’ll be able to move into the other house, but I was wondering if I could decorate the house in the back or this? I don’t want to bother you.”