Page 14 of Caden
Caden. It was his arm wrapped around her. She smiled to herself as she remembered the night before. The way he’d touched her and made her feel. As if she was the most precious thing on earth, at last in that moment.
She lay there a moment, wondering how long he would sleep, then if she could slip away without waking him. She needed to use the restroom, then she wasn’t sure if she wanted to come back and start all over what they’d done the night before or get some coffee first then kiss him awake and maybe have a replay. Either way she’d have to make a decision soon as her bladder started screaming at her.
It took a little maneuvering, but she managed to slide out from under Caden’s arm without waking him. She went into the bathroom first, then stood in the doorway watching him sleep for a moment before deciding to make coffee first. She’d drink a little then bring him a cup. That way it would seem like she was being sweet and nice rather than to try and have her way with him.
Olivia picked up his dress shirt and slipped it on her shoulders buttoning only the button between her breasts as she went into the kitchen.
She started the coffee pot then pulled a few things out for breakfast while she waited for it to brew. Maybe she’d take him breakfast? No. that wasn’t a great way to start a relationship, if that’s what this was going to be. If you started with breakfast in bed, some men expected that to continue and that would never happen. She didn’t mind making breakfast on weekends, but he’d have to come join her in the kitchen to eat it.
Forgetting what she’d been planning, Olivia put her favorite cast iron skillet on the stove and lit the flame before she laid several strips of bacon in it to cook. That started, she took down a bowl and put together the batter for pancakes.
She’d just poured the first pancake onto the griddle to cook when a pair of strong arms wrapped around her middle and warm breath feathered along the shell of her ear.
“I’m not sure there’s anything better to wake up to than breakfast, but if there is, it’s breakfast cooked by a hot woman wearing my shirt.”
Olivia tilted her head back to rest on his shoulder for a few seconds while he nuzzled the bend of her neck. She could get used to the way he made her feel. The thought flashed through her mind to wonder if feeling like this was why Lainey had married Jared, but nearly as fast as the thought appeared, it was gone as Caden’s hands slid down her sides then smoothed up under the hem of his shirt, along her legs then up to her hips. She couldn’t miss the hard length of him pressing against her rear as he tugged her against him.
“My God, woman. You’re going to make me insane if you keep this up.” His voice had dropped to little more than a growl as he squeezed the cheeks of her ass then let her go, stepping away.
Olivia immediately missed his warmth. A pop from the skillet in front of her reminded her she was cooking. She quickly flipped her pancake, it was a little dark but not burnt. Not yet. Turning her attention to the bacon, she pulled the finished rashers off and added a few more to cook before moving back to the pancakes.
Once she had things set for a moment, she turned to where Caden was standing next to the coffee pot, sipping a cup.
“What do you like on your pancakes? And do you want eggs to go with them?”
He shook his head, his gaze never wavering from where he leaned against the bar on the other branch of the L and watched her. “No eggs. I don’t like them, but what do you have for the hot cakes?”
“I have a lot of things that could be put on them. Powdered sugar, syrup, jam, peanut butter, apple butter, regular butter.” She quirked one corner of her mouth at the way his eyes widened at her list. Before he drew himself together to answer, she turned back to the stove and checked the pancake on the griddle. It wasn’t quite ready to flip yet.
“Apple butter? I don’t know if I’ve ever tried that. What is it?”
“Do you like apple sauce?”
Caden frowned. “Yeah, but I’m not sure I’d want it on my pancakes.”
“It’s a thick apple sauce with seasonings in it too.” She flipped the pancake, turned the bacon then went to the refrigerator and pulled out the jar of apple butter she’d helped her mother make last fall. “Grab a knife or spoon from that drawer.” She motioned with the jar before she set it on the counter. “Then spread a little of this on a chunk of that pancake and try it.” She slid the plate she’d intended to stack finished pancakes on toward him and pulled down another to put the next one on.
11
Caden watched her for a moment, trying to decide if she was trying to pull something over on him then decided why not.
It smelled like apple pie, how bad could it be?
He tore a small chunk off the hotcake and used a knife from the drawer as she’d directed, to spread a small amount of the thick spread on to it. He watched her as he popped the bit into his mouth. Flavor exploded on his tongue.
“Like it?” she asked as she flipped another hot cake on the griddle then pulled more bacon from the pan and set it aside.
“I do. How have I never had this before?” He dipped more from the jar and spread it on the rest of the hotcake.
Olivia shrugged. “I grew up eating it, but I don’t know where it comes from. I get the idea it might be a southern thing. Maybe that’s why?” She served up another hot cake and poured more batter onto the pan. “Here, have some bacon too.” She moved the plate with the meat over so he could reach it.
Caden stared at it a moment then glanced up at her then decided to hold off. He’d let her finish cooking then sit down to eat with her.
Instead of eating more, he picked up his coffee mug, leaned back against the counter and took a sip, watching her. He let one corner of his mouth quirk up as he noticed how hot she was standing there in nothing but his shirt. He’d had other women wear his shirt before, but oddly, none of them stirred this feeling. He wondered what might have changed.
Before he had time to ponder the question for long, she finished cooking and turned to him.
“Didn’t you like it?” She motioned to his plate.