“I switched her on,” Jack replied bizarrely.
“What?”
His face dipped closer and he repeated, “Somehow, I switched her on.”
It was then Belle realised what she was doing, how she was behaving and just how much she was talking.
Her eyes slid to his ear and his arms grew tight as he gave her a firm but gentle shake.
“No, love, stick with me,” he said.
“I need to make the eggs,” she muttered to his ear.
“Look at me,” he demanded, her eyes slid back to his and his head bent so his forehead could rest on hers. “I’m looking forward to your eggs. I’m also enjoying learning about your father and grape jelly.” Somehow, even though he was as close as you could get, he managed to get closer when he went on, “You can be this woman with me. You don’t have to switch off, poppet.”
Belle didn’t speak.
Jack didn’t either.
Finally, Jack moved, touched his mouth to hers and then his lips drew away an inch. “Or you can be whoever you want to be.”
At his words, Belle’s soul sighed.
Then he let her go, went back to the fridge, bent into it and she watched him pull out the grape jelly.
He put it on the table, walked to her, put his hand to her jaw, slid his thumb across her cheekbone, dropped his hand and walked out of the room.
Belle dazedly turned back to the eggs.
Then, slowly, she smiled a small smile at them.
By the time Jack returned, the eggs, bacon and toast were done and she was serving them onto warmed plates. He’d put on his shirt, partially buttoned up the front but his feet were still bare.
Silently, she set the plates on the table.
Jack sat, as did she.
They started eating.
After about a minute, Jack called her name and she lifted her eyes to his.
His hand came back to her jaw and he said solemnly, “These are the best eggs I’ve ever tasted.”
“Really?” she asked softly.
“Really,” he answered just as softly.
He took his hand from her jaw and continued eating.
Belle took in a breath for courage and queried, “Are you going to try the grape jelly?”
“No,” he answered immediately, taking a bite of bacon.
“Why not?”
His gaze came to her and he said in all seriousness, even though his eyes were dancing, “I have a rule. I don’t eat purple food.”
She felt a giggle bubble up inside her and she let a little of it escape.