After throwing on one of Lake’s tunics, I tiptoed from the room and softly closed the door. I stopped to check on Maddox and Briar. The two cuddled in their sleep, though Briar was sprawled out, one leg hanging off the bed. Poor guy would need caffeine, carbs, and greasy bacon to sop up all that wine.
Smiling, I shut the door and continued toward the staircase.
A loud snore made me jump.
Quincy slept in the open loft, nestled on the cushioned window bench. He’d knocked his pillow into the floor, and his blanket barely covered his lap. Trying not to laugh, I tiptoed over and brought the blanket back up over his chest before continuing my journey downstairs.
Duke and Baden snored in the reading parlor; Baden on the couch and Duke in the armchair, legs propped up on the footrest.
Where was Callum?
Once in the kitchen, I turned on the overhead light—one activated by a light rune.
“Morning, Ev.”
“Jesus!” I slapped a hand to my chest, my soul leaving my body. Callum sat at the table near the window. “Why are you sitting in the dark? I nearly pissed myself.”
He softly laughed. “Apologies. Didn’t mean to scare you.” He dropped his gaze to the table. “I couldn’t sleep.”
“Neither could I.” Pretty sure the same thing had kept us awake. The weirdness between us. “Want some coffee?”
“Only if it’s no trouble.” Callum wore no shirt, exposing his washboard abs that came from long hours of drills and wielding a sword in full armor. His pants rode low on his toned waist, and V-lines disappeared into the band of those pants.
Definitely easy on the eyes. And distracting.
“No trouble at all.” I tore my gaze from him and walked over to the coffee station to brew a pot. Being near him stirred up the confusion from last night all over again. He wanted to know if he was more than just my ‘silly cinnamon roll.’
What had he meant? What else did he want to be?
I felt his eyes on me as I prepared banana muffins. I couldn’t send my captain away without a bundle of his favorite treat to keep him company during patrols or whatever else he’d be doing that day. I also made a batch of blueberry; the favorite flavor of another glutton who’d wormed his way into my heart.
Even if nothing ever came from those feelings.
As the muffins baked, I made enough food to feed a small army. Bacon sizzled in a skillet, along with scrambled eggs. Stacks of pancakes covered the kitchen island. The smelleventually lured the others into the kitchen. Lake first, then Duke and Baden.
When Quincy joined us, he rested a hand on his back. “Think I slept wrong. I ache.”
“Probably because you sleep sprawled out like a drunk tortoise,” Duke told him.
“Tortoise or not, I’m still more attractive than you.”
“Morning,” I said with a light laugh. “Breakfast is almost ready.”
“It smells wonderful.” Lake hugged me. He wore a kimono style robe that fell open in the front, revealing a light dusting of silver hair across his toned chest.
“Not as wonderful as you do,” I said, damn near having to wipe the drool from my mouth. How I’d gotten lucky enough to have so many smoking hot men, I’d never know. “Maybe even better than coffee.”
Lake’s nose crinkled at the compliment. “I’ll make some tea.”
“Thank you.” I pecked him on the lips before removing the eggs from the heat. He, Briar, and Quincy preferred tea with their breakfast. The others were coffee sluts like me.
“Never thought a brute like you would hold his teacup so dainty,” Baden told Quincy. “Like a prim and proper lady at a luncheon. Fancy a bit of cream, milady? How about a crumpet?”
Quincy, in his haste to shove Baden’s shoulder, spilled said tea. “Look what you’ve done.”
“WhatI’vedone. That’s no fault of mine.” Baden huffed. “You may sip your tea like a lady, yet you’re still the chaotic and messy bloke we all know and love.”
“Love?” Quincy fluttered his eyelashes. “Is this where you say you wanna marry me?”
