Page 47 of Tough Nut to Crack

Her nose scrunches up.

"Or not," I say when I notice her facial expression.

"It's not going to be very good cold, and I don't want your guys tasting my food when it's not at its best. Can you imagine the rumors?"

I smile at how protective she is of her image when it comes to her food. It's very similar to how I feel about the end product of my own work, and I love that she takes pride in what she does. It's an amazing trait to have.

"Ethan has a microwave that he carries around in his van with him everywhere he goes. The man is always prepared to heat up something to eat," I explain. "They wouldn't have to eat it cold."

"I'll portion some out for you to take with you to work tomorrow," she agrees.

"That would be amazing," I say before diving back into thefood on my plate.

The elements of it seem simple, but there's something about the way she cooked and seasoned the meat, pasta, and vegetables that make it come together to make one of the most delicious things I've ever eaten.

I look at her as we eat several times, but she seems content to just eat in silence.

Once the meal is done, she stands, carrying her plate to the sink.

"I'll help with dishes," I offer, but that is met with a frown. "What?"

"If you don't get them clean, then I'm just going to have to wash them again. I figure I might as well wash them from the start."

"I know how to wash dishes, Riley," I say. "What kind of men have you had in your life that didn't?"

And there I go again with a mild implication that I'm now the man in her life, and she should have more confidence in me than she does.

It doesn't seem to flag anything in her eyes because she just shrugs. "How about I wash and you dry and put away?"

Since she cleaned up as she was cooking, it doesn't take long to wash what's left, and I can't help but long for lunch tomorrow when I see her scoop out more than half of the remaining food from the baking dish and put it in a separate container for me and the guys.

Instead of dragging her into the guest bedroom or following her to hers, we say good night in the hallway and go our separate ways.

I'd ask her if she wanted to just chill and watch television, but she doesn't have one in the living room, and I've had other things on my mind when I've been in her bedroom, so I have no clue if she even has one in there.

When night comes, I find myself still staring up at the ceiling, wondering if she's down the hall doing the same.

Chapter 19

Riley

I somehow managed to sleep hard when I fell asleep, but that didn't keep me from waking up like I'd run a marathon all night.

My dreams were wild and full of things I could never see myself doing in real life, and when the sun peeked through my curtains early this morning, I found myself fighting to go back to sleep. I've never been one to sleep in, and no matter how high I pulled the covers back over my head, I couldn't fall back asleep.

It's weird waking up in a home you've woken up in alone for years and years knowing that there's someone else in the house.

I'm not sure if Mac has work today. With it being Tuesday I presume he does, but I'm as quiet as I can be as I make my way down the hall and into the kitchen. It's not my responsibility to wake him up and make sure he's ready for the day. He's a grown man. I'm sure he's perfectly capable. Clearly, he's been doing it on his own for years if his successful business is any indication.

Coffee is made with little to no sound, and within ten minutes, I'm standing at the sink, looking out over the backyard, and trying to get a positive start on my day.

Before the holidays, I'd be working today, helping Sage cover one of the busier days of the week because Tuesday is a major release day in the publishing industry, but the post in the community group didn't get approved. It was rejected for some reason, although Bobby John Pritchard never gives feedback on why it might've not met the standards. I swear that the old man has more bad days than good and tries to ruin others' days or he hates women altogether.

Sage posted on her business page, but the interactions that it got were less than what we'd like to see. She did mention a chance of calling me in if it started to get busy, but Lindell University hasn't even begun its spring semester yet, so the influx of college students for the new discount isn'tlikely.

I lift my coffee to my lips, only to discover that I've already drained my cup without realizing it, and when I turn around, I find Mac standing several feet away staring at me.

I'd feel self-conscious in the worst sort of way if I didn't know exactly what that look in his eyes meant. What I do know is that him standing there somehow ready for the day but still looking a little sleepy lights my skin on fire.

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