Page 84 of Brandt's Rule
Chapter 18
Warm, teasing kisses pulled Tempest out of a well earned sleep. She and Brandt had been awake until dawn learning all there was to know about each others’ preferences and particular likes and dislikes in the bedroom. And in the living room. And in the kitchen, then the bathroom, and again in the living room.
“Sleeping,” she mumbled, pulling the covers up to tuck under her chin while she turned her back on Brandt.
“I made breakfast,” he told her, tugging playfully at the comforter gripped in her feminine fists.
Tempest’s lids cracked open just enough for her to peek at what he held in his hands. “Bacon?” she asked, turning her head more toward the scent of food.
“And lots of it,” he promised.
Tempest struggled out from beneath her mountain of covers and gladly accepted the plate of food from Brandt.
“Here you go,” he said, handing her a fork and a paper towel.
“You’re awesome,” she said, scooping up some of the buttery grits and taking a bite.
“I’m about to be more awesome,” he said.
Tempest cut into her sunny-side-up eggs and mixed them with her grits, then looked up at him. “Coffee?” she asked.
Brandt laughed. “Yes, I have coffee for you. I’ll get it in a second, but what I meant was that we’re going for a hike today. Thought you might like to get a firsthand look at your new home. At our property, too.”
Tempest smiled sleepily at Brandt. “I’d love that. Later. After coffee.”
“I thought you told me you didn’t really drink a lot of coffee until you left your home town.”
“I didn’t. But I got used to it really quickly.”
“Be right back,” Brandt said, smiling at her indulgently. He was back a minute later with a steaming mug of coffee. “I don’t know how to make all that frozen stuff you and everybody else seems to like so much, but I found a French vanilla creamer in the fridge that I know I didn’t buy, so I figured you’d planned to have it in your coffee this morning.”
“I did put it there. Along with some more of my favorite things.”
“I found the bacon. Lots of bacon, Pest.”
“I love bacon!” she said defensively. “And burgers. Can you make burgers like Vince’s?”
“No. But we can go eat there whenever you want. And besides, if you’re nice to him, he might tell you a secret or two at making them like his. And, come to think of it, Valerie is his sister, and since you’re the apple of Maverik’s eye at this point in time, she might know how to make them and won’t mind telling you.”
“Ohhh, then I could just make them at home.”
“True. But something to be said for having somebody else cook for you.”
Tempest picked up a crispy slice of bacon and took a bite, crunching happily. “Very true,” she said, smiling at Brandt.
“Eat your food, then let’s get up and head out. We’ve got a lot of land here and I want to show it to you.”
Tempest nodded as she reached for the mug sitting on her nightstand and sipped some of her coffee. “But, what about work? I don’t want it said that I get preferential treatment.”
“But you do get preferential treatment,” he teased, licking his lips and dragging a finger down between her breasts.
Tempest laughed, and blushed. “Not that! I mean with work. I want to hold my own. Contribute just like everyone else.”
“I know you do. And I admire that about you. So you know, I already told Barron we’re not likely to be seen for a few days at least, so he’s on point to take care of whatever comes up unless he feels like I need to know something. Tomorrow’s the last work day until after Christmas, since Christmas Eve is this Friday. We’ll get back to work on Monday. New Year’s Eve is that following Friday, so we’re off New Year’s day anyway. The following Monday we get back to regular schedule, but right now, I’m taking a few days for just us.”
Tempest smiled and nodded agreeably, until his words finally sank in. “It’s Christmas already,” she repeated.
“It is. Our entire family gets together and spends Christmas Eve and Christmas Day together. Some of the families with little ones will be later joining us Christmas Day, but that’s only Jobe right now. Well, Havoc, too, but he hasn’t been home since his daughter was born.”