Page 49 of Craig

"How long have you been up?" Pouring two mugs, she handed him one before going over to the table to pull out a chair.

"About thirty minutes ago. I'm accustomed to early rising. How did you sleep?"

"What?" The question unnerved her as she wondered if the sleepless night showed on her face after all.

"Strange bed and all," he clarified, expression curious.

"I- it wasn't bad." She lied.

"Good brew."

"The best." He plated the pancakes and added bacon, bringing them over.

"I forgot the syrup. We have maple, pecan, and strawberry."

"Maple."

The table was too small, she thought a little frantically. When he sat, his knees were brushing hers.

Moving away would make it too obvious, so she stayed put.

"You can make pancakes." She fussed with the syrup, drowning the pancakes as well as the bacon, causing him to wince.

"Which you'll probably not taste due to all that." He gestured to the syrup swimming on the plate.

"Oh!" She laughed and felt the tension dissolving.

"I tend to go for the excess. I love pancakes. And it's clear that I also love syrup as well."

Diving in, she scooped some up and chewed. "Very good."

"One of my specialties. We used to fend for ourselves whenever we came here. Mom insisted that I learn how to handle myself in the kitchen. At the manor, we weren't allowed within a mile of that room. The chef was very territorial."

Regina scooped up some more pancakes. "Is it the same chef that's there now?"

He shook his head.

"Manuel, that was his name, died five years ago. He had a stroke. He was rude and moody. The old man gave him full run of the kitchen, and he took it too far. Things had to be done his way all the time. Most of the staff were terrified of him. He shouted a lot."

"I met the one that's there now. He's very quiet and certainly can cook."

"Andre. Very French and respectable."

He picked up his coffee and took a sip.

"He's also not a pushover. The old man tried to intimidate him, but it didn't work."

"Good for him." To her surprise, she realized she had scraped the plate clean.

"I must have been very hungry."

"Or my cooking is that good." He voiced the alternative with a grin.

"Your ego is showing."

"It's more an appreciation for my talent." Her snort had him laughing.

"More coffee?"