Page 113 of In Spades

I tilted my head and buried my nose in her hair. “You’re psychic.”

She snorted and curled into me. “No, I’ve just done the same thing for two-thousand mornings.”

“Sleep,” I said firmly. “I’ll go start breakfast.” Reluctantly, I slid out from under her and pulled on a pair of sweatpants and a mostly clean t-shirt. “One of these days, we’re going to wake up together and have a repeat performance of last night.”

I slipped into the bathroom and brushed my teeth.

“I think I’d like morning sex,” she said. “Sounds like a perfect way to start the day.”

My dick hardened at the suggestion. Not now, buddy. We’ve gotta go be an adult and make pancakes. I started for the bedroom door, but stole a moment to simply look at her.

She yawned as she closed her eyes. “You sure you’re good out there? With them?”

“I got this,” I said, turning back to the bed. I planted a kiss on her forehead. “Sleep.”

Kristin flashed a wicked smile that made me regret my decision to get out of bed. “Yes, sir.”

I pulled the door behind me and walked down the hall to the kitchen. Kylie froze on the stairs like she was trying to sneak down.

“Morning, Ky,” I said.

She eyed me cautiously. “Morning.”

“I was gonna make pancakes. That sound okay?” I asked as I pulled the coffee pot from the dish drainer and jammed it under the coffee maker.

“You’re like Kristin,” she said as she tiptoed the rest of the way down the stairs. “Can’t function without your coffee.”

“Do you want some?” I asked, pressing the brew button.

She perked up. “Yes, please.”

I didn’t know if Kristin let the kids have coffee or not. It didn’t seem like the worst thing in the world. Kids chugged energy drinks, didn’t they? Coffee wouldn’t hurt. Besides—my house, my rules.

I pointed to the cabinet to the left of the sink. “Mugs are in there. Mind grabbing me one, too?”

“Is Kristin still asleep?” she asked.

I nodded. “Yeah, I figured I’d get started on breakfast. Give her a morning off.” Pointing down the narrow hallway that led to the my bedroom, I added, “But if you need something, you can go in.”

The coffee pot beeped, signaling that my liquid happiness had finished brewing. I opened the fridge, loading my arms with eggs, bacon, and coffee creamer. Kylie filled two mugs, then sat on the opposite side of the kitchen island. She sipped her coffee quietly, watching me like a hawk.

I grabbed a box of pancake mix and whipped up a big bowl of batter. “Did you sleep okay?” I asked as I pulled out the largest skillet I owned and slid it onto the range.

“Yeah.” She let out a slightly caustic laugh. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had my own room.”

“I bet.” I held up a bag of chocolate chips and a carton of blueberries. “How do you take your pancakes?”

“Chocolate chips,” she said, grinning. “Definitely chocolate chips.”

“What does Kris like?”

“She always does plain ones.”

I dropped a pat of butter into the skillet and smirked. “Lame.”

I waited for the butter to melt before I ladled four scoops of batter into the pan. When the pancakes bubbled up, I sprinkled all four with chocolate chips and gave them a flip. With that done, I busied myself with laying strips of bacon on a sheet pan to pop in the oven.

Kylie watched me with a curious expression, as if she hadn’t made up her mind about me yet.

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