Page 154 of Sinners' Appetite
“Sure did. As I recall, he said he’d kick my ass if anything happened to you again.”
“Isn’t he sweet?” I chuckle, allowing Lance to open the door ahead of me.
I hop into my car and start the engine, smiling and shaking my head as I back out of the parking space with Lance still standing on the steps, waiting for me to drive away.
When I make it home, I see Malachi waiting on the steps for me. It’s crazy, after all this time, seeing him still gives me butterflies.
As soon as I step out of the car, Malachi stands and starts to walk up to me. “Lance called and said you left work early?”
“Jeff let me go home.” I smile, reaching my arms out to wrap them around him.
“Should I run you a bath? Maybe light some candles?”
“That would be amazing. Maybe I can finally finish reading my book.”
We both head inside and Malachi takes off toward the bathroom. After I grab a small snack from the kitchen, I slip off my clothes and toss them into the laundry room, then head off to the bathroom.
I walk in just as Malachi is turning the water off. “I grabbed your kindle for you, baby,” he says. I look over at the bathtub and my heart warms in an instant.
Candles are lit, my kindle is placed in the middle of the bath tray and he has a small container of gummy bears waiting for me.
“Lay back and relax for a while. I’ll be waiting in the bedroom.”
“Thank you, baby. You’re the best.”
As he walks out, I slowly lower myself into the water, appreciating how perfect the temperature is. I’m tempted to close my eyes, but if I do, I know I’ll end up falling asleep.
At least a half hour goes by before the water starts to turn cold. I finish reading the last few pages of my e-book and drain the tub, wrapping myself in a towel before heading to the bedroom. When I walk in, I giggle at the fact that Malachi is sound asleep under the blankets with the TV remote in his hand.
I shut the light off and hop into bed beside him, wrapping my arm around him with my head held against his chest, drifting off to sleep quickly with the sound of his heartbeat against my ear.
As soon as my eyes open, I’m met with the delicious smell of pancakes wafting past my nose. Malachi must be cooking breakfast for us.
I slide out of bed and toss a loose t-shirt on along with a pair of shorts and head toward the kitchen, my stomach growling along the way. When I enter the kitchen, Malachi turns to shoot me a warm smile and grabs a full plate, handing it to me. “Eat up, baby girl. I have plans for us today.”
“An adventure?”
“Better than that,” he smirks, grabbing his own plate and walking over to where I just sat down at the table.
“So—you’re not going to tell me what you have planned for us?”
“Not yet. You’ll like it though. Trust me.”
I let out a sigh. “I have to work tonight.”
“No, you don’t. Not anymore,” he says as he shoves a forkful of pancakes into his mouth. I’m honestly impressed by how much he can fit into his mouth.
“They’ll be short staffed, it’s Friday night.”
“Jeff said they would be perfectly fine without you.”
“I don’t know how that’s possible but, okay?”
Malachi finishes his plate first and takes off into the bedroom, coming back out several minutes later with a suitcase rolling behind him.
“Why the suitcase? Where are we going?” I curiously ask, tilting my head to the side in confusion.
“You’ll see.”
