“Later than you,” she countered, eyeing the bag. “Where did you go?”
“Thought I’d make us breakfast. I left a note.” Hegestured to the fridge. “Figured you wouldn’t see it since you were snoring when I slipped out.”
“I resent that. I do not snore.” She feigned offense.
“You absolutely do.” He stepped closer, tilting her chin up to meet his eyes. “And it’s very cute.”
He kissed her—a slow, lingering kiss. She draped her arms around his neck as she drew him closer. This moment felt suspended, free floating above all that weighed on her.
“You don’t need to make us breakfast,” she said when she pulled back. “There’s enough food downstairs to feed a small nation many times over.”
“Well, first, I’d rather stay here with you. Second, you need to try my omelet. It’s way better than the ones they have here.”
“The ones made to order by Michelin-rated chefs?” She gave him a look. “That’s quite presumptuous.”
“Tells you how confident I am.” His dimple deepened. “It’s my family recipe. Figured you should try it.”
She tried not to melt on the spot. And though she offered to help him prep, he insisted he only wanted her company. She watched him chop onions and sweet peppers, season and stir. The rhythmic clatter of knives and pans filled the space. God, he looked so sexy cooking.
They sat down to eat. She was about to take her first bite when his phone rang. He checked it and placed it back on the table.
“Do you need to get that?” she asked.
“It’s my nephew, Bilal. He likes to randomly video call sometimes.”
“You should answer it.”
“I can chat later.”
She insisted he take the call, and though she stayed out offrame, she couldn’t help but listen in, warmth filling her at how gentle he was with his nephew.
“Did you see an alligator?” the little boy asked.
“More than one,” he said. “I took photos.”
“What was their names?”
“Hmmm. Well, one was Suzy. And Cox, who could forget him? The others…I don’t know.” He seemed truly troubled at this realization. “Maybe you can help me name them?”
Bilal loved this idea and rattled out ten options. When they hung up a few moments later, Reza looked at her apologetically.
“Sorry about that.”
“For what? He sounded so sweet.” She took a bite of her omelet. “Wow. This is good.”
His expression fell. “Good?”
“Wait.” She frowned. “I mean it’s very good. Why do you look disappointed?”
“Good isn’t great.”
She suppressed a laugh and stood up, settling onto his lap. “What I meant was, this right here is the best omelet I’ve ever had in my life.”
“See? Now, that’s more like it.”
His finger traced her collarbone, sending shivers through her. How did he do that? How did one touch light her entire body up? The first night she laid eyes on him, she’d hoped Reza would be a good distraction—perhaps a fun fling with a stranger. But he was no longer a stranger. And this was not a fling. Whatever this was between them, it felt real.
He kissed her. His hands skimmed her waist, tugging at her robe.