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“Sleeping” I saw an ie of her auburn hair tussled over her shoulders I waited until I knew she was sleeping deeply before I dressed and walked to the office I didn’t want to wake her and risk her leaving

“You should take her breakfast” She hopped up and started opening cabinets

“What are you doing?”

“I keep continental breakfast iteh here by now You know seniors eat at like six in thewith bananas, blueberry e She walked across the roorabbed the flowers on display and tied a ribbon around them “And flowers Girls love flowers”

“I knohat girls like” I eyed her “This is not my first rodeo, sweetheart”

“I’ to help” She handed me the makeshift breakfast picnic “Here”

“Thanks” It didn’t matter how much I resisted, I knew I had just become Eden’s top priority “Will you scan these back to ned for the food

“Sure But don’t let work get in the way of real life”

“Eden, stop with the ser”

“Right Sorry” She winced “Have a good day, and tell Sydney I said hello” There was an I-told-you-so hint in her voice

“Thanks for the food” I walked out of the office, carrying the goodies for Sydney

By the time I walked into the condo and set the food on the counter, the sun had filtered through the s, throwing beaht into the kitchen I hued breakfast on a tray

I poured a cup of coffee for her and positioned it on the edge of the tray next to the vase of flowers

I took careful steps to the bedrooht where I left her Her back olden and freckled from the sun I studied the curves of her back, how they dipped at her hips and swelled over her bottoeous even asleep I shook my head

I placed the tray next to the bed, but she didn’t stir Couldn’t say I bla exhausted too I pulled the T-shirt I had thrown on over my head, stepped out of my jeans and crawled into bed next to her I felt her body align against my back and within minutes my eyes closed and I slipped into sleep