It was too fucking hot since my apartment was front facing, and the sun was blasting in my windows. I knew it would be awesome in the winter, but right now, I was sweating even before I hung up my towel. Lightweight shorts for the win. I brought a T-shirt out with me for after I finished cooking.
I wasn’t a complete animal.
My fridge was severely lacking since the grocery fairies hadn’t arrived overnight, but I did have the fixings for eggs Benedict. I hadn’t been lying about that. My sister had also gifted me with an air fryer as a housewarming gift which left me and my multi-tasking skills at an all-time high.
I was just adding ingredients to my blender for the sauce when there was a knock on my door.
I draped my towel over my shoulder and rushed over, opening without looking who it was. My first mistake.
“I smell bacon,” Lucky said as he came in and shut the door. He slammed a twelve-pack of beer on the counter. “I figured I could—”
“Nope. Out.” I turned down the heat on the eggs poaching. “You gotta go.”
“Why?” Lucky’s face fell. “I was just checking in on you. Figured we could watch some golf.”
“Luna’s coming over for a late breakfast and…well, she’s better than your smelly ass.”
Affronted, Lucky crossed his arms. “I took a shower.”
“Still, I’ll take the wildflower and water-scented Luna over you.”
“Wildflower? Dude. How do you even know what that smells like to name it?”
“Haven’t you ever gone on a picnic or something? Fields of flowers, you know.” God, I sounded crazy.
“No. The only picnic smells I know are grilling burgers and dogs. Maybe some veggies for the chicks.”
I rolled my eyes. “Nice.”
Lucky leaned a hip on the kitchen island. “What the hell is going on? Are you…oh.”
“What?” I hurried back to the stove to save the eggs from being overcooked.
“You moved pretty quick.”
“Moved?” I lifted the pan off the heat, then rushed back over to my hollandaise sauce.
“Not even a week and you’re cooking breakfast? Last night you looked like death warmed over rice.”
“Last night you were drinking enough for three people. How did you even know?”
“I notice stuff.” His voice was cool.
I pulsed the blender so everything mixed evenly. “Look, it was a weird thing, but Luna and I hit it off.” Minus clothes, but I wasn’t mentioning that part. “Now I want to keep impressing her, if you don’t mind.”
“I see how it is.” He grabbed his half case. “Catch ya later.”
“Dammit.” I had to add the melted butter to the sauce before it split. I’d apologize and bring Lucky his favorite beer tomorrow.
Another knock came just as I was pouring the melted butter in. “Come in.”
Hopefully, this time it was the woman I was cooking for and not my brother or dear God, my mother.
Luna peeked her head around the door. Her pale blond hair was pinned up in the puffy pigtails she wore most days. They gave me inappropriate thoughts immediately. There was something about the messy cuteness of them that always made my chest tight.
“Hey. Did I take too long?”
“Not at all. Right on time.”