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He poured coffee from the carafe and set it in front of her. “You did have trouble settling.”
“I told you I should go home. I didn’t mean to keep you up, but you were warned.”
He flashed her a sexy smile. “It was worth it. I like when you spend the night.”
Something he requested she do every month or so. She tried to coordinate those visits with Summer’s frequent sleepovers. If that wasn’t possible, then Mara stayed with the teen.
“Despite your cutthroat reputation, you’re a traditionalist,” she told him.
“About some things, although I will point out there are very few straight men alive who wouldn’t want you in their bed.”
“You’re being kind. Certainly no one under forty.”
“You underestimate yourself.”
“And you’re being silly.”
“Only for you.”
A timer dinged. Killion removed two baking dishes from the oven and carried them over to the set table. He’d already put out a large bowl of cut-up fruit and glasses of water. Now he set down what looked like a vegetable frittata and a gooey, delicious-looking coffee cake.
“What is that?” she asked, telling herself not to calculate the calories.
“Sour cream coffee cake. You’ll like it.”
“I’m sure I will. Too much.”
He dismissed her concern with a flick of his fingers. “It’s one breakfast.”
“I was thinking I’d take some with me for later, so it’s two breakfasts.”
“Good.”
They served themselves. The frittata was perfect—light, flavorful and something she could tell herself was healthy—but the coffee cake was the real star.
“What time did you get up?” she asked. “It had to be close to five for you to do all this.”
“I’d prepped it last night, before you came over.”
She’d gotten to his place close to nine, directly from Allison’s house. Unfortunately, thinking the other woman’s name brought back memories of the previous day.
“What?” he asked. “You just thought of something.”
“I don’t want that woman living with me. There. I’ve said it and I’m sure that makes me a horrible person, but I don’t.” She set down her fork. “I feel like my life is a moving train that’s going faster and faster and I don’t know how to jump off. It’s not just Allison, it’s Peter and everyone else.”
“Who else is there?”
She grimaced. “The softball moms. Summer is friends with their daughters.”
He nodded. “She tells her friends and her friends tell their moms. Someone said something.”
“Crystal. She was very nice about it and I don’t care what they think, but you know what’s going to happen.” She changed the pitch of her voice. “Yes, my ex-husband’s second wife has moved in. How droll.”
“You don’t care what they think.”
“I tell myself that. They’re nothing to me. I barely know them and we’re not friends.” She looked at him. “But maybe I care a little. It’s all so complicated.”
His smile was gentle. “You know you don’t have a choice in this. Not anymore. Allison has nowhere to go and Summer wants her to move in.”
