Page 68 of The Spare

Twenty from Hendrix, a couple from Isobel. My mother called ten times, leaving a voicemail each time. Teresa called. Even Gwen. Ignoring them, I put the phone face down on my desk and flit my eyes to the screens, monitoring the numbers.

I work for almost three hours before my chef texts me that breakfast is done. I get up, and head down to the kitchen seeing the spread of oatmeal, fruit, and scrambled eggs with cheese.

Melody doesn't like to eat meat in the morning.

"Thank you," I say, reaching forward and grabbing the tray I'd instructed him to make. I pause, "Um, Daniel. Do we happen to have a small vase somewhere?"

His brow furrows. "No, sir, we only have the big one at the front in the foyer."

I turn quickly grabbing a cup and filling it with water, then go to the foyer where I snag a few of the fresh flowers and put it in the cup. I grab the tray and walk back into the bedroom, seeing Melody has turned on her back, the sheets have slipped down baring her breasts and her entire left side.

I set the tray on the edge of the bed and then turn our beside lights on medium setting. Sitting on the edge of her side of the bed I lean down and press my lips to hers. "Good morning." I say quietly against her lips, pressing a palm to the side of her head.

i pull away as she stirs, wiggling down the bed a little. The sheet falls off almost completely with the intensity of her stretch. She makes a little humming sound, arching her back so hard it pops. I grin, waiting for her to open her eyes.

Melody relaxes into the bed on a sigh and then opens her eyes. She blinks, making eye contact with me and then stiffens on a sharp inhale, shooting straight up in the bed and snatching the sheet to her body. "Mason!" she yelps.

My brows raise. "Yes?"

She's breathing hard, looking around. After a second she calms down and puts a hand to her eyes rubbing. "I thought-"

"You thought?" I press, placing my hand on her calf and rubbing up to her knee where I squeeze.

"I thought that I'd dreamt last night," she says almost breathlessly, giving me a shy look before turning her face away.

I smile. "Do you often have dreams like that?" I tease her.

She bites her lip, blushing.

Standing up, I retrieve her breakfast tray and place it over her lap. She sits back further against the pillows and shoves the sheet under her arms tightly.

"The flowers are pretty. Thank you," she says, reaching forward and grabbing the orange juice first.

I raise my hand and rub my fingers down her cheek. "You're welcome, sweetheart."

Her eyes fall to the foo, and she shifts, looking uncomfortable. "Who's supposed to eat all this?"

"It's for us to share." I lower my eyes, seeing it is quite a lot of food.

Her eyes snap to mine. "Share?"

"Hmhm. Like we do our sodas."

Her eyes go back to the plate and she sets her orange juice down, picking up a spoon and dipping it into the oatmeal. But before she puts it in her mouth her eyes slide to the side and roam the covers. "I've never had breakfast in bed before."

"Really?" I tilt my head. "Not ever?"

She shakes her head, leaning forward to eat the first bite of her oatmeal. "No, mom never let me. She was really strict. Every meal had to be at the table."

I take the spoon from her and eat a bite of my own, followed by a scoop of eggs. I swallow, washing it down with some water. "Well, I say we have breakfast in bed every morning."

"Oh no,"Melody says sharply, meeting my eyes. My brow arches at how serious her face gets. "I can't do that," she says rapidly. "I have to run in the mornings.I have to-"

She cuts off her speech looking at the nightstand and then over at mine.

"What is it?" I say, scooping up more oatmeal and offering it to her.

"What time is it?" she says, letting me feed her.