Chapter Eleven

"Good morning." I was in the kitchen, adding pecans and honey to a pot of oatmeal until it was just the right sweetness, when Monroe came downstairs. "Morning," she said.

Edward came from his study and walked up behind her. She let out a loud, girlie yelp. I took in her heaving breaths and her hand pressed to the middle of her chest.

"Whoa, female. I'm sorry to scare you. Are you okay? I thought I heard you coming." He pushed a lock of hair from her face, and she backed up.

"I'm okay. You startled me a little. You need tap shoes or something."

We both laughed, and Edward invited her to take a seat. "Name your poison, Monroe. I know you love coffee, and we have every kind under the sun. Espresso. I can make you a latte, cappuccino, or plain ole drip."

"I can make it myself," she answered. Another standoff. Interesting.

"I understand that you can do anything you want to, Monroe, but I want to make your coffee this morning. Would you allow me the pleasure?" Edward's voice dipped low, and my bear felt him push a little of his alpha power into the request. She had responded like such a good girl the night before.

"Oh, um, yes. Double espresso with cream, please."

He nodded and I turned my attention to finishing breakfast. "I hope you're hungry. I cooked everything since you listed breakfast foods as one of your likes. Did you sleep well?"

"Yeah," she said, relaxing her shoulders a bit. "That bed is obscenely comfortable. I considered staying in it all day."

Edward laughed while he set up the machine for her caffeine fix. "That would've been acceptable, female. But since you decided to get up, what would you like to do today?"

She shook her head. "Plans after coffee, please."

I served up a breakfast buffet and grabbed a plate. She reached for the stack, but I moved them out of the way. She'd asked for old-school men and now she was getting them. "What would you like?" I asked.

She squinted those blue eyes at me, a nonverbal contest. It lasted for only a few seconds before she blew out a breath. "A little of everything, please. I'm starved."

I filled a plate and served it to her while Edward poured her a glass of juice. We prepared our own plates and waited until she took the first bite before proceeding. Thank goodness we weren't rusty on our manners.

"Where did you learn to cook?" she asked. We told her how we learned to cook and detailed some of the cooking classes we'd experienced in other countries. Italy had been the best treat in that department.

"So what would you like to do today, Monroe?" Edward brought the question back up. "Unless you'd like to stay here and read or take a swim. The pool is heated."

"I think there's some kind of mountain ladder that you can climb? That might be interesting."

I cocked my head while my bear assessed her tone and scent. She wasn't lying, but there was a hint of nervousness about her request. She was testing us.

That, I would accept.

"I saw that. We have to make reservations but let me call and see how soon we can do it." I got on my phone to find their website.

Edward covered his mouth as Monroe's face went completely pale. She even dropped her fork on her plate with a clang.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

"Are you sure you want to go there?" she asked. "It's very high, and who knows how well they keep up those ladders. It could be dangerous." Why had she asked if she didn't want to do it?

Edward reached for her plate and put that and her fork into the sink. He would do the dishes if I cooked. It was a habit we'd gotten into when we realized our two fates were connected and moved in together. "I looked at The Mountain Climb a few months ago, but they were booked up. They inspect the ladder regularly, and it's perfectly safe. Plus, they hook you to all kinds of ropes and safety equipment."

"Oh," she muttered. Gods, she was adorable. I bet she thought we would cower at the thought of climbing a mountain. "Don't you have any other ideas of things we could do?"

"We want to do whatever you want to do. Ansel, are you calling?" Edward looked at me.

"Doing it right now."