Page 69 of Eden's Comfort Kitchen
He frowned slightly as he sat down at the table. ‘Whatever you have…Have I done something wrong? If it’s about last night, I’m sorry but?—’
‘Of course not. I wanted that too.’
‘And you had a good time? Because I did, and not just because…’
‘Yes.’
‘Then why are we here again?’
‘Where?’ Eden paused from searching her fridge for something she could put on toast.
‘Like two people who are at war? Why so formal again? I thought we might have got past that.’
‘I’m sure you’d like that, wouldn’t you? It would make your job easier.’
‘I’m actually offended you still think so little of me you’d say that.’
She pulled out an egg box and opened it up to find there would probably be enough to scramble and share. ‘Do you eat eggs?’
‘What? Yes, of course…You haven’t answered my question.’
‘You didn’t exactly ask one. You just said you were offended.’
‘So why are you being like this? I thought you wanted last night too.’
‘I did…’ Eden paused, softened by his expression. He seemed regretful. Was he wishing they hadn’t slept together? Part of her wished it too, but part of her had loved being with him so much that she couldn’t imagine undoing it. Without understanding why, it made her sad to think he might wish it hadn’t happened in the same way. ‘I did want to, and it was great…more than great. It was lovely.’
‘But…? I sense a but.’
‘There isn’t one.’
She put the eggs on the worktop then opened the dishwasher to fetch the saucepan she hadn’t yet had time to put away.
‘Oh,’ he said. ‘That’s OK then. Want me to make the coffee while you do that?’
Eden nodded as she cracked the eggs. ‘I’m going to scramble them because we only have three. It should stretch.’
He brushed past her, close enough that she could feel his breath on her neck as he went to the kettle. She almost meltedfrom the sense of his proximity, and it was all she could do not to drop the eggs and turn to grab him. It would be all too easy to take him back up to her bedroom for another taste of what had been so delicious the night before, but she steeled herself and killed the desire. What good would it do? If things were complicated now, doing such a stupid thing would send it to a whole other level.
‘Sounds good,’ he said.
They were silent for a moment as he filled the kettle and she mixed the eggs with some milk and seasoning.
‘Because,’ he said into the gap, ‘if you had a good time, then I wondered if you fancied doing it again. Not the sex, I mean. But a drink. With intent this time.’
‘Intent?’ Eden dropped the fork into the sink. ‘Like a date?’
‘Why not? You look shocked. Is it such an awful idea?’
‘Ordinarily I’d say no, but you can’t be serious? With everything going on between us you think it’s a good idea to go on a date?’
‘Why not? We can keep it separate, surely? That’s business and this is…well, pleasure. At least I thought it might be.’
Eden shook her head, staring at him.
‘Ah,’ he said. ‘I see. In that case, perhaps I ought to go.’
‘Have your breakfast first.’
