“You handle them. I’ll make the grub.”
It was almost like being a family—Ellie changing the twins’ wet diapers and getting them dressed, Jesse in the kitchen, the two of them sharing the work of getting the day on its feet. It was just one of many things she’d never gotten to experience because of Dan’s death.
She had no one with whom to share the day’s chores and responsibilities or all the cute little things Daisy and Daniel did each day, the funny things they said. Yes, her parents and sister helped, and she took lots of photos and talked about her day with Claire and her parents. But this past week with Jesse had shown her that it was very different to have someone in the house to live those moments with her.
She combed Daisy’s hair into pigtails, then followed the twins out to the kitchen. Full of energy, they chattered with each other and with Jesse, who probably couldn’t understand a word of their toddler talk.
“What are you making?” She peered over his shoulder.
“Scrambled eggs, pancakes, and coffee.” With his height and his broad shoulders, he dominated the small kitchen—and somehow managed to look sexy doing it.
In fifteen minutes, he had food on the table.
Ellie cut up the kids’ pancakes and drizzled them with maple syrup, then sat, the mingled scents making her mouth water. “This is amazing.”
He took a sip of coffee. “I guess I need to make breakfast for you more often.”
The idea that there might be more mornings like this warmed her like sunshine, but she hadn’t forgotten what he’d said about not being good with relationships or kids—or that he’d almost risked his life in a game of Russian roulette with a mountain.
Don’t pin your hopes on this, on him.
“Have you told the kids where we’re going today?” Jesse asked.
She shook her head. “Daisy and Daniel, we’re going to see some horsies and some cows today. What does a cow say?”
“Mooooo,” Daisy answered, then giggled.
Daniel echoed her. “Mooooo.”
Jesse nodded. “Well, they’ve got that down.”
“Are you sure you want to do this?”
“Do what?”
“Skijoring.”
“Hell, yeah.”
“Hell, yeah,” said Daisy.
Jesse looked wide-eyed at her. “Whoa. Damn.”
“Damn,” said Daisy.
Ellie had just taken a sip of coffee and had to fight not to choke. “I warned you.”
“What’s wrong with skijoring?”
“Nothing—if you don’t mind breaking bones or risking your life.”
“I watched last year. No one died.”
“Two guys got hauled to the hospital in ambulances, remember? I just don’t want you to get hurt.” There was no sense in arguing with him about it. The man climbed rocks for fun, played with explosives at work, and probably skied double-black diamonds without a single thought.
“You’re worried about me?”
“Of course, I’m worried,” she snapped, then noticed he was smiling. She reached over, took his hand. “I care about you.”