“Nope.” Charlotte turned her head to the side and pressed a kiss to her lips. “Just making you breakfast,” she continued when Alex released her and started toward a professional looking espresso machine built into the wall next to the fridge. “I wanted to thank you for that great party last night.”
Alex chuckled. “It’s me that should be thanking you.” She spooned espresso beans into the grinder. “I abhor those parties.”
“What? Why?” she asked incredulously before cracking an egg on the side of the metal mixing bowl. “You get to dress up. Drink good booze. Eat good food. Meet some interesting people. It’s fun.”
“Spoken like a true extrovert,” Alex said with a wry smile as the espresso machine whirled.
Charlotte had never considered herself an extrovert. She mulled over the possibility as she whisked the eggs together.
“What makes you say that?”
Alex pulled a gallon of milk from the fridge. “Say what?
That you’re an extrovert? Am I wrong?”
“I don’t think I’m one of those people who needs to be the life of the party. I’m not all in anyone’s face. Plus, I don’t even like most people.”
Laughing, Alex steamed the milk she’d poured in a metal cylinder. “I don’t think being a jackass is the same as being an extrovert. It just seems to me you’re energized by being in a group and talking to people while it costs me every ounce of energy in my body. If I didn’t have my home to come back to and recharge, I don’t know what I’d do.”
When Charlotte finished seasoning the eggs, she poured them over the mushrooms and onions in the pan. “Is it really that exhausting?”
Alex finished the lattes with a cute little leaf design Charlotte found rather impressive. “Unfortunately, yes. If it wasn’t required to keep my business thriving, I would never bother. People I really like in small groups are okay, but more than that starts to eat at my reserves,” she explained as she took a sip from her white mug.
“Well then,” Charlotte folded the large omelet over, “I guess we make a good team then. I’ll do all the elbow rubbing and you continue being a health and wellness mogul.”
Alex’s laugh was deep and throaty. Setting her mug on the counter, she pulled her into an embrace before kissing her deeply. Her tongue was still warm and sweet from the latte.
“Is that your plan? To take over as the face of my business? Is that why you’re here cooking for me?” Alex asked before stealing another kiss.
Charlotte’s skin turned to ice. She couldn’t decipher Alex’s tone quickly enough. Was it an accusation? A joke?
Alex laughed. “Don’t look panicked. It’s a nice thought, but I doubt I could ever live the life of a recluse under any circumstances.”
Turning back to the omelet, Charlotte was eager to conceal her face from Alex. She shouldn’t have reacted at all.
What if Alex replayed the moment in her mind later? She would wonder why she’d looked so alarmed.
Charlotte cut the omelet in half and sprinkled some of the herbs she’d chopped on top. When Alex stood behind her again, she held her breath.
“Hey,” Alex pulled on her arm gently, turning Charlotte to face her. “Please don’t be embarrassed. It was very sweet to want to help with something I don’t want to do.”
Charlotte slid into her arms. “I didn’t mean to come o as
—”
Alex interrupted her. “You didn’t come o as anything but thoughtful, okay?”
Looking into Alex’s dark eyes, she believed her. Alex wasn
’t suspicious. She let the muscles she didn’t realize she’d clenched relax.
“Okay?” Alex repeated, insisting on a clear response.
Charlotte nodded. “Okay.”
“Good.” Alex kissed her cheek. “Let’s eat. I’m starving and this looks amazing.”
Perched on the counter, they ate their breakfast and chatted.