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“I’d like the Penny special, please.”
Penny filled the electric kettle and slid the three pieces of bread into the toaster. She found a jar of Nanna’s berry jam in the fridge and the world’s largest jar of peanut butter on the counter next to the bananas. Penny didn’t need to open too many cupboards to find what she was looking for. Her mom had organized this kitchen just like the one at home. She added a hearty squirt of honey to the bottom of the mug, remembering Five liked his tea on the sweeter side.
She pulled out the toast and assembled the triple-decker peanut butter, banana, and jam sandwich, placing it on a plate next to the remaining banana. Normally she would have eaten it as payment for making the sandwich, but Five looked like he needed the nutrition more than she did. Penny poured the boiling water into the mug and added the tea bag.
There was still no sign of Bash. And, as nice as it was to care for Five, failing wouldn’t help her. But she could improvise. Make herself some tea. Challenge Five to a video game. Kill time until Bash showed up. What if he’s on a date? Her waiting in the kitchen for him like a parent would be awkward.
“I was hoping to catch Harper, but she’s not home. Can I hang in the kitchen and catch up on emails?” she asked, lying through her teeth and hoping Five didn’t know where their big sister was.
“Sure, whatever,” Five said, before taking a lion-sized bite of the sandwich. “Bef samwich eva.”
“You’re welcome. Eat that, then go to bed. I’ll straighten up the kitchen.” As I wait to ambush Bash so I can apologize and get my power back.
Penny turned the kettle on and grabbed a rag, intent on wiping down the counter and cabinet handles as her water heated. But the clear glass tea kettle caught her attention as the bubbles took shape, mesmerizing her and making her rethink her strategy. She shouldn’t be here. Waiting for him. She was making too big of a fuss over this. It would be better to apologize the next time he stopped in to Get Lost. She could make a joke out of it, and they’d laugh it off. But the look on Bash’s face as he’d left told her he wouldn’t. And what if he didn’t come back? Penny bit her lip. Stay or go? she asked, staring at the rapid boil.
“I didn’t know housekeeping came with the rent,” Bash said, striding into the kitchen in nothing but a low-slung towel and glasses. Penny mentally fanned herself. Dear Lord, he wears glasses.
Chapter 12
Penny didn’t know where to look, but heaven help her, she couldn’t stop. The glasses highlighted how handsome he was. His bare chest and arms were a work of art carved from years of training. The dark mat of hair on his chest trailed down his abdomen and disappeared underneath the edge of the towel.
“Cleaning doesn’t,” she said, looking over his left shoulder and catching his reflection in the patio glass. His backside was as glorious as the front. It was like having a living David statue in front of her, except bigger and warmer, and scowling. “Which is good, since it would be a waste of your money. You guys are surprisingly tidy.” Her smile dimmed as his scowl deepened.
“We’re not a bunch of frat boys.” The kettle clicked off and Penny turned to get a mug and a tea bag. She wouldn’t stay and drink it, but she knew Five would. Her mission was a quick apology and then retreat. Not linger in the kitchen drinking tea with a barely dressed man. No matter how appealing the idea suddenly was.
Bash stepped behind her, crowding her. Penny’s nose twitched as his citrusy scent surrounded her. Looks good. Smells good. And tastes good, she thought remembering the kiss in the office, feeling warmer than she should. She needed to stop before she did something foolish like kiss him. Again.
“Hey, I’m standing right here. You don’t get to barge into my space,” Penny said as her lust-filled thoughts cleared.
“I want a glass.”
“Then wait for me to move or ask me to hand you one. Don’t shove me to the side.”
“But I need it.”
“And I need a mug and I was here first. Your needs are not more important than mine, and you can’t shove someone aside. That’s rude.” She reached for the mug, but he grabbed it first, leaning closer to her as he poured the boiling water into it.
“Why are you here, Penny? In my kitchen.”
She took a deep, calming breath. He was insufferable and rude, and Penny questioned her sanity. It was crazy to think she could read him again when she barely tolerated his presence, and he seemed to feel the same way. There was no way this would work. But if you can’t make it work, you won’t overcome the challenge and you won’t increase your powers, her inner witch reminded her.
Penny needed her focus back, and in the last few days, her power and attention had slipped. Magic wouldn’t fold her t-shirts nicely and her fitted sheet looked mangled. Normally she magicked the corners and it folded beautifully. But yesterday? It had rolled itself into an untidy ball and flung itself shamefully into her closet. He’s the key to getting my mojo back.
She swallowed around the doubt and common sense clogging her throat. “I want to apologize. For what I said in the office. The words didn’t match my mood, and it came out all wrong. It had nothing to do with you, and I’m sorry I hurt your feelings.”
Penny felt his chuckle at her back before it escaped his lips. She clenched her jaw. “I’m surprised you think I have feelings.” She bobbed her tea bag in the hot water, giving her something to do and time to think. He wasn’t graciously accepting her apology. Ass. He’s probably never apologized for anything, ever.
“Can you move so I can get a spoon?” Instead of moving, like a reasonable person would, Mr. Gorilla-Arms reached into the silverware drawer and pulled one out. He handed it to her, and she almost dropped it as their fingers brushed.
“And what was your mood?” His breath tickled her ear and Penny felt like he was playing with her. Like he was a big old barn cat toying with a trapped mouse before it went in for the kill. But she couldn’t let him win.
“Happy and satisfied,” she confessed. She’d have rather taken that truth to her grave, but she’d hoped her honest admission might disarm him, so he’d forgive her, and they could move on. But to what, she didn’t know. Friends? Friends who kissed? Friends who… His snort derailed her thoughts, and Penny turned toward him. Not an easy task, since both he and the kitchen counter were immovable objects. “You don’t believe me?”
“From the way you tried to climb me like a kitten climbs a Christmas tree, I’d go with hot and eager for more.”
Penny wanted to rub the smug look off his face, but that wouldn’t get her what she needed.
“Maybe.” His face morphed from smug to pleased as he leaned into her. Penny touched his chest—to stop him or to touch him, she wasn’t sure—and he paused as if waiting for her permission before continuing. He wanted to kiss her. Again. And against her better judgment, she was all in. Her finger trailed down his chest and his eyes widened. When she touched the edge of the towel, his blue eyes dared her. He was like her very own Clark Kent with those sexy glasses.
