Page 41 of Beastly Mountain Man

“Morning.”

“Morning.”

She kissed me once more.

“That wasn’t payment for brunch.”

“Good. I’d hate to think I undercharged.”

Her smile came easy.

The laptop sat closed on the dining table.

I noticed, though I had no intention of keeping score.

Caprice followed my glance anyway.

“I checked the weather on my phone. I answered one message from my brother because apparently snow is an acceptable reason for him to send me seven photographs of sunshine. I currently resent him.”

“You don’t have to report your screen time to me.”

“I know.” She tucked a loose strand of hair behind one ear. “I wanted to tell you.”

“Okay.”

That seemed to be all she needed from me.

The kitchen looked better than it had at six. Last night’s dishes had been gathered beside the sink instead of spread across the island, but they remained unwashed.

When I opened the refrigerator, the covered container of leftover pasta sat beside the cake.

Caprice leaned against the island.

“I handled the food. The dishes and I are currently at an impasse.”

“You got the important part.”

“That was my assessment.”

“I agree.”

She smiled.

I pulled the waffle iron from one of the lower cabinets.

Caprice stared at it.

“You knew that was in there.”

“I manage the rentals.”

“I’ve been in this kitchen for two days and had no idea there was a waffle iron in that cabinet.”

“You weren’t looking for one.”

“That’s a dangerously rational explanation.”

“You want waffles?”