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Even though minutes passed without much conversation, my sister couldn’t leave anything alone. Yu said, “I think Ri piped up because she could feel the sexual tension between you two and wanted to put a stop to it as soon as she could before you scarred us for life and all she could think was food.”

My face heated, and I couldn’t deny Ri’s observation. I ignored both of them and finished the bacon, setting the pan aside. I cut up potatoes into half-inch squares and put them in a pot to boil before I sautéed them.

“What do you need me to do?”

“Can you break four eggs into separate ramekins? You’ll find them in the cupboard two doors down. Also, scramble another six, and leave two more out for fried eggs. How would you like yours?”

“It’s a lot of work, so I’ll take scrambled.”

I paused and blinked at the man who had a lovely blush on his cheeks, but before I spoke up, my dad said, “Graham, if you want to fit into this family, which I suspect my wife already adopted you, be as blunt as possible and demand what you want when you want it. Otherwise, the twins will destroy you.”

Graham glanced over at my sisters and they both nodded at him, heads tilted down, with creepy mirrored smiles etched on their faces. “You two should star in your own horror movie.”

“Thank you,” both of them said at the same time.

“Um, over easy, please. Otherwise they’ll sacrifice me during the next full moon.”

We all laughed, although it seemed Echo fell asleep again on the table. Nope, she lifted her head enough to sip at her coffee.

The more we worked together, side-by-side, Graham relaxed.

“I’m surprised my family hasn’t scared you off yet.”

“How about your family, Graham? Do they live close?” Mom asked.

Fuck. I never asked him. “I’m sorry, I didn’t ask you about your family. We’ve been so busy talking about… well, you know.”

“Yeah, that and watching the British baking thing last night. But we’ve only known each other for eight hours, so I’ll excuse you for not getting my life story.”

“Who knew you were such a smart ass?”

Graham laughed, the deep, resonating sound sent good chills up my spine. I smiled at him.

“Your influence, I’m afraid.”

I fanned myself and with my best impression of Blanche Devereaux, which wasn’t good, I said, “Why, I never.”

“Focus, Neko-Ren.”

Graham covered my embarrassment as I once again flirted with the man who my attraction was growing with each breath. “My family and I aren’t close. They live in Orinda, California, where I grew up. They’re both professionals at making others miserable, or psychologists as my mother calls them.”

Mom asked, “They don’t call to check in to see how you’re doing?”

Graham shook his head. “I’m the family disappointment because I didn’t get a degree in something useful, which means I’m not a doctor or a medical professional of any kind. I told them I was a business major, and that was that. We haven’t spoken in… twelve years.”

My heart couldn’t take it. “I’m going to move you in and we’ll all bombard you with all the love you’ve missed out on. I’ll teach you how to cook and the twins will show you inappropriate TikToks that will make you laugh until you cry.”

“And whenever you need parental advice, there’s George here. I’ll only tell you what I think you should do,” mom said, “which might I add, I’m right about.”

“Gee, mom, way to make him feel comfortable enough to come to you,” Yu said.

Instead of looking horrified by that idea, I mean he seemed to like my crazy family even after their weird and invasive introductions, he nodded with a smile. I couldn’t keep mine off my face.

“Thank you. I’d like that.”

Graham and I finished cooking breakfast, and I brewed another pot of coffee to go along with it. As we sat down at the dining room table, I watched Graham and hoped he didn’t become overwhelmed by all the noise and the change of topics every thirty-seconds. But his posture and the small smile on his lips told me he enjoyed all the craziness.

My mind wandered to Graham’s earlier words and the way he stared at my lips. Was he hinting of his attraction toward men? Or was he trying to shock my family? I wasn’t thinking something I did brought out a side of him he’d suppressed, but there was a bit of hope Graham thought of me as, well, tempting.