Page 267 of Coach
A narrow console table in the hallway, its legs carved like twisted branches.
A coatrack that looked like it had grown straight out of the floor.
Shelves stacked with books and hand-thrownpottery, each one mounted on a live-edge slab of walnut.
Everything here was built, touched, crafted with care.
Like him.
I slowed without meaning to, my fingertips brushing one curved chair back, a small wooden fox perched on the arm like a secret left just for him.
God. How long had it taken to make all of this?
How long had I been standing in the bathroom, laughing at myself, while this man—this stubborn, quiet, brilliant man—had made breakfast for me?
The thought squeezed at something deep in my chest.
And then I smelled it again.
Bacon.
Coffee.
Something warm and yeasty.
I followed the scent into the kitchen—and stopped dead in the doorway.
Shane stood at the stove, stark naked, plating the last of the bacon like this was a normal, not-at-all-soul-meltingly-sexy way to cook.
He wore no frills, no apron . . . no anything.
And his bacon was as firm and crisp as it got.
My mouth went dry.
And also . . . how long had I been in the bathroom?
And whatthe hell did it mean that he went to all this trouble—for me?
I tried to say something clever.
Instead, what came out was, “Aren’t you afraid hot bacon grease will pop your wiener?”
The words just happened.
Shane froze, tongs halfway to the plate. For a beat, he didn’t move. Then a deep, gravelly laugh rumbled out of him, shaking his whole body and clenching his abs in a most inappropriate breakfast sort of way.
He glanced up, eyes bright with amusement. “You’re ridiculous, you know that, right,” he said, chuckling as he grabbed a dish towel and hung it on his hard cock like it was some sort of drying rack.
I leaned against the doorframe, grinning, and tried not to stammer. “I . . . uh . . . I’m just saying, there are risks to cooking in the buff. But wow—this spread . . .” I gestured to the island.
It was overwhelming.
Perfectly crisped bacon.
A stack of pancakes.
Fluffy scrambled eggs.
