Page 50 of Tall, Dark, & Ginger

He smiles, turning to the stove to flip the eggs. I watch him move effortlessly, timing each component of the meal perfectly, as if it’s all second nature for him.

“What about you?” he asks. “Rumor has it you used to work at a desk.”

Chuckling, I nod and drag my hand through my hair. “The rumor is true. I worked as a chemical engineer for almost twenty years. Probably still would be if it hadn’t been for Indy’s idea to open Moby’s and being left this house.”

“You liked it?”

“I liked the actual work, but the bureaucracy and politics of the workplace were bullshit. I think a part of me was slowly dying. I got so tired of being told to conform. Like, what difference does my hair color make if I get the job done?”

“That is one of the nicer aspects of being in the food industry. Self-expression is allowed and often appreciated.”

“So damn true.”

Wren finishes plating the eggs and makes toast while the bacon fries. The scent of food makes my stomach grumble loud enough that Wren hears it and we both laugh.

“To be fair, you did work up a good appetite,” he says, smiling shyly.

“I think it’s you that did all the work.”

He leans on the island, closing the distance between us. “Are you up for more?”

“Bring it on, little rabbit.”

Jerryn enters the kitchen, oblivious to us as he looks down at his phone on his way to the pantry. Wren flinches, stepping back to put space between us just as Bane enters. He pauses, looking at us both.

“Hey, guys,” he says.

I nod. “Hey. Jerryn’s in the pantry.”

“I know. He wants some candy to munch on.” His eyes move to Wren who turns around to finish the bacon. “You missed brunch.”

“I actually got some sleep.”

A smirk tugs at his lips. “And you, Wren?”

He shrugs, ignoring the question as he butters the toast.

“Interesting,” Bane muses quietly. “Well done.”

I give him a hard look and shoo him away with my hand. He chuckles, following Jerryn into the pantry. When Wren turns around and slides a plate in front of me, his cheeks are bright red.

“We can take it upstairs and eat if you want.”

He shakes his head. “No. I’m not—” He stops speaking abruptly as both guys come out again.

Jerryn has his hand inside a bag of chocolate candies while Bane is munching on chips.

“Oh, hey, guys,” Jerryn says. “I didn’t see you when I came in.”

“You were looking at your phone,” I say.

Jerryn nods. “I bid to support this new video game and there was an update about it. Should be shipping in the next two weeks.”

“What’s the premise?” Wren asks.

“It’s an adventure game where you go to these unique buildings designed like escape rooms, but you have to find famous artifacts to unlock new clues and escape routes.”

“Ooh, that does sound interesting,” Wren says.

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