Grabbing her wristlet, she made her way quietly past Jesse’s closed door and down to the next level on the way out the residence entrance.
She was just about to pass the kitchen when she was stopped in her tracks. “You’re not going to dip out on me without a word, are you? Now, how is that any way to show gratitude to the guy who put you up last night?”
Huh and what?
There was Jesse already up and over by the stove looking way better than any man ought to in shorts, a tank and an apron that only served to outline the fantastic athletic shape of his body.
He turned her way and smiled, his locs, for a moment, haloed by the early-morning sun coming though the kitchen window. Kerry swallowed, suddenly parched.
“Um, no, I wasn’t. I was just going to run out and get some coffee. I thought maybe pick up a couple of sandwiches.”
He walked over to her with a grace and smoothness that should be illegal. Who knew, maybe it was in certain counties down South. He took the wristlet from her hand and sat it on the old Formica table.
“No need,” he said. “I already have everything ready to go. You just sit and give me a few minutes.”
Stunned, Kerry had no choice but to do as he asked. So she sat and watched the cuteness of an early-morning Jesse as he made her breakfast.
“One egg or two?” he asked.
She blinked. He was so adorable with his bare feet, hair all askew and sleep still clouding his slightly puffy eyes.
“One or two?”
She’d take four of him right now. But that was just being greedy. But really one of him wouldn’t be enough. With the way he looked she’d wear the one out, so a backup was surely needed.
“Four?” he asked.
“Huh?” she replied.
“You really want four eggs?”
“What? Huh? No, I, um, one egg is fine.”
He walked over to her. Came in close. So close that he was practically hovering on top of her. She inhaled. There was that scent. Damn, it was delicious. She’d gotten a hint of it from the body wash that was in the shower, but this was altogether different. This was that wash mixed with him, and together they made magic. He pulled back a bit and put his hand to her forehead. “You’re not getting sick, are you? I hope you didn’t catch a cold from rushing out after your shower last night.”
Kerry caught hold of her senses and pushed his hand away. “I’m fine. Don’t worry about me. I just didn’t catch what you were asking.”
He frowned. “Well, you look a little off.”
Now it was Kerry’s turn to frown. There was the Jesse she knew and didn’t love. Just the version she needed to bring her back to earth.
“I said I’m fine,” she said, pushing back from her chair and getting up. She went over to the sink. “Can I do something? I feel useless just sitting while you do all the work.”
“You don’t have to do anything, but if sitting makes you uncomfortable, get your coffee and pull out some bread for toast. How about that?”
“Fine,” she said in a tone she realized was probably a little too businesslike for the likes of this kitchen.
He nodded, then went back toward the stove. Kerry let out a breath before going about making the coffee and fixing toast.
In no time Jesse, after a few pushes of the microwave buttons and a short while in front of the stove, was putting a plate of egg, sausages and toast in front of her. The shocker was the side bowl of grits, smooth and creamy with butter and even some shredded cheese on top.
“Wow, this is a real breakfast,” she said.
Jesse sat across from her and grinned. “Were you expecting a fake one?”
She took a bite of the over easy egg and mixed it with the grits. Damn, they didn’t even need any more salt or pepper. “No, I wasn’t expecting a fake breakfast, but I can admit I also wasn’t expecting this.”
He mumbled a quick prayer under his breath, then started to eat. After a few bites, he stopped to catch his breath and look at her. “You know, I hope to surprise you and everyone in many ways in the upcoming weeks.”
Kerry paused midchew on the sausage in her mouth and stared at him. Though his words were said lightly, almost flippantly, she still caught the underlying seriousness, mixed with a hint of desperation, in his tone.
“I’m sorry, Jes,” she said, and meant it. “I didn’t mean to doubt you.”
He grinned, turning the mood once again. “Just so you know, I can burn in more than one room of a house.”
Kerry shook her head as her eyes rolled toward the ceiling. “Trust, I don’t doubt you can.”
He laughed, then sobered. “So I was thinking about the shop.”
She nodded but kept chewing, then took a sip of her coffee and spoke. “Good. I’d be concerned if you weren’t.”
He got up and went to the sideboard and picked up a tablet, tapping some buttons and then placing it next to her setting.
She looked at him with confusion, but he took another bite of his breakfast and pushed his chin forward. “Look. I was playing around on Pinterest and looking up ideas for the shop. It may look like a lot, but it’s all things I think we can do to update the shop for not too much money.”
Kerry frowned but couldn’t help being intrigued about what he was pinning, since this was Jesse and, honestly, it could be anything—from cakes as in literal to cakes as in asses. But she took another bite of the delicious food, then wiped her hands and picked up the tablet. She smiled. She liked how Jesse’s mind worked. The pictures he’d pinned were all modern but still had a hint of tradition. There were images of yarn stored in baker’s racks or apothecary cabinets, and there were knitting needles housed in painter’s cans and clay flowerpots. Each was unique and, he was right, not all that expensive. There were also some cool furniture pieces: chairs and chaises with woven seats and backs made to look handknit that were cool. Marrying some of these with a fresh coat of paint and rearranging the furniture could really update the shop, but would they be able to do it and would it be enough to create buzz and keep the shop afloat?
She looked at him. “I like these ideas.” She grinned at one pin. “As a matter of fact, I have a couple of them on my inspiration board. But do you think we can do it?”
He took the tablet from her and stared at it. “Not all of it. But some. I’ll get my brothers to help. At least Lucas and Noah while they’re here. Damian may give us trouble, but he’ll get on board.”
Kerry looked at him.
Jesse shrugged. “Who knows. Maybe he will. If he doesn’t, I can’t let it stop me.”