Page 114 of Her Summer Hope

"So?" Kyle raised an eyebrow.

"So," Jimmy huffed, acting shocked as if hiring her without a culinary education was blasphemous. "I knew something was wrong just by reading her menu choices. She ain’t qualified!"

"Hey, we all start somewhere," Kyle defended with a chuckle. "Besides, she's got a natural talent for it."

"Whatever you say, boss," Jimmy muttered under his breath, returning to the stove.

John wandered in and grabbed a mug of coffee. "Morning, guys," he greeted, joining them.

"Morning," Kyle replied. "How'd you sleep?"

"Like a baby," John said. He glanced at Kyle and asked, "So, how are things with Maddy?"

Kyle smiled, his chest swelling with warmth at the thought of her. "Great. I'm going to propose."

John and Jimmy exchanged surprised looks, clearly not expecting the announcement.

Before either could respond, Wyatt strode into the kitchen. "Did I hear that right?" he asked, eyebrows raised. "You're actually going to put a ring on it?"

Kyle shrugged. "Madison's the one for me."

Wyatt scoffed. "You'll regret being shackled for the rest of your life."

Kyle simply raised an eyebrow at his friend's cynicism. He also noticed that John was being extra quiet. Something was on his mind.

Murdock entered the kitchen from the back porch, sweaty and disheveled, face and arms streaked with dirt. Kyle studied his hulking frame as he made a beeline for the coffee pot. "Did you sleep out there again?"

Murdock grunted in response, pouring himself a mug of coffee.

The men gathered around the table, digging into their breakfast and coffee.

Murdock broke the silence. "What's the problem? My bed's too damn soft. My room's too damn cushy." He shook his head and added. "You're all going soft. Gonna have a bunch of pansy-asses to deal with around here."

Neil walked in at that moment, grabbed a plate of food, and promptly left to eat in his room.

Kyle looked around at the guys, exasperated, and sipped his coffee. “You all have issues.”

“No shit,” Wyatt merely sighed. "Neil's not a morning person."

Aiden and Jace entered the kitchen next. Jace looked exhausted, with dark circles under his eyes. John served them up some food and Aiden dug in while Jace prepared his coffee.

When Jimmy slammed the pantry door shut, Jace visibly jumped and ducked, his face draining of color.

"Sorry, man," Jimmy muttered.

Jace just straightened up, nodded, and hurried out of the room without a word.

Aiden ran a hand through his hair, looking a bit shaken himself. "Damn, Jimmy. You just took ten years off my life."

Jimmy grimaced apologetically before going back to cooking.

With his usual abruptness, Murdock grabbed a pile of pancakes and sausage and stalked out the back door.

Kyle exchanged a knowing look with Aiden and John.

Just another day at McClellan's Hope.

"What's everyone got going on today?" Wyatt asked, sipping his coffee and acting everything wasn’t a big dumpster fire this morning.