Page 26 of Love, Lies and Sleigh Rides
Kade.
That obnoxious little voice in her head that always whispered dissenting opinions annoyed her to the bone. It was not Kade who distracted her. Of course it wasn’t. She just needed her own space away from their family activities, more of which were scheduled for today.
He’s so thoughtful. Seems to hang on your every word. So good-looking too.
She threw back the covers to begin the day, hoping the rush to get packed and ready to go would silence the commentary going on in her brain. A quick shower and then she was dressed, and she slipped downstairs to grab some coffee and a slice of coffee cake Elaine had baked last night. The woman lived in her kitchen.
Sure enough, Kade hunched over the kitchen island with a mug in one hand and his phone in another.
“Good morning,” she said as she noted an empty mug and a plate set opposite him with the coffee cake in the center. She took the mug, filled it, then settled at the counter. He was already slicing her a piece and placing it on her plate when she turned around.
“Mornin’,” he mumbled.
They sat in silence for a few minutes, letting the sleepy hour seep from their bodies and listening to a bird somewhere close sing a somber tune.
“Mourning dove,” Kade offered as if he’d read her mind.
She looked at him over her mug. “It’s a peaceful sound. And sort of haunting.”
He nodded and went back to looking at his phone.
“So what’s on the schedule for today?” The coffee cake melted in her mouth. Cranberries and cinnamon. Delightful.
An almost imperceptible sigh escaped him and he set down his phone.
“Not much. My dad needs help repairing two of the stalls in the main barn. Tim asked if I could help him move furniture around the main floor as they’re getting their floors refinished.” He shrugged, looking at her hand which rested on the counter. “How about you? You seem...ready for something.”
She wasn’t surprised it showed. Moving out of the Behars’ after two festive but mentally exhausting days was high on her to-do list.
“Darcy Stetman called this morning to let me know there was an open room. So, I’m going to take it.”
Kade’s lips pursed and Fallon found herself studying them a little too long. Full mouth, soft-looking lips, one corner always quirked up when he found something amusing. There were no quirks now.
Get a hold of yourself.Why are you thinking about Kade’s lips at a time like this?
Admittedly, it’d been a while.
The guy she’d dated in the spring had been a good kisser. What was his name?Todd. But that was as far as the relationship got before he admitted living with his parents. He was between security jobs, he’d said. Turned out he hadn’t worked in three years and not for a lack of opportunities. He just wasn’t “feeling it” anymore and wanted to “explored new horizons,” namely during an upcoming backpacking trip in the Sierra Nevadas with no return date.
“Helllllo?”
She snapped back to the present when Kade waved his hand between them.
“Sorry. I guess I’m still in a dream state.”Your lips are to blame for that. “What did you ask?”
A cloud settled over Kade’s expression.
“If you needed any help.”
She chuckled. “I have next to nothing to bring with me. So, no, thank you. You’ve done enough already.”
“Suit yourself.” Kade picked up his phone again and focused on that while intermittently sipping and stabbing his fork into the coffee cake. After a few minutes of silence, he took his empty plate and mug to the dishwasher and excused himself without another word.
Had she said something to offend him?
As she sat there, Fallon replayed the conversation in her mind. Where had it taken a turn for the worse? Dumbfounded, she cleaned her breakfast dishes and returned to her room to gather her things.
The sooner she left the Behars’, the better.
