Page 25 of Mountain Dreams

She couldn’t believe she’d slept that late. “I was just about to get dressed.”

“You can get dressed after breakfast.” He paused and added, “Assuming you’re wearing pajamas.”

She shook her head and laughed. “Yes, I’m wearing pajamas.”

“Okay, then. Come down and eat while it’s still hot.”

“Be right there.”

She waited until she heard his footsteps recede. Then she pulled a robe out of her suitcase, put it on, and cautiously opened the bedroom door. She heard him moving around downstairs, so she scurried across the hall to the bathroom. She used the facilities, washed her hands, and then smoothed them over her hair.

“Maddie,” he called.

“Coming!” she shouted back. How weird that I’m eating breakfast with him…in my pajamas!

She double-knotted the tie of her robe. Her pajamas weren’t the least bit provocative; however, she wasn’t wearing a bra, and she didn’t want him seeing anything he shouldn’t.

A moment later, she entered the kitchen/dining room and stopped in her tracks. The table was set for two, and in the center were plates of scrambled eggs, bacon, and waffles. There was also a small vase with a spray of flowers sticking out of it. Where had he found flowers in February?

“They’re fake,” he said apologetically. “It was the best I could do on short notice.”

Real or fake, she was touched by the effort he’d gone to. “Thank you. Everything looks wonderful.”

“Have a seat. Can I pour you some coffee?”

“Yes, please.”

“How do you take it?” he asked as he walked over to the coffee pot.

Unlike her, he was already dressed in jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt. Somehow her gaze landed on his butt, and she forced herself to look away.

“I’ll take cream if you have it.”

“Here at Mountain Dreams, we have everything your heart desires,” he teased. He opened the refrigerator and bent over to retrieve the cream.

Even after all these years, he filled out a pair of jeans better than any man she’d ever known. She felt a twinge of guilt, thinking that this even included Wyatt. She shook her head, not wanting to think about Wyatt right now.

Cody came over, poured them both some coffee, and set some individual creamers beside her mug.

“Dig in!”

Everything looked delicious, and she took some of each of his offerings. “I can’t believe you did all this while I was still sleeping.”

“No worries. I’m just glad you slept well.”

“Um-hmm.” She didn’t divulge how long it had taken her to get to sleep or that she’d been reminiscing about when they’d first met.

“So, I’m working until about noon, and then I thought we’d grab some lunch and go apartment hunting. How does that sound?”

“Are you sure that’s how you want to spend your Saturday afternoon?”

He dragged a bite of waffle through some syrup, opened his mouth wide, and inserted the fork. Then he sucked it clean while she stared at him like she’d never seen a man eat before. Perhaps it was because he put so much passion into everything he did, including eating. Or maybe it was those full lips… Stop looking at his lips!

“Sure. Sounds like fun.”

“Have you ever been apartment hunting before?”

He chuckled. “No, but it can’t be that bad, can it?”