holding a tray. “I was going to bring you breakfast in bed.” His gaze traveled over the chaos of papers fanned out around her. “But I guess you’re up.”
She scrambled to her feet, ignoring the kinks that had formed in her back. “I think I figured it out!”
“Figured what out?” The tray he’d brought held a plate of bacon and eggs and a mug of steaming coffee.
She’d been so focused she hadn’t heard him come back to the house. Or start cooking. Nor had she noticed that the whole house smelled like bacon.
Picking her way through the papers on the floor, Mia went to give him a kiss. “The knot problem I’ve been working on.” She claimed the coffee, cradling it in both hands as she turned to survey her notes. “The solution came to me when I was lying in bed. I know how to prove whether it’s smoothly slice. Or I think I do.”
Josh turned to her, his mouth stretching into a grin. “Hey, that’s great. Congratulations.”
She offered him a wavery smile before biting down on her lower lip and looking back at her notes. “I haven’t done it yet. But I can see the path in my head.”
“You’ll get there. I believe in you.” He carried the breakfast tray to the bed and set it down.
“I hope you don’t mind, I got some paper out of your printer downstairs.”
“I don’t mind. Let me know if you need anything else.” He squatted down for a closer look at the papers by his feet, his brow creasing as he squinted at her indecipherable scrawl. “I’ve probably got some spiral notebooks somewhere.”
She stretched her back, wincing as her vertebrae popped. “What about butcher paper?” She’d seen some yesterday in the cheese kitchen. It was exactly what she needed to give her back a break.
Nodding, he got to his feet again. “I’ll go get it.”
“And tape?” she added. “And Sharpies, if you have them.”
He kissed her cheek on his way out the door. “Be right back.”
A few minutes later, he came back with a commercial roll of butcher paper, a box of black Sharpies, and a roll of masking tape. At Mia’s direction, he tore off big sheets of paper and taped them to the walls of his bedroom, creating a makeshift whiteboard for her to use.
“Thank you! That’s perfect!” She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him.
His hand cupped the back of her head, his fingers tangling in her hair as his lips lingered on hers, reminding her of their long afternoon and evening of passion yesterday, and everything they’d shared—and done to each other.
She’d hoped to spend as much of today with him as he had to spare. He’d offered to teach her how to milk a goat, and she’d been oddly looking forward to it.
But now…
She looked at the papers on the floor. They beckoned to her. Demanding her attention. Her absolute focus.
Turning back to Josh, she lifted a hand to caress his cheek, running her fingers over the prickly stubble. “You don’t mind, do you? If I keep working on this?”
“Of course I don’t mind.” He pressed a kiss to the tip of her nose. Her forehead. Both her cheeks. “This is important.” His eyes were steady and warm as they gazed at her. “You need anything else?”
She shook her head, relieved that he understood. “I think I’m good. I just need to get it all down before it slips away.”
“Then I’ll leave you to it.” He lifted her hand to his lips, kissed her knuckles, and cast a meaningful look at the tray on the bed. “Make sure you eat something though.”
Josh left her alone for the rest of the day, ceding his bedroom to her and popping in only occasionally to bring her more coffee, or a glass of water, or a sandwich. And once to grab a clean shirt after a situation with a pregnant goat that he assured her she did not want the details of.
Otherwise, he let her work undisturbed. At one point late in the day, she heard him singing to himself downstairs. As alluring as that was, she held strong and refused to let herself get distracted.
By evening, she was certain she was on the right track. There was still a lot to do, but she knew how she was going to do it. Could see the solution glowing in her mind like a beacon, lighting the way ahead.
She stepped back, hands on her hips, and surveyed her