Page 16 of Wreck Me
He shrugged a shoulder as he filled the kettle with water. “My mom and sisters like their tea, and they like to drop by to make sure I haven’t turned into a caveman, I guess.”
“How many sisters do you have exactly?”
“Three.” He set the kettle on the stove. The burner clicked for a few seconds before the flame lit up. “Charley, who you met today, Grace, and Amelia.”
“Did your mom say something about brothers or did I dream that?”
“I have two older brothers.”
“Wow. A big family.” Her heart twisted a little at the old pain of never having much family. “So, I take it you were born and raised here. Do all of your siblings live here?”
“Yeah, for now. But I think Charley wants to get out of town. She graduated from college last year. And she hasn’t really figured out what she wants from life just yet. My brother Del moved back earlier this year.”
“I bet your parents are happy about that.”
A shadow crossed his eyes just before he looked away to open a cupboard and reach for a bowl and mug. “It’s just my mom. My father died when I was thirteen.”
She looked down into the bowl of soup he’d just slid in front of her. “I’m sorry.”
What was she doing? She didn’t need to know all these things about him. No, as soon as she was cleared to stay on her own, she was moving into the inn until her car was ready. And then she was out.
“No need to be sorry. It was a fair question. Do you want some crackers?”
“No, thanks. This is good.” She picked up the spoon he’d set out and stirred the fragrant broth. “You know, you don’t have to do all of this. I’m sure you have better things to do. Like sleep or something.”
He leaned back against the counter and picked up a mug next to him. “Not a problem. I was up anyway.”
The mug was standard sized, but the way his hand wrapped around it, it seemed small. She couldn’t help but wonder how those hands would feel skating over her body.
Her eyes flicked up to his as he sipped from the cup, eyes watchful over the rim.
“You going to eat the soup or just stir it the whole time?” The smile on his lips softened the words.
“Hmm…I was just waiting for it to cool.”
She ate the best damn chicken noodle soup she’d ever put in her mouth and sipped tea while he cleaned and put away the dishes he’d used.
“Don’t you sleep? Or are you one of those people who exist on coffee and adrenaline?” It appeared her mouth wasn’t going to stop playing twenty questions.
He went back to what she’d thought of as his place in the kitchen, leaning against the counter, arms crossed over his broad chest. One thing was for sure. It gave her a nice view.
He shook his head and looked at the floor. “I just don’t sleep much. When I do, I don’t sleep well.”
“Is it because of your job?”
“That might be part of it, since I’m always waiting for a call. But it started when I was in the military actually.”
“What branch did you serve in?”
“Army. Ranger. Three tours in Afghanistan.”
“Wow, that must have been rough.”
“It was hard being away from home.” He nodded toward her. “If you’re done, I’ll take your bowl.”
Unlike other men she’d known, Aidan was adept at deflecting the conversation from him. It made him all the more intriguing and pushed her to ask more questions than she should. But she was a stranger in this man’s house who was doing her a solid. It was really none of her business, and she just needed to shut up.
“Yes, I’m done.” Megan pushed the bowl and mug away and sat back. “Thank you, that was delicious. Best chicken noodle I’ve had. Did you make it?”
