Page 27 of Devoted Enough

“It’s November, Nate, and the Official Fall Rules state that pumpkin spice can be eaten any time of the year.”

“I’ll take your word for it. So, umm, what do you need me to do?”

“You take care of the bacon, and I’ll handle the pancakes.”

I mixed up the ingredients and poured some batter onto the griddle. The smell of spices and pumpkin filled my senses. “I love this time of year.”

Nate took out two plates and set two glasses of orange juice down on the kitchen table. He then got out syrup and butter.

“Do you decorate for fall?” Nate asked.

“I normally do, but this year, I’ve been so busy getting things going for this dog park that I haven’t had time to do it. I will decorate for Christmas, though. It’s my favorite holiday.”

Nate pulled out his phone and read a text he had gotten while I put the large plate of pancakes down on the table.

“Ready to dig in!”

He glanced up and smiled. “Those look and smell good.”

I felt my cheeks heat slightly. “Hope you like them.”

Nate took a fork and grabbed three pancakes while I took two. He put a bit of butter on it and some syrup. I hadn’t even realized I had been holding my breath until he took a bite and moaned in delight.

“That’s good, Haven. Dare I say better than my mother’s.”

Smiling, I took a bite of mine. They were good, and it took all I had not to devour them. I was starving.

We ate in silence for the first few minutes. Nate broke it when he looked up at me and asked, “Haven, can I ask you something and you don’t have to answer it if you don’t want to? But I was just wondering why you were so upset last night? You cried so hard that you cried yourself to sleep.”

I wiped the corners of my mouth with the napkin and sighed. “I was hoping you would forget about all that.”

He shook his head. “Not a chance when a woman is in my house—and in my arms—crying.”

Shrugging, I said, “I guess the dam broke. It’s been a stressful few months, and with my car getting a flat tire and a few weeks ago it needed a new battery…well…things are juststressful.”

“Is there anything I can do?” he asked.

My gaze lifted and met his. He seemed so damn genuine and it broke my heart knowing how much I really liked him, but that he would never be mine.

With a soft smile, I shook my head. “Thank you, but it will all work out. I think I was just tired.”

Nate nodded as he leaned back in his chair. When he said nothing, I cleared my throat and stood to clear the table.

Reaching for his plate, Nate said, “Leave it. I’ll clean up.”

“I don’t mind helping you clean up.”

The doorbell rang and interrupted our moment, and then Nate stood. “That’s Hank. He’s brought your car for you.”

“What?” I asked in surprise. “He brought it here?”

Nate started toward the front door. “I figured you’d need it, and when the weather had cleared up, I called him to see if he could drop it off.”

“Oh,” I said as I followed him to the door.

“Morning, Hank,” Nate said, reaching out to shake the other man’s hand.

“Good morning, Nate and Haven. I’ve unloaded your car, and it’s ready for you.”

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