Page 11 of Stone Cold Savage

“Have a seat, fix a plate,” Dillon said, grabbing the bowl and taking them to the sink. “There’s plenty.”

“I, uh, don’t want to intrude,” Rip replied, eyes fixed on Devyn.

“You’re not,” Coy said. “Sit. Eat. I’m sharing the analysis you brought down with you. Thought maybe you’d like to be part of the conversation.”

Rip turned his attention back to Devyn.

“For God’s sake, sit.” Devyn grabbed a plate, covered it in a stack of waffles, and slid it in front of him. “There. Eat.”

Rip took a seat across from her and nodded, “Thank you.”

Dillon put a bowl of quickly sliced strawberries in front of Devyn, who proceeded to cover her waffles with scoops of the berries. She held the bowl up in front of Rip and raised her brow as if asking if he would like some as well, to which he nodded. Agitated as she was, Devyn was attentive to Rip, even if it was in a less-than-friendly manner. After topping his waffles with berries, she then topped both of their plates with whip topping.

“How do you know I want whipped cream?” he asked.

“Because you said yes to strawberries. Everyone knows you can’t have strawberry waffles without whipped cream.”

“I actually eat mine with just berries and syrup.” Rip was challenging her.

Devyn stared him down, then grabbed the syrup and poured it over the top of his plate, “There you go. Syrup. Everyone good?”

“I don’t know if I’m supposed to say thank you or gross,” Rip said, reaching for the syrup and pouring it over the top of her waffle stack.

“Why did you do that?” Devyn asked calmly.

“Same reason you did it to mine. Just being helpful.”

“That’s… disgusting. Syrup over strawberries and whipped cream?”

“Yet, you thought I should eat mine that way.” Rip rebutted.

“You said you like syrup.”

“No, I said I preferred syrup with my strawberries.”

“And I gave you syrup.”

“Only as part of a tantrum after taking it upon yourself to add whipped cream to mine.”

“Everyone likes it that way.” She shrugged.

“Sorry, but that’s an assumption. And rather than say sorry or offer syrup, you just… doused it with syrup. So, if I’m eating my waffles with strawberries, whipped cream, and syrup… you should, too. After all, it was your idea, Princess.”

“You chased me with a vicious dog at your side.” Devyn reached down and patted Diesel’s head, “No offense, handsome.”

“You shot me!”

“You had your gun drawn.”

“To protect you. You were screaming for help.”

“Help to get away from you.”

“I didn’t hurt you.”

“Don’t call me Princess.”

“Don’t put whipped cream on my waffles.”

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