Can't Slow Down - Lizzie Hart Stevens Page 0,7

tolerable.” She shrugs and hugs me a little tighter. “It’s nothing a little Tylenol can’t control. I’m just so thankful for everything you’ve done for me, so I wanted to surprise you with breakfast. You do like bacon I hope?” Lexi squints, hoping that I’m not going to tell her that I don’t.

“Are you kiddin,’ sweet cheeks?” I lean down, cradling her face in my hands and kiss her forehead. “I fucking love bacon.”

She smiles and lets me go before turning around to grab a couple of forks from the utensil drawer and hand me one.

“Good. Let’s eat. I’m starving!” she exaggerates as she sits down at the table.

I run my hand through my hair and give her a sly grin. “I should probably put some clothes on first.”

Lexi raises an eyebrow at me. “Coen, there’s no one here besides you and me, and I spent the last hour and a half cooking. I appreciate you wanting to have proper table manners and all, but sit your ass down and eat before it gets cold.” She looks at me sternly as she bites off a piece of bacon.

I can’t help but laugh. “You are so cute when you’re bossy.”

WHEN I WOKE UP this morning and was lying in bed watching Coen sleep, I decided that I wasn’t going to let Patrick ruin whatever is starting between Coen and me. I definitely won’t forget what he did, but I’m sure as hell not going to mope around and pout about it either. Dad always taught me that when something bad happens, to go ahead and have a little cry about it if you need to, then get up, dust yourself off, and move on.

I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t hovering at the back of my mind, though. I know Coen said Derek has eyes on Patrick, but I also know what Patrick’s like. If he wants something bad enough he will stop at nothing to get it. No matter the cost. Hopefully, if I stay busy enough today, I’ll forget about it. That’s part of the reason I started cooking as soon as I got out of bed. But the main reason is that this man deserves it, and then some, for what he did for me last night. I mean, no matter how into each other we both are, we still have only known one another for three days. He didn’t have to save me.

Coen and I have been chatting all through breakfast. I asked him how he found me and he mentioned that Patrick left a note on my doorstep stating that Coen better make it to the warehouses by 7:30 p.m. and he was to bring $500,000 with him. He gave Patrick a couple of broken ribs instead of the cash. I have a feeling that it’s not going to slow him down, though.

Coen’s black eye doesn’t look as bad in the daylight as it did last night. It’s not swollen shut at least. I can still see the gorgeous green irises sparkling at me when he flashes those dimples.

“How’s your eye?” I sit my fork down on my plate and lean back on the chair. I fold my arms and cross my legs, trying to keep myself from checking that all the doors are locked for the umpteenth time this morning. I don’t want Coen to know that I’m worried Patrick might come back. But I make a mental note to get some pepper spray to carry with me, just in case he does come back.

Coen swallows hard and licks his bottom lip, as his gorgeous green eyes travel slowly up my legs. They stop for a moment at the hem of my shirt before his gaze finally meets mine and the corner of his mouth curls into a smirk.

“Coen?” I look at him questioningly, waiting for his reply.

He blinks a couple times and shakes his head.

“Huh? Sorry, Lex. I was thinking about how amazing lunch is going to be.” He drags his top teeth across his bottom lip. “My eye is okay, nothing I haven’t dealt with before.”

“Well I’m glad your eye is okay, but you just finished breakfast, so how can you already be thinking about lunch? I’m stuffed.” I place both of my arms behind my head and arch my back, stretching in the chair. I know exactly what dirty boy over there is thinking, but it’s so much more fun to make him say it out loud. My nipples are hard