5. Sully

CHAPTER 5

Before I step foot into my kitchen I can smell breakfast.

The aroma of bacon beckons me and I follow it like a swirling tendril of scent you see in those old cartoons.

Talia's moving about the kitchen as if she's been here for years. Just like yesterday.

It's adorable and she's so fucking sexy, it hurts.

"What's this?" I ask.

"Breakfast," she deadpans.

"That's not part of the deal."

"I know. I just felt like making breakfast for you."

"Why?" I ask.

"To be nice. Is that okay, Grumpy?" She pours me a cup of coffee as I sit at the counter bar.

I take a sip. Fuck. Even her coffee tastes better. "Don't want you to feel obligated," I say, after another sip.

"I don't," she chirps, then beams at me. "By the way, I used the eggs in your refrigerator. They smelled fresh."

I nod. "Reece's wife brings those over from the ranch sometimes. Glad you could use them."

I can feel her eyes roving over me. "You really don't cook…anything?"

I shake my head.

"Do you go out?"

"Not if I can help it."

She chuckles. "Not even on dates?"

"Especially not on dates."

She eyes me and quickly looks away, cheeks pink. She hums as she plates up the food and I can't help but think, it's nice waking up to a woman in my house. Would be even better if she came from my bed.

Last night I had the hardest time getting to sleep. Emphasis on the hard. I couldn't stop thinking about Talia riding my cock, head thrown back until we both came loud and fast.

Pipe dreams. Pun intended.

I should forget those kind of dreams. Why would an outgoing, fun-loving woman want a guy like me? The shy grump. Never brave enough to make a move. It's why I'm still a virgin.

Talia is a bright light. Sunshine in a bottle. She needs a man with experience—who could bring her to climax every night. Make her feel like a queen. There's no way I could do that. Though if given the chance, I'd spend the rest of my life trying, that's for sure.

We eat breakfast and it's delicious. I savor it because I don't know if it will ever happen again and I want to remember everything about the meal—the taste of the food and the smile of Talia's face as she put it in front of me at my table. And I force myself to tell her how great it is until she blushes and playfully smacks me with the dish towel.

Later, I hand her a wad of cash to buy food in Missoula for the rest of the week. Nolan's General store doesn't carry all the spices and produce she'll need.

"Is that enough?" I ask.

Her dark eyes go wide. "More than enough."

"Better to have too much than not enough."

"You sure?" She hesitantly puts the money in her bag.

I nod. "I'll start on the plumbing."

"Thank you, again." She pats my shoulder, and her hand lingers there, searing through my flannel shirt.

I tip my ball cap and move away, despite wanting to gather her in my arms and take her straight to my bed.

She walks out and drives off in her car, and I finally let go of the breath I'm holding.

I pack up my tools and drive over to the Inn, ready to work.

I can't wait to get knee deep in stinking pipes corroded with mildew and muck to take my mind off of this woman.