Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 82756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
“Ah.” He went from grinning to coughing. Damn it. I’d been unintentionally flirty. Again. So not like me.
“You know what, maybe I am tired. Probably won’t sleep, but I guess it wouldn’t hurt to put my feet up.” After taking off my shoes, I carefully stretched out on top of the quilt.
“Rest.” Coming the rest of the way into the room, Holden tucked his stack of pillows around me, effectively making a little nest. He even grabbed a fuzzy cover from the end of the bed and pulled it up over me. “That army captain doctor has nothing on me if you don’t take care of yourself.”
The last thing I saw as I drifted off was his expression, fierce but caring. When was the last time I’d been tucked in? By a stranger, no less. And when had I ever, ever seen eyes that intense? I didn’t take naps and I didn’t catch feelings, but damn if Holden didn’t seem determined to break all my rules.
Chapter Nine
Holden
I’d forgotten how good it felt to cook with someone else in the house, knowing I likely wouldn’t dine alone. Or maybe repressed was a better word. I’d tried so hard to be happy for Greg when he got married and moved to Seattle and for Marley when she started her traveling nurse adventures. But the truth was I missed Greg’s bottomless pit appetite and Marley’s insistence that every meal should include something green.
As I chopped and mixed, I had music on low, a soft, happy mix, and my smile was as much for the fact that Cal was on hour six of napping as for my favorite tunes and a tried-and-true recipe.
“My God. How long did I sleep?” Cal wandered into the kitchen, rubbing his face, adorably rumpled and sleep-creased.
“A while.” I hid my grin behind a potholder as I removed the cornbread from the wall oven. If ever anyone had needed a long nap, it was Cal.
“Long enough for you to make a whole lunch?” He surveyed the bubbling pot on the stove with a critical eye.
“Dinner. But who’s counting?” I shrugged, trying not to chuckle, but I seriously was pleased he’d had such a deep rest. “And it’s just chili. Not a particularly involved recipe, but it’s my mom’s and good. I texted Knox, and he was pretty sure you ate meat.”
“I do.” Mouth twisting, Cal stepped closer to examine the skillet of cornbread. “Is that a whole cornbread too?”
“Well, a half would be hard to do.” Using a potholder, I flipped the cornbread onto a plate. “Seriously, though, my mom gifted Greg and me the cast-iron skillet as a housewarming present, but like hers, my cornbread starts with a box.”
“I’m still impressed.” Cal hadn’t cracked a smile, but I’d take managing to impress his cranky self.
“You’re easy,” I teased, knowing he was anything but, and that got a half-smile.
“Hardly.”
“If you really want to be impressed, look in the garage.” I waved him toward the mudroom, and he obediently followed my direction to peek into the garage.
“You got my gear here?” He returned to the kitchen, frowning.
“Are you mad? Earl called, and she was worried about you having pricey scuba gear in the motorhome’s pass-through compartments overnight at the garage.” I’d had a feeling Cal wouldn’t be amused by my and Earl’s overstepping. Cal’s scuba gear was all in neatly labeled plastic storage tubs, which made for easier fetching and transport but also meant easier for stealing, especially given the flimsy latches on the compartments under his RV. “Earl had your keys, but she was concerned about guaranteeing that much equipment. I sent Tyler, my high school helper, a text because he has a truck. He and a buddy retrieved your stuff before the garage closed. Just the gear though. I figured you wouldn’t want them riffling through your personal effects inside the RV.”
“You figured.” He crossed his arms over his chest, gaze even harsher than normal.
“So that’s a yes. You’re pissed.”
“Earl could have called me.”
“She did.” I gave the chili a good stir. It wasn’t quite ready, but it was getting there. Maybe food would mellow Cal back out. “I heard your phone buzz all the way in my office, but you stayed asleep. It seemed like you needed sleep far more than you needed to cram all that gear into multiple trips in my little car.”
“Well, when you put it that way, you and Earl meddling sounds downright practical.”
“It was.” I grinned at him. My car was amazing, but trunk space was at a premium. “And I can run you back there tomorrow for your clothes and stuff. I found some sweats and a T-shirt here that might fit if you want a shower.” I pointed to a stack on the corner of the counter with two fresh towels. The old Space Villager gamer T-shirt was likely Greg’s, but it would fit Cal’s slimmer build. “You’ll need to watch your stitches though. Your best bet might be a sponge bath.”