In the night they turned, still holding each other, face to face. Ben opened his eyes. Liv looked peaceful, and breathtaking. He traced the curve of her jaw, once again moved by how deeply she affected him.
He glanced at the clock, it was a little after seven. If he woke her now, they’d have time to have breakfast together before she had to be at the barn. It would be a normal, everyday kind of thing, and it would be about her.
He’d listened last night. He pushed too hard. She said it to him that day in Vegas. When he asked if it was too much, she answered too soon.
“Hey, cowgirl, time to wake up.” He kissed her eyelids, then moved down to the tip of her nose, then each soft cheek. “Wake up, baby.”
“Hmm, what time is it?”
“Early enough for you to have breakfast and still be on time.”
“Good,” she groaned, and when she stretched, the sheet fell away from her body. “I’m starving.”
Ben needed to get out of bed now, right now, while they still had time to have breakfast. They hadn’t had dinner last night, and he had to make sure she ate this morning. If he got lost in her body again, they wouldn’t have time.
“Come on,” he said, pulling her arm. “I’ll start the shower for you.”
She pulled him toward her. “No, come back. We have time.”
It would be so easy to climb back in bed and take what he needed from her, but she needed nourishment more than she needed him.
He let go of her arm, bent down and put her over his shoulder. “Shower, baby, let’s go.”
“Nooo. What are you doing? Ben, stop!” Her fists pounded at his back.
Ben reached in and turned the shower on. Ice cold water. Perfect. He climbed in and set her on her feet. Liv screamed when the frigid water hit her back and started pummeling him. And laughing.
It was going to be a good day.
“Pancakes. Wait. And sausage. Or bacon. Just bring both. And eggs, scrambled. Oh, and toast. Don’t forget toast.”
The waitress stood with one hand on her hip, waiting for Liv to finish. “Anything else? Hash browns?”
“Oh yes, hash browns, that sounds good. Thanks.” Liv turned to Ben. “What are you having?”
Before he answered, she started talking to the waitress again. “Oh, and coffee. And juice. Um, do you have tomato juice?”
“Yep, got it. Coffee and tomato juice.” She continued to look at Liv, expectantly.
“That’s it for me. What are you having Ben? Come on, order. We need to be quick, so I’m not late.”
“I’ll have what she’s having.”
That got a laugh out of the waitress, who seemed as amused by Liv as he was.
Liv read the program for the rodeo she picked up on their way into the diner.
“Whatcha’ lookin’ for?”
“Nothin’,” she answered absentmindedly, as she hurriedly flipped through pages. She stopp
ed, set the booklet down, and folded her hands on top of it.
“I’m sorry. That was rude.”
“It’s okay, you can read if you want to.”
“It’s not very polite,” she murmured.