Trials and Tiaras (Untouchable #7) - Heather Long Page 0,64

out of the way and braided the single long strand in the center so it pulled my hair back from my face but left the rest to fall in neat lines. The blowing drying it straight helped. Though, if it got rained on, it was going to be unruly as hell when it dried.

When we finally left the bathroom so I could get dressed, the scent of coffee and something far sweeter assaulted my senses. My mouth was watering by the time I scooted into panties and a bra, then pulled on a pair of nice slacks and a button-down shirt. I even had a blazer to go with it. The dark green looked great on me, and though I didn’t wear it often, it definitely fell in the professional category.

Jake dressed silently while I did, and then he attached the clasp on my bracelet before sliding the class ring on my finger.

“How do I look?” I still had to put on shoes, but I was starving. Thankfully, the top was black and I had a jacket to wear with it.

“Like a million bucks,” Jake told me. “Come on. We have a surprise for you.”

“That is French toast I smell,” I said with a little squeal and then hurried around him and down the hall, tugging him with me. Sure enough, the guys were all crammed into my kitchen with Jeremy.

I paused on the threshold at the sight. Jeremy had been in here cooking while Jake had been getting me off in the shower and I’d been screaming.

Ian watched me from across the room as he sipped his coffee. His bright blue eyes were warm and full of humor. Coop practically smirked next to him, but it was Archie who said, “Come and eat, babe. Jeremy wouldn’t let us have a damn thing until you got yours first. No matter how much we yelled at him.”

Relief swarmed through me, and when Jake chuckled next to me, I jabbed my elbow into his stomach hard enough to make him ‘oof.’ “Just be glad I don’t have my shoes on,” I warned him, and he grunted.

“Duly noted.” Even if he rubbed his stomach, I doubted I hit him that hard. He was carved out of stone.

“Good morning, Jeremy,” I greeted him as I moved past, and he smiled at me.

“Good morning, Miss Frankie. I’ve prepared your favorite, as well as bacon. Do you want fruit with your French toast, or powdered sugar and syrup?”

“Hmm…yes please?”

He chuckled. “The works it is.”

On impulse, I went up on my tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “You’re the best, Jeremy. Thank you.”

The indulgent smile he gave me made the action seem a lot less awkward, thank God. “My pleasure, truly. You sit, and Mr. Archie will get your coffee. The boys will finish making a space.”

“On it,” Ian said as they shifted the chairs around. Jake was still laughing as he followed me over.

“Can Mr. Archie get my coffee as well?”

“Considering you took your job to an extreme?” Archie told him with a bland look. “You can wait for the next pot.”

I laughed but took the chair next to Coop, who leaned over to nuzzle a kiss and then sighed when I gave him a real one. “Good morning,” he murmured.

“Hi.”

“Good shower?”

“All out of hot water I think,” I told him without an ounce of apology.

“Good thing we used the other one.” He winked, and I laughed.

It wasn’t long before we had stacked plates in front of us. Despite his teasing, Jeremy had most of it ready, so I had three thick pieces of the perfectly cooked French toast, dusted with powdered sugar and a lovely dollop of butter, as well as a plate of strawberries with bacon. Yeah, I’d pretty much died and gone to heaven.

There was coffee and juice and even eggs for the guys. Far more food than had been in our fridge, because we’d skipped shopping this weekend while I indulged Archie’s ordering in fetish, and the five of us had dug in and just made the most of our alone time.

Across the table, Archie smiled at me and I shook my head, but I couldn’t hide my own smile. This right here was the way to kick off our day.

“Now,” Jeremy said, “you finish up, and let me know if anyone wants seconds. I’m going to take care of the housekeeping here today…”

“Jeremy, you shouldn’t have to—”

But he didn’t let me finish, instead, he fixed me with a very stern look with