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“We could just set it up in Cain’s room next time and shoot the marbles the other way.”
I turned to her so quickly that I almost got whiplash. “N?—”
“Yes!” Eric yelled, and he was already grabbing the run and moving it.
“Really?” I asked.
“Technically, if they go into his room,hehas to face the consequences.” She smiled and tilted her head to the side, revealing the smooth expanse of her neck.
I averted my eyes immediately. “Sleep in longer next time,” I said, swiveling on my heel and walking out the door.
The animals needed their morning feed, and I didn’t need to look at her. She was a thorn in my side. A gorgeous fucking thorn. She’d been in one of those fancy button-up sleep sets, but the buttons were undone down to the middle of her chest. That and her smile were burned into my memory, but I pushed them away. I didn’t need lust on top of all the other shit with her.
My head felt screwed on better once I was done with the morning routine. Hennifer was kind today, and she got extra treats for not being the most annoying woman this morning. Even Moosley gave me a wide berth as I loaded up the cows with more hay.
When I got back, I worked on scrambled eggs and toast.
Mollie meandered into the kitchen around seven thirty.She’d changed into some name-brand leggings Jackie had always wanted. The fruit-named ones.
And now her fucking hair was up.Jesus.
She had a laptop in her hands and sat at the dining-room table, which was one room away, still giving me a line of sight to her. Thankfully, she didn’t seem to have the urge to talk, but after a few minutes, I felt her eyes on me.
“What?” I asked.
“Nothing. Just figuring out what work you do every day.”
“I’m not working right now, I’m cooking breakfast. Have you ever done it?”
“Very funny. Yes. I usually cook it on weekends.”
“And weekdays?”
“I ... have a protein shake.”
I shook my head and plated the food. “Eric! Time for breakfast!”
He came running down the stairs and grabbed the plate out of my hands. He wasted no time digging in.
“So, how does grocery sharing work around here?”
“You buy yours. I buy mine. Except for the eggs.”
“Why’s that an exception?”
“They’re technically yours.”
“Oh yeah. I’ve never had farm fresh ... anything. Not in years, at least.”
I hadn’t bought eggs from the store since I was sixteen.
She stood and walked into the kitchen, eyes roaming over the counters. She was now within a foot of me, andfuck.She smelled like lavender and vanilla. Just like the candle she’d almost broken.
I jerked back.
“Food!” Eric yelled, pulling me out of her orbit.
“Yeah, yeah,” I said, filling his plate again.