Page 48 of Love, Always and Forever
She smiled at him over the rim of her coffee cup. “Play your cards right, and I might be able to squeeze you in for one or two dances.”
“And what would that involve?”
“Well, as I recall, someone promised me some slave labor digging sod in my yard.”
“I’m off the next few days, so I should be able to tear your yard up for you.”
“Great!”
She set the cup back down. “Although, seriously, you don’t have to waste your days off working in my yard. You deserve some downtime.”
“Nope, a deal’s a deal. You did the layout for my yard, so I’ll tear up yours. Maybe I can draft Ricky to help out.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
With a happy-sounding sigh, she set her fork down and leaned back in her chair. “I don’t think I did that breakfast justice, but it was terrific.”
He eyed the two untouched pieces of French toast still on her plate. “It would be a real shame to let those go to waste.”
She pushed the plate closer to his. “Have at it.”
“You sure you don’t mind? We could always box them up to go, although I’m not sure how well they’d reheat if you took them home. However, I am worried that I’m keeping you from working this morning.”
“One of the benefits of being self-employed is setting my own hours. I have a couple of things I have to finish today, but they won’t take long. As long as I get them to my customer by tomorrow morning, he’ll be happy.”
“I’ll make it quick.”
Mikhail slathered the toast with butter and then dumped a thick layer of maple syrup over the top. It smelled like heaven, and he devoured both pieces in short order. “I’m sorry now that I didn’t order that myself. Next time.”
Despite the good food and even better company, his energy was fading fast. It was time to head back home and get horizontal.
“We should be going.”
Amy followed him up to the register and waited patiently while he paid the bill. On the way out, she looped her arm through his. “Thank you again for breakfast. I’m guessing you’re going to crash about two minutes after we get home. Why don’t I bring Sarge over to spend the day at my house? He’ll be good company for Panda, and you’ll be able to sleep undisturbed without having to worry about him.”
The dog was Mikhail’s responsibility, but he couldn’t bring himself to refuse her offer. “I’m sure he’d appreciate the chance to hang out with his little buddy and the pretty lady next door.”
“I’ll be home all day, so you can pick him up whenever you want. In fact, why don’t you come over for dinner tonight if you haven’t already had your fill of my company?”
Like that would ever happen.
“I’ll be there.”
—
The ride home was over before he knew it, mainly because he fell asleep almost as soon as they left the restaurant parking lot. One second he was leaning back against the headrest and the next Amy was shaking his shoulder.
“Hey, big guy, we’re home. You need to wake up unless you want to end up sleeping in my car all day. I’m not strong enough to carry you inside.”
He grumbled a bit but finally managed to open his eyes. “Sorry to pass out like that. I don’t guess I’ve been the best of company this morning.”
“Not a problem, but let’s get you home.”
Amy was out of the car and around to his side to open his door before he’d even managed to press the release button on his seatbelt. At least he climbed out of the car by himself even though his entire body moved as if he’d been dumped in a vat of thick molasses.
Once again she entwined her arm with his as she led him over toward his front porch. He grumbled, “You don’t have to walk me home, Amy. I know where I live.”
“I never said you didn’t.” She stubbornly matched her steps to his longer ones. “I have to pick up Sarge, remember?”
