Lucky was in the kitchen, standing near the stove with a large mixing bowl in one hand and a wire wisk in the other. Wearing what she assumed were the same pair of sweats he’d had on the night before, he was bare from the waist up save for the dark green apron tied around the back of his neck and at the small of his back.
Sensing her presence, he turned and looked at her way. He smiled the second he saw her, and damn if Ellie’s heart didn’t do a complete three-sixty flip.
The man truly is beautiful.
And for one night, at least, he’d been hers.
“Good morning.” His entire face lit up with his smile. “I hope you like pancakes and bacon. I could make some eggs, too, if you want.”
“Pancakes and bacon are fine.” She sidled up to one of the bar stools running the length of the room’s massive, granite-topped island. “I saw on my weather app that it’s supposed to be a really nice day today.”
Ellie winced as Lucky turned his attention back to the half-cooked pancake bubbling on the skillet he was working. This was precisely why she never slept over. To avoid the inevitable awkward morning-after conversation.
Case in point, the man had literally had his mouth on damn near every inch of her body less than an hour ago, and she was talking about the freaking weather?
Smooth, El. That’ll really make him want to keep you around after his bodyguard gig is up.
The unexpected thought gave her pause. Was that what she wanted? To stick around and be…what?
Lucky’s lover? His girlfriend?
Something more?
If she were being totally honest with herself, that wasexactlywhat she wanted. Only problem was—aside from being utterly terrified of turning out like her mom—Ellie had no idea how Lucky truly felt about her.
He’d been an amazing lover, sure. Attentive. Caring. Gentle when she’d needed it. Rough and perfectly wild when they’d both craved more.
But she knew as well as anyone that sex did not automatically equate to feelings or an emotional attachment. Except it did where she was concerned.
Not with anyone else. Just him.
Only Lucky.
And she genuinely had no idea what to do about it.
“Here ya go.” Lucky brought over a plate stacked with three steaming, perfectly golden cakes. “And here’s the butter andsyrup.” He grabbed those two things from the counter beside him and sat them near her plate while simultaneously handing her a fork.
“This looks delicious, thank you.” Ellie took the offered utensil. She couldn’t keep the moan from escaping when the first bite she took melted against her tongue. “Ohmagawd,” she started to speak before swallowing the bite of maple heaven. “That’s seriously the best pancake I’ve ever eaten.”
“Thanks.” He beamed with an adorable flash of pride. “The secret is to add a splash of vanilla and just a dash of cinnamon in the batter.”
“Cinnamon!” Ellie snapped her fingers. “That’swhat I’m tasting.”
“I’d better sleep with one eye open tonight,” he teased. “My grandma’s probably going to come back and haunt me for sharing what makes her recipe so special.”
Laughing, she took another bite. And then, another. She was nearly halfway done with hers by the time he sat down to begin eating his own.
“Okay, seriously.” She used the edge of her fork to cut off another fluffy wedge. “How in the world are you still single?”
The question was out of her mouth before Ellie could stop it. But, given the night they’d just shared, she couldn’t bring herself to regret what she felt was a very valid inquiry.
“Guess I just never met a woman who made me not want to be single.” He shrugged. But then those soul-stealing eyes turned her way, the blues there filled with all sorts of unspoken promises when he started to say, “Not until y—”
The ringing of a phone stole the rest of his words. Ellie wanted to scream for the sudden, desperate need she had to hear them. Because it sure sounded like he was about to say not until ‘you’. Meaninig not untilher.
And if that was the case…
“Shit.” Lucky glanced down at the phone he’d seemingly pulled out of thin air. Regret filled his gaze when he told her, “It’s Knox.”