Page 15 of Falling for You
CeCe looked around his tiny kitchen and had to make a decision. She could slip out quickly, pretend they didn’t wake up in each other's arms, or she could be the adult she kept saying she was and make breakfast. The rumbling in her stomach was all the sign she needed. Dropping a pat of butter into a frying pan, she got to work on breakfast.
Five minutes later, the eggs were fluffy and perfectly cooked, sprinkled with a handful of scallions. Evan emerged from the bathroom with damp hair and headed straight for the coffee maker. He filled two cups and set the table in the corner of the kitchen. As she eased into a seat, he raised a finger and disappeared. “One thing is missing,” he said.
CeCe took a bite of egg. She found Evan holding a plate of familiar pastries. “What’s that?” she asked, although she knew the answer.
Evan unwrapped two perfectly formed croissants and handed one to her. “I leave these in the oven overnight, and then they are ready in the morning.”
“Did you steal these?” she asked teasingly, not caring at that moment where he got them.
Tearing a piece off and dunking it into his coffee, Evan laughed. “It’s not stealing if Max tells me to take it. There have been a few days where we have pastries left over, so instead of tossing them, I freeze them for times like this.”
CeCe sipped from her coffee, taking in the scene before her. There was something so intimate, so domestic about sharing breakfast at dawn with Evan. He was just out of the shower and looked so young and fresh, she suddenly felt self-conscious about her own rumpled appearance. As if sensing her discomfort, he gestured toward the hallway.
“I’ve got clean towels and a diner T-shirt on the bathroom counter. Take a few minutes if you need them,” he offered, not looking up from his breakfast. “We don’t have to leave for another fifteen minutes.”
CeCe scoffed. “And what makes you think I need less than fifteen minutes to get ready?”
Evan met her gaze and his face cracked into a beaming smile. “Because you’re low maintenance, CeCe. That’s one of the reasons I like you so much.”
A small crack formed in her armor at his earnest expression and thoughtful observation. Eric used to criticize her about trying to look more put-together when the press would come to report on the restaurant. She’d hem and haw her way through a shopping trip, always feeling the clothes weren’t meant for her short, curvier frame. She was a pastry chef who looked like one. Her body was made from hours in the kitchen, testing her own creations. Her free money went toward pots and pans, not makeup and fancy dresses. Evan saw that about her and liked it, and that did funny things inside her rib cage.Settle down, CeCe.
Before she could argue, he cleared their dishes and tapped his watch. “Now we’re down to fourteen minutes. Stop overanalyzing the moment and hop in the shower.” As he stepped back with their dishes, he stooped down and kissed the top of her head. He was nearly six feet, and it was times like this she didn’t mind their height difference. It was a simple, sweet gesture that caused her heart to melt. The kiss made her feel treasured, and she had no idea how to feel about that.
Evan kept his back to her and focused on cleaning up, so she rushed to the bathroom. He was right: they had less than fifteen minutes to get ready for work. Her emotions would have to wait until she was alone and not under his cedar-scented spell.
Of course, CeCe learned the downside of using Evan’s shower a moment later when she was covered in the bubbles of his body wash, lost in the familiar scent of him. The part that shocked her the most was that she was enjoying herself. They’d shared a quiet breakfast and she never felt uncomfortable. In fact, her lack of discomfort was upsetting her, and she choked on her own laughter. She wondered if there was something wrong with her. Why couldn’t she just enjoy this moment in time?
Evan met her in the kitchen, holding out a to-go cup of coffee. “For the road,” he offered, handing her the extra caffeine she’d need for the day ahead. Sunday brunch was their busiest day.
Taking the coffee, CeCe said, “Thanks for this, and ...” She trailed off, looking back at the air mattress that was now tidied up, the pillows lining the head of the bed. “I thought you only used it for kung fu night?” she teased.
Evan shrugged on his jacket, undeterred. “Usually, but I’m keeping it ready. I don’t know when you’re going to call a rematch.” He breezed past her and held the door open, clearly not letting her contradict his plan. She watched him lock up the apartment, then he led the way to her car. He held her door for her again and handed her coffee once she was buckled in. “See you at work.” He winked as he closed the door.
CeCe watched Evan follow her to the diner and wondered what Max would say if he heard they’d spent their night. Sure, nothing technically happened between them, but she felt a sense of unease course through her veins. They hadn’t kissed, not really, but she felt they crossed over an invisible line of intimacy that she hadn’t expected.
What did Evan think about all this? Was he going to say something to Max? Did she want him to?
These, and a million other questions, flew through her mind as she parked next to Max’s car. She could smell something savory as she stepped into the morning air and jogged to catch up to Evan, who was holding the door open for her once more. Before she could talk to him about last night, Max greeted them in the doorway, his arms full of ingredients.
“Good morning. I’m glad you’re both here.” He rattled off a list of their morning to-dos, and Evan stepped right into his routine of peeling potatoes and brewing pots of coffee. She watched him work and realized that he wouldn’t say a thing.
True to form, he was letting her call the shots.
For some reason, that made her like him just a little bit more.
*
The morning went byin a blur of dirty dishes, famished customers, and a few stolen glances at CeCe. Evan might be younger, but he wasn’t a fool. She would pitch a fit if he mentioned their kung fu fort time, especially at work. Instead, he focused on their workday.
Working at the diner wasn’t glamorous, but Evan found it rewarding. He knew all the regulars and had made some friends in Buckeye Falls, thanks to his time on the job. He enjoyed stealing a few moments that morning with Madeline and Otis, while the mayor and his wife ate pancakes in seemingly companionable silence. “So you have to tell me which hand has the sugar packet,” Evan told the young girl and her toddler brother.
Madeline stared at Evan’s hands, which he held out in clenched fists. “What do I get if I pick the right hand?” she asked, her little face scrunched in concentration. Beside her, Otis picked a piece of egg off his overalls and shoved it into his mouth. While the little boy was pleased with himself, Madeline looked anything but impressed.
“If you pick correctly, you get a cookie.” The little girl lit up like a Christmas tree. Her blue eyes darted back and forth before finally settling on his right hand, which she tapped gently with her chubby finger. Madeline jumped for joy when a crumbled sugar packet was presented to her. “You’re a smart cookie,” he mused, retrieving a pair of cookies from the counter and handing them to her.
Natalie stepped forward and scooped Otis up under her arm. “Now, what do you say to Evan?” she asked, clearly trying to teach her kiddos some manners.
“Thank you,” both children chimed in unison.
