Page 42 of Soaring and Saucy

“Is that good together? I mean, you had my attention with steak – but steak and eggs?”

“You’ve never had steak and eggs? Well, that settles it. We’re definitely going to brunch. Let me go get your toast…”

“Toast?”

“I said it was a little something… and it’s just a slice of toast, ‘cause we are talking steak and eggs, Stephanie,” he stressed emphatically. “The two greatest foods combined on one plate is supremely the best brunch date ever.”

“I see,” she smirked, taking a sip of her coffee as he went to get the toast he mentioned. When he walked back in, she looked at him. “Thank you,” she replied easily as he handed her the small saucer with a piece of buttered toast on it. “Do you go on many brunch dates the morning after a good time?”

That simple question hung in the air between them – and he sat down on the end of her bed, taking a sip from his cup. He didn’t say a word, and she felt a lump in her throat, already knowing the answer. He was a beautiful man, extremely gorgeous, so of course, he’d been on lots of brunch dates with probably all sorts of women.

“When I’m back home,” Lance started quietly, his eyes focused on the cup in his hands, and she braced herself, expecting the worst. “I usually go with my Mama and sister, Laura. My grandma started the tradition when I was little. After church let out, we’d go have brunch as a family at the little restaurant on Main Street.”

He raised his eyes slowly, meeting hers.

“I normally don’t stick around, I don’t sleep with the women I pick up, nor do I follow up later,” he admitted in a hushed voice full of regret. “I’m not a great guy… but I’m trying to change all of that. You are the first woman I’ve ever actually stayed and fallen asleep with. Brunch is special to me. It’s for family, for reconnecting and talking – and I sorta wish they could meet you because you are family, my wife.”

“Lance…” she whispered, touched and unsure what to say.

“Stephanie, I know you are scared, and there’s doubt,” he admitted quietly, not holding back. “I haven’t touched another woman since New York. I’ve been keeping busy, trying to figure out how to do better, and how to handle all of this. I still don’t have the answers, but I want you to know that this is special to me, even if it’s scary and new, and I’m really trying for the first time in my life.”

His words seemed to hang in the air as she looked at him. This change, this baby, was going to alter both of their lives, yet he was choosing to make a change for them. Maybe instead of fighting him so hard, maybe she should give him a chance to see what happens because her brain kept saying that someone like her couldn’t end up with the man of her dreams. He was honestly the hottest guy she’d ever seen and had to have been completely drunk in order to sleep with her that night – or had he?

What if Lance was choosing her because she was different? What if he found something in her that was worth hanging onto because she wasn’t like the other girls he fooled around with? What if Prince Charming actually had a thing for the scullery maid, because she made him feel at ease and, he could relax for the first time ever?

“I’d like to meet your family someday,” she whispered hoarsely, not looking away from his eyes. “And I think I’ll pass on the toast. Steak sounds good, and who am I to do away with family traditions?”

There was a flicker of something in his bright eyes as he smiled at her, looking shy and nervous, which struck her as comical. He looked insecure, like someone had handed him a gift and he was afraid they would take it from him at any moment.

“Sooo,” she drawled nervously at his silence. “Are you getting the first shower, so I can finish my coffee? Peanut is gonna be hungry soon, you know…”

The deliberate use of the term he’d dubbed the baby last night seemed to hit just right for both of them. They shared a knowing smile as he looked away, chuckling thickly with emotion, before nodding.

“Finish your coffee, princess. I’ll get the first shower.”

“Lance?”

“Yeah?”

“Remind me when we get home from brunch to show you the sonogram because the baby does look like a little peanut right now,” she offered, feeling emotional at sharing this with him, recognizing that they were at a turning point.

“I would love that,” he said hoarsely, nodding. “Thank you.”

Two hours later, they were both sitting at a booth in a restaurant as the waitress put down a platter before each of them. The amount of food was staggering, but the thrill in Lance’s expression was infectious. He was grinning like a kid in a candy store, his eyes darting at each dish that appeared, unsure where to start first. There was a bowl of ‘breakfast ambrosia’ that he ordered just for the name, a heaping serving of potato casserole. Each of them had a ribeye and scrambled eggs. Then a basket of biscuits was brought over, and a bowl of sausage gravy.

“My word, we’re going to have a ton of leftovers,” she laughed, looking at the spread before them. There was enough to feed an army, and all of it looked so appetizing, smelling so fragrant that her mouth was already watering.

“Speak for yourself, my gorgeous princess – it’s about to be a throwdown,” he laughed, grabbing a spoon and plopping a dollop of the fruit salad on her plate first without asking before dumping another on his own. He then shoveled some potato casserole onto her plate, then his as she just sat there staring at him in shock.

“What?” he asked, looking up a moment later with a panicked expression. “What’s wrong? Was I not supposed to serve you? It’s ladies first, you know – or at least that is how I was raised.”

“You called me gorgeous.”

“Well, duh,” Lance chuckled. “Look in the mirror, gorgeous,” he drawled pointedly and then hesitated, getting this wildly curious and confused look on his face when she didn’t respond. “Is that okay?”

“I’m not – and you shouldn’t poke fun at me.”

“Princess, when I poke you, it will be in fun, not at fun… and we’ll be in bed again,” he taunted and then looked at her again, his playful expression turning shocked. “Wait… hold up! Stephanie? Do you really think you aren’t pretty? Seriously?”

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