Dallas was confused at what was happening here and didn’t immediately kiss Greer. They stared at one another until the awkwardness kicked his manners into gear, and he hesitantly bent for the chaste kiss.
“I’m glad you’re finally up. I didn’t want to wake you.” Greer’s gaze lifted to Dallas’s with confusion knitting his brow. “What’re you doing?”
“I scheduled an Uber,” he said, waving his cell phone at Greer who hadn’t stepped away. “I thought I’d wait outside until they arrived.”
Greer reached up, moving the long pieces of Dallas’s hair off his forehead, and smiled as the strands fell back in his face. “I’m taking you home. That was our deal. Cancel the ride. I got us breakfast.” Greer did that thing he always did. He took charge in a subtle, persuasive, complete way. He clasped Dallas’s elbow and started them toward the kitchen.
“You don’t have to—” he started, but Greer cut him off.
“We talked about breakfast last night. I may have had bigger plans than the current inventory in my refrigerator allowed. I called Ellen’s and had them make a little bit of everything for us. I wasn’t sure what you liked.” Greer only let go when they were in the kitchen. There were seven brimming to-go tins.
“This is for us?” Dallas asked, looking over each selection.
“Yeah.”
“No one else?” There was an awful lot of food for two people.
Greer laughed and ran a hand through this hair. “Well, I wasn’t sure what you liked, but I’ll learn soon enough. I hope you’re hungry.”
Dallas’s inner teenage boy sang a joyous tune at such a smorgasbord filling every spot on the large kitchen island.
“Grab a plate. Did you really schedule a ride?”
“Yeah, I should cancel if you’re sure.” Dallas’s phone was plucked from his hand. Greer scooted around the granite island to the other side, reaching for his wallet, leaving his cell there.
“No, I will. I’m not risking you sneaking out the front door with the deer in the headlights look again. I’ll go tell them. You fix your plate. They delivered coffee and cream. It’s behind you.” Greer took off toward the front door. “Don’t disappear on me,” he warned.
Dallas didn’t have to be told twice when it came to food. He started pulling off the lids to find scrambled eggs, bacon, ham, pancakes, potatoes, two omelets, fresh fruits, sliced cheese and meats, biscuits and bread. Everything a person needed for a great breakfast. Dallas reached for a bottle of orange juice and pulled out one of the barstools as his phone began to vibrate again. In an instant, the reason for the alarm finally dawned on him. Damn. He had a class in fifteen minutes. How had that not occurred to him before now?
Dallas lifted from the bottom rung of the stool and extended an arm as far as he could for his phone. Barely back in his seat, Dallas quickly pulled up Ducky’s number.
“Hello?” Ducky wasn’t awake, but at least he answered. The front door slammed shut as Greer came back into the kitchen. His gaze was glued on Dallas.
“Hey, I’m not gonna make it home in time for a class. Can you schedule one for me?” he asked.
“Yeah. You’re out already this morning?” Instant relief flooded him. Ducky hadn’t known he didn’t make it home last night. An excuse fell into his lap without him really having to lie. A smile slid across his lips as his gaze connected with Greer’s.
“Yeah, I had a thing to do this morning.”
Greer nodded and reached for a plate, handing it over.
“But I’ll be home for the noon class. Derek’s taking the afternoon.”
“Okay. Bye.” Ducky sounded exhausted as he ended the call.
“That’s not enough time,” Greer immediately said, pausing with his plate in hand. “We made plans. Those plans require you to be here.”
“What plans?” He furrowed his brow as he thought back over their conversations.
Greer gave him a cute pout, looking at him as if he were a forgetful child. “The plans of you in my ass this afternoon. I want that big guy making sure I remember where I belong.”
Dallas’s cheeks flushed with heat and his smile brightened. “I don’t know. I have to get ready for work tomorrow,” Dallas said, liking Greer’s idea more than he should.
“Look, I’ll drive you home, drop you off, then go to the grocery store,” Greer said, following along behind him as he filled his plate. “You grab your clothes and come back here. We can have an early dinner. You need to punish me for being a bad boy, maybe twice.” Greer’s brows waggled with the idea. “I’ll set the alarm and you can leave from here in the morning to go to work.”
“You’re insane. I have a million things to do for our company to get ready to be gone all week,” Dallas said as he started filling his plate.