Chapter 4 #2
“Yup,” I replied. “We do most of the baking and all of the decorating too, though we do have two awesome kitchen helpers who come in to do prep and handle some of the more basic recipes so we can focus on some of the more complicated creations.”
“It’s the best job in the world,” Mav declared.
“I’m going to get the food started. If you guys want to join me in here, it will be way easier to talk, and there’s a hell of a view of the pond from the bay window, though it does seem to be getting a bit dark out there.
I think some of those clouds we saw on the way up here have finally started to roll in. ”
“Dang, this is nice!” Leo said as they stepped into the kitchen. “They really wouldn’t have wanted me trying to cook meals in here; I’d have ended up with something splattered on the ceiling with my luck, and the artwork up there is fantastic.”
I hadn’t even noticed any artwork, so I tipped my head back and took in the decorative bronze above my head, each square with designs in them. All of woodland creatures, leaves, and trees.
“No wonder it was so bright when we first stepped in here,” I commented, as I took the time to move around the room and really look at each image.
“Who needs artificial light when you have something like this to amplify all the beautiful sunlight streaming in?” Leo commented as he headed for the bench, while Maverick stepped up to the counter like he intended to help me.
“I’ve got it,” I said, waving him off.
“Fine, but only if I get to make the crepes in the morning.”
“You know I never turn down your crepes.”
“I love crepes,” Leo declared, ice still pressed to the back of his head. “I’d ask if I was still passed out and dreaming, but I don’t ever remember feeling pain in a dream, so I’m fairly confident that this is actually happening.”
“Oh, it’s real,” Maverick said as he leaned back to peer further out the window. “About as real as those wicked-looking storm clouds out there. Wow. We might want to turn on the fireplace and curl up with a movie after we eat.”
“Sounds good to me,” Leo said. “I’ve been dying to try out that fireplace since I saw the pictures of the cabins online.”
“Same,” I replied.
“Well then, it sounds like we have a plan for after we eat,” Maverick declared as I poured the stock in a pot to boil before I added the rice.
With nothing left to do but wait, I slid onto the bench across the table from them and took my time studying Leo.
“What? Do I have something on my face?” He asked, scrubbing at his cheek while squirming beneath the scrutiny.
“Nope, sorry, it’s a cat thing; we tend to get fixated when we’re curious about something, or in this case, someone,” I explained. “I’ll try not to make you uncomfortable.”
“No, it’s okay; I was just worried that I had a bit of something stuck to my cheek after hitting the floor.”
“Not with as immaculate as the cabin was before we started making ourselves at home,” I said.
“It was as meticulously clean as we like to keep our kitchen. I just wish we’d thought of installing a ceiling like this in the front of the shop.
Between the bronze and the bay window, our display cases, and all the goodies inside would truly shimmer. ”
“Who says we can’t?” Mav said. “Let’s get with Dyllan after we get back and see what he thinks and what his schedule looks like. If he can pencil us in during our down week between winter and spring, we’d have something truly eye-catching when we open back up.”
“I’ll make a note before bed tonight,” I promised, then realized something we hadn’t considered when we’d made the decision to share the cabin.
“Umm, speaking of beds, we might want to check and see if the couch pulls out into one. If not, Mav and I could always sleep on the hearth in front of the fire, since we sleep in our fur just as often as we sleep in our skin.”
“You guys shouldn’t have to sleep on the floor; that’s hardly fair. I can take the couch and let you guys have the bed,” Leo said. “Considering there are two of you and only one of me.”
“Or we could just share the bed,” Maverick said, shrugging. “Like Briar said, we enjoy sleeping shifted anyway.”
He looked a bit startled by that, a soft flush spreading over the bridge of his nose as he glanced from me to where Mav was sitting beside him.
“I-I’m not sure that would be a good idea,” he said, lips quirking into a lopsided grin.
“When I first saw you guys curled up on the bed, I thought you were life-sized stuffed animals. I’d fully intended to cuddle with you when I went to sleep.
I wouldn’t want to offend you by accidentally doing it while I’m zonked out. ”
“I love cuddles,” Mav declared. “It wouldn’t offend me in the slightest.”
“You’d hear no complaints out of me, either. With that king-sized bed in there, we’d all be comfortable.”
“I guess we’re all sleeping together then,” Leo declared, his flush deepening when he realized how what he’d said could be taken.
Mav’s giggles made him slap a hand over his eyes and groan, while I just sat there enjoying the moment, eager to see what the next two weeks would bring.