Page 28 of The Night Ride
For his trouble, I would ensure Aiden had a hardy breakfast.My croissant breakfast sandwiches were always a hit.I made them with scrambled eggs, either bacon or sausage, and some gruyere cheese.Then there are the alternative varieties with prosciutto, goat cheese, roasted red pepper and spinach.There’s a ham and swiss.A vegetarian with sauteed onions, roasted red peppers, and gruyere.
But I knew Aiden enough from his time spent at our house years prior.He was an avowed meat eater and leaned towards bacon.
My mind wandered while I scrambled the eggs.
When he first approached me over coffee, I thought he was going to kiss me.I’d like to say I would have remained firm and pushed him away.Except the moment my palm touched his chest, even with the material of his shirt and leather jacket beneath it.I felt like I’d touched a hot stove.
My entire body sizzled to life at the small contact.I wasn’t even sure what to feel.Or whether he had kissed me if I would have been capable of pushing him away.
Because if I was being honest with myself, after all this time, I had a thing for him.A part of me wondered if the universe was giving me—giving us—this chance, so that I could purge him from my system once and for all.
The thing was, I couldn’t seem to move on while I continued to hold Aiden up as the be all end all when it came to men.Maybe I should let him kiss me again or even take him to bed and work him out of my system that way.
It wasn’t the worst idea I’d ever had nor was it the best.
I added the cheese while the eggs were in the pan to get it all melty and withdrew the bacon from the oven.Then put the breakfast sandwich together with a side of the hash brown medallions.They were a combination of potatoes, cheese, sour cream and chives all whipped together, battered and then deep fried.Yes, they were artery cloggers, but customers loved them.We always ran out, even when I doubled and tripled the batches.
There was a local fire station who loved stopping in mid-morning two or three times a week.And they always bought whatever was left of the hash brown medallions.
“I’m all finished in the office.”
I jumped.Twirled around with my hand against my chest.“You’ve got to stop sneaking up on me like that, especially in a kitchen,” I scolded.
“I didn’t mean to.”He chuckled, the corners of his eyes crinkled.
“And I think you’ve been in Special Forces far too long.Good gracious, make a little noise next time.I think you scared five years off my life.”
His gaze landed on the tray with the breakfast sandwich and hash browns.“Is there more where that came from?It looks delicious.”
“It’s for you, actually.I just made it fresh.”
“You made me breakfast?”
“Well, you are helping me out of a pickle.It’s the least I can do.”I handed it over.
“Oh man, this looks amazing.”He took it.And popped one of the hash browns into his mouth.He moaned as he chewed.His gaze lowered and ecstasy stole across his features.“Jesus Christ, Beth, these are good.”
The praise washed over me.I hated that it made a difference.That I craved the praise like a junkie needing their next fix.It was one of the reasons I became a bakery chef.People love bakery items when they’re done right.And I’d even ventured into the health consciousness arena with some of my offerings, like my sugar free, almond flour chocolate chip cookies.Or my vegan banana nut bread and zucchini bread.
He took a bite of the breakfast sandwich and groaned.The deep rumbling masculine sound churned tingles in my low belly.My nipples tightened into hard points, and I wanted to fan my face.
This man could do more to my body and hormones with a simple groan than most could do in the bedroom.It wasn’t fair.Because while I had been besotted with him since I was fifteen, he hadn’t even remembered me.
There was only one way over him.It might be the dumbest thing I have ever done.But I was so tired of playing it safe ever since…I shook my head.I wasn’t going to think about that horrible night.
Instead, I smiled and murmured, my voice huskier.“I’m glad you like it.You deserve it for all your help.And if you’re still hungry when you’re done with those, I have these maple bacon long John donuts that are to die for.”
He licked his lips and eyed me.“Maple bacon?Like it’s been dipped in maple sauce?”
“Here, let me grab one for you.You’ll love it.”I grabbed a fresh one from the large pan in the cabinet where we store all the extras to keep them fresh.This place had such a following that we were always running out of stock.I tried to plan ahead and make extras of all the most popular items.
I selected one for Aiden and turned around.But he was right there.Eyeing me with hunger and it wasn’t for my food.Or not only for my food.Swallowing my nerves at his nearness, I lifted the heavenly yeasty pastry up.“Here you go.”
His gaze dropped to the pastry before gliding back up, stopping at my lips for an extra heartbeat before his eyes met mine.“Appreciate it.”
He took the donut and ate a huge bite.His eyes went heavy lidded.And I wanted to jump the man’s bones in my kitchen.
“Oh man, you are a wonder in the kitchen.”
