Chapter 9 #2
He shakes his head. “Not much of a breakfast guy on my days off.”
I stare at my plate. Then at him. “You put, what, two thousand calories’ worth of food in front of me, and you’re going to sit there and watch me eat it?”
His mouth twitches. “Something like that.”
I take a bite and, of course, the pancakes are amazing. To-die-for good, actually. “Wow, these are delicious.”
Eddie winks, taking another swig of coffee. “Told you.”
I settle in, forgetting for a moment that I’m the only one wolfing down this insane breakfast.
He drums on the table with a simple rhythm. “So… about last night. We should probably discuss it.”
I force down the bite of pancake and rest my fork on the plate, because I know I’m not eating anymore after this chat. “Okay.”
Part of me wants to jump in and apologize. Beat him to the proverbial punch. Another part of me wants to crawl under the table and hide, and yet another part wants to grab my purse, dash out the door and run home.
Since I’m not up for running right now, I go with the first option.
“I’m sorry if I was too… exuberant. Too loud. Too much.”
His fingers still, a look of surprise crossing his face. “Never apologize for that. You were incredible, Kiki.”
I was? Wait, he’s not bothered by my impetuous actions? God, if I had behaved like that with Drake, he’d be furious.
“You need to keep doing that every time, because—” Eddie blows out a hard breath, running a hand along the back of his neck.
“Wait a second. Every time? You want to do that again?”
Something shifts in his expression as he gets up to grab a refill of coffee. “Okay, I guess you don’t.” He takes a sip, grimacing. “Was this a one-time deal for you? Crazy, off the wall birthday sex? I mean, could it have been with anyone, and I just happened to be there?”
The man is so far removed from the truth that it’s laughable. Does he honestly think I used him as a quick birthday lay?
I chuckle, earning an incredulous look from Eddie. “Sorry. I can’t believe you think that’s what I set out to do… with you. Honestly, I figured it would be the other way around. You’d be the one regretting everything.”
“I don’t make blueberry pancakes for just anyone.”
God, this man is amazing. A real laugh bubbles out of me, softening the surrounding tension.
“They are damn fine pancakes, but—”
“I hate that word,” he groans.
“Seriously, my life is a mess, as you know. Even if it weren’t, I’m too old for you. I’m forty. And you’re… fuck, you’re perfect.”
Didn’t mean to say all that aloud, but too late now.
“That’s enough.” Eddie pulls my chair from the table, crouching in front of me, his hands resting on my thighs. “We’re going to have this conversation one last time about your age.”
I huff out a weak breath. “Doubtful.”
“I’m not kidding.” He grabs my hands, pressing a kiss to my fingers. “I don’t care how old you are. It wouldn’t matter if you were twenty-five. It wouldn’t matter if you were sixty-five.”
When I open my mouth to argue, Eddie presses a finger to my lips.
“Let me finish, Kiki. I like you. More than I should, probably. I liked working with you. I liked being friends with you. I liked becoming closer to you.” He drops another kiss to my fingers.
“And I really liked what happened last night. I want to give this a real shot, but I can’t do that if you’re halfway out the door, thinking I’m too young for you.
I can’t change my age, but I can promise it’s never going to be an issue for me. ”
I can’t be sure if it’s the way he looks at me, or the way he makes me feel, or the timbre of his voice as it soothes the hurts, but I believe him.
And God knows I want him. If he wants to give it a real shot, I’m all in. How could I not be?
Skewing my mouth to the side, I release the fear, and just go with it. “Well, it’s a good proposition. You’re wonderful. Funny, kind, generous, gorgeous, a killer body, and…”
He leans in, swiping a finger along my jaw. “And what?”
I fall back against the chair, pulling my leg up as an indirect shield. “Fucking amazing in bed.”
Yep, my entire body is bright pink, for the tenth time this morning.
“What was that? Couldn’t quite hear you.”
Of course, the man heard me. He caught every word, but he’s going to make me say it again.
Fine. Two can play that game.
“I said,” my voice growing louder with each syllable, “that you’re fucking amazing in bed. The greatest time I’ve ever had. The things you do with your mouth should be illegal, and I’m still recovering.”
I sip my coffee, meeting his amused gaze head-on. “Did you hear me that time? Think I was loud enough for your neighbors?”
He pulls me from the chair and into his arms. “Yeah, I think they got it, although I think they got it last night too. Maybe I’ll go outside later. Show off my scratches. Really drive the point home.”
“That’s fine, so long as you tell them I’m the one who left them and that I don’t share.”
Do I sound like a possessive girlfriend? Maybe. Sue me. It’s not like I’d do anything to his admirers, although I know how to flatten a tire should someone come too close to my man.
My man.
Damn, but I like the sound of that.
But if my words bother him, he doesn’t show it. His grip tightens, his lips hovering against mine. “Kiki Wilder, are you laying claim to me?”
I raise a brow and drape my hands over his shoulders. “Well, you said you didn’t want this to be a one-night stand.”
“I did.”
“And I don’t want you having one-night stands with anyone else. So yeah. I guess I am.”
He releases an appreciative growl as he nips at my lips. “There she is.”
“Who?”
“The fiery little vixen who turned my world upside down last night.” His hands frame my face, thumbs swiping against my cheeks. “Don’t you ever hide her.”
His lips seize mine in a slow, drugging kiss, until I’m certain I’ll fall to the ground if I release my grip on him.
“Because I’m crazy about this version of you.”
Eddie whispers the words, but they hit deep. Because Drake never was.
Drake liked me polished. Controlled. Predictable. The version of me that didn’t say the wrong thing, didn’t laugh too loud, didn’t make public displays or attract attention. A placid version that made his life easier.
The perfect police chief’s wife.
A far cry from the woman standing in Eddie’s kitchen, still wrecked from last night, and totally unapologetic about it.
Eddie pulls back, brushing a few errant strands from my face. “So, we’re doing this?”
“Damn straight we are.”
Another grin pulls at the corner of his mouth. “What are your plans for the rest of the weekend?”
“I don’t know. Spending it with you?”
Okay, that might have been too much, too soon.
Or… not too much at all.
He huffs out a quiet laugh, shaking his head. “That is such a good answer.”
“Two things.” I hold up my fingers. “First, I want my amazing breakfast and then I need a shower.”
His hands wrap around my hips, pulling me flush against him. “Can I join you?”
“Oh, yes, sir, you can absolutely join me, but only if you’re going to be an active participant in there.”
A sexy, borderline dangerous smirk crosses his face. “You don’t even know.”
Then he swings me over his shoulder in a fireman’s hold and heads straight for the bedroom, shower and food long forgotten.
We have more important business to attend to, and it’s going to take all day.