“You want a refresh?” I asked, reaching for her empty mug.
“Please.”
“I’ll take one too, Leah,” Lucien said, striding into the kitchen and I just barely controlled my glare.
“Of course, darling,” I murmured to the cabinet with the coffee mugs, taking two down.
“Black, three sugars,” Lucien continued.
He took three sugars?
It really was too bad that vampires didn’t get diabetes and at that moment I didn’t care how unkind that thought was.
I measured three, gargantuan, heaping teaspoons of sugar into Lucien’s coffee, splashed mine with milk, asked Edwina her preference and then passed them around.
I took my mug and went to sit on one of the stools.
“Lucien’s ordered poached eggs on toast, Leah. What would you like?” Edwina asked.
I avoided looking at Lucien and replied, “I’ll have whatever Lucien’s having.”
I felt Lucien turn to me but I continued to ignore him.
Edwina stayed busy at the huge, stainless steel, restaurant quality stove and offered, “It’s no bother. I’ll make whatever you like.”
Finally I turned to Lucien, “What would you like me to eat, darling?”
Lucien’s gaze locked with mine but he didn’t speak. I tried to keep my face attentive and expectant like his decision on my morning meal was the reason for my being.
Finally he enquired, “Do you like poached eggs?”
“Do you want me to like poached eggs?” I returned on a breathy exhale.
“I want you to tell me if you like poached eggs,” he retorted.
We had a short staring contest but his black eyes were too much for me and I turned away.
“I like poached eggs,” I replied demurely.
Lucien looked at Edwina. “She’ll have poached eggs.”
Edwina’s gaze was drifting back and forth between Lucien and me. Then she bit her lip (and I could swear it was to hide a smile) and turned back to the stove.
Lucien took a sip of his coffee. I watched him under my lashes as I took a sip from mine.
“The grocery list is on the counter, dear, right in front of you.” Edwina was saying. “I have Saturday and Sunday afternoons off as well as all day Monday. So anything you want to cook or have in the house, write it down. I’m going to the store after breakfast.”
I was wondering if they sold gallon jugs of gasoline at the grocery store (or flame throwers) when Lucien walked to the sink, poured out his coffee and walked to the coffeemaker.
I just stopped myself from grinning.
Edwina stared at him in horror, a stainless steel spoon any television chef would give one of their kidneys for held aloft. “Is it too weak?”
Lucien poured himself another cup. “It’s fine. But Leah has a heavy hand with the sugar.”
“Oh dear, I didn’t do it right?” I chirped, sounding devastated, like someone ran over the beloved cat that I’d had since childhood.
Lucien turned to me. “Do you remember what your behavior bought you when you disobeyed me?”