Janie had been so lost in her scattered thoughts the night before she hadn’t had the wherewithal to notice the home’s beauty. But now, in the light of a brand new day, the en suite bathroom looked positively stunning.
Airy and filled with a generous amount of natural light, the space was very spa-like and serene. At the far end of the room, a free-standing tub was centered beneath a wall of windows. If she listened closely, she could almost hear it calling her name.
But as much as Janie wanted to lose herself there for hours on end, she chose the tiled shower, instead. Twenty minutes later, Janie was clean, dry, and dressed in a pair of faded jeans and a light blue tank. An oversized white shirt she’d left unbuttoned finished off the casual look, along with a pair of plain, white sneakers.
She blew her hair dry but decided to leave it down before throwing on a minimal amount of makeup, just enough to make her feel a little more put-together.
Her attempts to cover up the blue and purple skinbeneath her sore eye were pretty much in vain. The bruise was there, and from the looks of it, she’d be walking around like a prize fighter for at least the next few days.
Janie left the indoor oasis behind as she flipped off the lights and walked out of the room. In less than a minute, she was making her way down the gorgeous, curving stairs.
The structure’s polished wood gave the flight of steps a positively regal feel, the soles of her sneakers nearly silent as they carried her to the home’s main level.
Janie followed the savory scents, which grew stronger the farther she went down the marble-tiled hallway toward the rear portion of the house. The more flooring she covered, the clearer the telltale sounds of someone working in the kitchen became.
The hallway came to an end, giving way to a wide, open space as impressive as the rest of the structure’s interior. To the right was a warm and cozy living room, complete with a stone fireplace and walnut mantle.
Soft, morning light shone through the wall-to-ceiling windows that made up the wall she faced. To her left, Janie found a dining room table and chairs near a kitchen that would be every chef’s dream.
Her lungs froze, the breath she’d been in the process of taking hitched slightly when her gaze landed on the man at the stove. Emmett’s back was to her as he stirred a pan of scrambled eggs with one hand and flipped strips of bacon in the pan on his right with the other.
Janie started to speak, to bid him a good morning,but she stopped herself before making a sound. Rather than alert him of her presence, she took a step back, partially concealing her body with the wall’s smooth edge.
Her head tilted just enough to be able to watch him while he worked.
Emmett’s black hair looked damp, as if he’d also recently showered. As usual, the slightly longer locks on top were combed back, the way he seemed to like it. Her fingers itched to rake their way through them. To muss up that careful composure of his.
Maybe someday.
Her gaze followed a trail lower.
Broad shoulders stretched the black t-shirt he was wearing, and chiseled biceps pulled at the hemmed edges of the sleeves. Though they were covered, Janie could make out several muscles working together while the intriguing man moved. The jeans Emmett wore were faded in places that made her wonder if they were his favorites.
Speaking of jeans?—
Janie’s attention landed on the man’s mouthwatering backside and thighs. Toned. Fit. It was clear Emmett kept himself in very good shape. And that’s what she could tell from here, with the man fully clothed.
If he looks this good in jeans, I can only imagine what he’d look like out of them.
The tantalizing thought had barely driven through her mind when his deep voice made her jump with a start.
“There’s coffee, if you want some.”
Praying he wouldn’t notice the flush of embarrassmentalready making its way into her cheeks, Janie acted as if she hadn’t just been caught spying and casually entered the room.
She went straight for the coffee. Once the white, ceramic mug she’d chosen was filled to the brim, she leaned a hip against the counter halfway between where she’d been and where he was standing.
“You cook?”
“That surprises you?” Emmett looked away from what he was doing to give her a glance from over his shoulder.
“Not really.” Janie rewarded him with a small smile before taking a cautious sip. “I imagine you had to get pretty inventive during your time with the Marines.”
His low grunt could be heard over the sizzling bacon. “Inventive. That’s one way of putting it.”
“You were MARSOC, right?”
“Marines Special Operations Command.” Emmett nodded as he turned off the burners. “Here.” He grabbed one of two plates from the counter and held one out for her. “Ladies first.”