Page 57 of A Lesson for Laurel

“It’s in the fridge,” she said. “And you remembered.”

He opened the fridge and got the vanilla-flavored creamer out and dropped a bit in to show her. She nodded and he put it back.

She was finishing the eggs, so he got the plates down. When the toast popped, he pulled it out and buttered it.

“What?” he asked when she was staring at him.

“I said I was taking care of breakfast.”

She was grinning when she said it though. “Well, you can butter the other piece then. Maybe you slather it on and I just used a little,” he said.

She moved over and took the knife out of his hand. “If you are using butter, then use it. If I was going to diet, I’d have that spray shit here in the house to spritz on gently.”

He burst out laughing. He’d had that spray shit in his fridge when Rachelle lived with him. It might still be there somewhere shoved in the back too.

“Noted,” he said.

They moved to the table and started to eat. “I’m sure you want to get home and do a few things before work starts on Monday. Or for you, it starts much earlier.”

“I’ve got a conference call at three in the morning.”

She shook her head. “That’s crazy.”

“I’m used to it,” he said. “I’ll try to be in bed by eight, but it’s hard to fall asleep that early. By midweek I’m almost sleeping at the table while I’m eating dinner.”

“You sound old,” she said. “I never found out how old you are.”

“Thirty-three. Not that old. You’re younger.”

“Twenty-nine,” she said.

“Oh, the year women freeze age.”

She frowned at him and then grinned. “Got it. I’ve heard women say they are twenty-nine plus three when asked their age. I don’t get that. Embrace the years. I’m not into Botox or anything either.”

“You’re young yet,” he said. “With great skin.”

She didn’t have a lick of makeup on and was more beautiful to him. Her hair was still back in a ponytail that she threw it in when she walked out of the bathroom. She let him shower first after she’d brushed her teeth. He wasn’t so sure how he felt about all the floral products he used on his body though. It’s not like there was anything else for him.

“Thanks,” she said. “I take care of it.”

“I saw,” he said. There were lots of lotions and products on the counter. More than he’d seen before. It surprised him, but that was her choice.

“Did it scare you?” she asked, smiling.

“Not really. It might if you ask me to keep them in a certain order for you.”

“Nah,” she said. “I know what order to put them on and when. It’s not like they are all used at once. Three in the morning and three at night. Different ones and on different parts of my face.”

He nodded and continued to eat. Over his head for a guy who only used lotion if his skin was cracking in a spot.

She laughed and he just shrugged. Talking about women’s facial products didn’t interest him, but he wouldn’t be mean about it. It’s almost as if she knew it and was tugging him along.

“I’ll clean up while you shower if you want.”

“Thanks,” she said. “You’ll still be here when I get out?”

“You keep worrying I’m going to take off,” he said. “Why? As you pointed out, you know where I live.”

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