Page 23 of More Than Words (Trickle Creek: The Lyons #2)

Like we were finally letting ourselves have this without pretending that it didn’t mean something real.

He kissed me again, slower now as I fell into it. My body shifted and arched up into him.

“I hope you’re not too tired,” I whispered against his mouth before biting his lower lip a little.

“Not even close,” he said, his voice rough with need. “I’ve been thinking about this from the moment you walked in the door.”

“Is that right?” My body thrummed with the promise held in his words as he slid his thick length inside me. “Then maybe you should show me exactly what you’ve been thinking about.”

“Oh, sweetheart.” He nipped the sensitive spot beneath my ear. “That’s exactly what I intend to do.”

He did.

And for the next little while, neither of us had much to say at all.

Ethan

I poured two cups of coffee, adding a splash of cream in one mug before turning back to the bacon sizzling on the stovetop.

Outside, the snow had stopped overnight, coating the yard on our little piece of property on the edge of town in a sparkling layer of fresh white stuff. Winter was well and truly here. A little earlier than normal, but I didn’t mind.

Because inside it was cozy and warm.

Even more so when a moment later, Delaney padded into the kitchen. “Good morning.”

I moved across the room to pull her in for a sleepy kiss and hand her a coffee. “Good morning to you, beautiful. I hope I didn’t wake you.”

“Are you kidding? Waking up to the smell of bacon and coffee is probably the best way to wake up on a Sunday.” Her smile was slow and a little shy.

“I can think of a few better ways,” I whispered gruffly in her ear, causing her to blush.

She swatted me away and looked down at the mug I’d handed her. “You know how I take my coffee?”

“Splash of cream,” I said easily. “Of course I do.”

She blinked at me and, for a moment, looked like she might say something more. Instead, she smiled and took a sip while I turned my attention back to breakfast duties.

“Scrambled or fried?” I asked, pulling the eggs from the fridge. “I was thinking cheesy scrambled.”

“That sounds perfect.”

While I worked, Delaney leaned up against the counter, sipping her coffee.

She was wearing the same clothes as the night before, but her hair was pulled up in a sloppy bun, and she’d swapped her contacts for her glasses, giving her a very sexy librarian look that made it hard to concentrate on cooking.

“You’re humming,” Delaney said after a few minutes.

“I’m happy.”

“You hum when you’re happy?”

With the whisk in one hand, I turned to stroke her cheek and pull her in close. “It seems that I do.” I gave her a quick kiss.

“Ugh. It’s way too early for gross stuff.”

We pulled apart with a laugh as Quinn joined us in the kitchen.

Delaney held up her hands, but I couldn’t promise to keep my hands off her. Not after the night we’d shared in my bed.

“You may have to settle for a PG rating today.”

Quinn groaned again, but I didn’t miss the small smile that crossed her lips.

I handed her a glass of orange juice as she slid into her seat at the table. “Cheesy scrambled?”

“Is there another kind?”

Delaney and I exchanged a glance, both of us smiling.

Damn .

I couldn’t even say that I’d missed the kind of easy comfort of a Sunday morning in the kitchen because I didn’t think I’d ever had it.

Everything about having Delaney in the house felt easy, like we’d been doing it forever already. Like everything was already in place.

I slid the eggs from a pan into the bowl and handed them to Delaney before plating the bacon and joining them at the table.

“This is…”

“Nice,” I finished for Quinn with a raised eyebrow.

“Yeah.” She shrugged. “I mean, I was gonna say cool. But I guess nice is a perfectly okay word, too.”

Delaney laughed and reached for a piece of toast. “I agree,” she said. “It’s very cool.” She winked at me. “And pretty nice, too.”

Over the breakfast table, conversation flowed effortlessly. Quinn filled us in on some of the latest gossip among the sixth-grade class before moving into negotiations on how early was too early for a Christmas tree.

“Not until December.”

“No fair.” Quinn scowled.

“You can enjoy all of Delaney’s decorations for another month,” I told her. “But no tree until at least December first around here.”

Delaney and Quinn exchanged a glance. I got the distinct feeling that the conversation wasn’t over, and I’d probably be on the losing end of whatever the two of them decided.

When we were done eating, I pushed my plate back. “You’re going to be on your own for dinner tomorrow night, kiddo. I have the community meeting.” I looked at Delaney. “I guess we have it.”

“Not me.” She shook her head. “I need to run out to the city and see what happened with my last holiday inventory order that was delayed. The shipping hub called and told me they received it, but the paperwork is all messed up. I need to go sort it out in person if I want my full stock in time for the holidays.”

“That’s a pain.”

“You’re telling me.” Delaney grabbed the plates and took them to the sink.

“Can I come? I doubt my homework will be?—”

“No,” we both said at the same time. I shook my head and added, “Homework comes first. You know that.”

“Besides,” Delaney added. “The meetings are usually pretty boring. You’re not missing much. Budget talks and maybe one or two proposal permits. Tilley Beckett will no doubt have some sort of update on whatever festival is coming up next, but…” She shrugged. “Pretty dull.”

“Sounds like it.” Quinn pushed away from the table and helped Delaney clean up. “But I was asking if I could come to the city.”

“No deal, kiddo,” I said smoothly. “You have to go to school.” I exchanged smiles with Delaney. “If it’s not too much trouble, though…”

She tilted her head. “What? You have errands you need me to run?”

It was pretty common when someone was making the trek to the city for them to pick up a few things for friends.

“I actually have some label samples from a new supplier that I’d love to grab. They were going to throw them in the mail, but?—”

“No problem. Send me the address and I’ll save you the postage. But it’ll cost you.” She winked, Quinn groaned again, and we all laughed.

I thought briefly about the patio proposal I’d submitted.

And for a moment, I considered mentioning it to Delaney.

It was on the docket for tomorrow night, but I doubted it would get much discussion.

A few tables weren’t going to cause much controversy.

Not when there were festivals to plan. It’s not like it was a big deal.

Delaney glanced over at me again, and I smiled without thinking.

She smiled back and just like that, nothing else mattered.

Especially not boring town meetings or permits.

The only thing on my mind was Delaney and Quinn and how somehow, when I wasn’t looking for it, the start of something real between all three of us had started to grow.

Something that was starting to feel more and more like a family.