***
Logan added another egg to the pancake mixture, stirred it, then poured more buttermilk into the bowl. The microwave pinged and he tipped the melted butter into the batter.
He found a bag of fresh blueberries sitting in the fridge, so he took those across to the griddle and started cooking breakfast.
Tess flew into the kitchen just as the first pancakes had finished cooking.
“You’re cooking?” Her mouth dropped open as he lifted the pancakes onto a plate and slid them in the warmer tray of the oven.
“I might have made pancakes once or twice since you showed me how.” He’d made them more than once or twice. Pancakes had become his specialty. When Dylan started calling in for breakfast, Logan had experimented with different additions to the recipe. Some had worked, some hadn’t. But Dylan and Logan weren’t fussy. They’d eaten the lot then washed everything down with thick black coffee.
“You could have kept your PJs on.” Logan didn’t miss the blush that streaked along Tess’ face. She’d looked so cute in her cotton pajamas that he’d regretted having to tell her the time.
“I’d better start baking.” Tess walked across to the pantry and pulled out containers of sugar and flour. “Thanks for waking me up.”
He turned back to the stove and smiled. “If you hadn’t answered your phone I was going to break in.”
Tess opened the fridge and took out the butter. “I’m a deep sleeper.” She quickly mixed some flour, sugar, and baking powder together. “I didn’t think you’d go for a run this morning.”
Logan sprinkled some blueberries on the next batch of pancakes. “I woke up early. Did you enjoy yourself last night?”
Tess grinned. “I had a great time. Dylan seemed to enjoy himself.”
“I’ve never seen him smile so much.” Logan figured it must have been part of his new dating strategy. He flipped the pancakes and took two plates out of the pantry. “Do you realize how much Connie and Dave appreciated your surprise?”
Tess shrugged her shoulders. “It wasn’t a big deal. They hadn’t planned anything after the wedding, so I thought we could have dinner together. Can you open the oven door?”
He opened the door and moved out of her way. She slid a baking sheet of scones into the oven and walked across the room.
“I’ll make the mini fruit tarts now. Did Annie say what time she’d be here?”
“She should be here soon.”
Tess opened the fridge and looked along the shelves. She moved a few things around, then started pulling food out and leaving it on the counter. “I know it’s in here. Annie bought yogurt yesterday.”
Logan slid two pancakes onto a plate and tapped Tess on the shoulder. “You haven’t had breakfast. It’s time to stop.”
Tess smiled at him. She was standing so close that he could smell the peppermint tang of her toothpaste. “I’ve got too much baking to do.”
He reached for her hand and pulled her across to one of the kitchen stools. “You’ll get more done on a full stomach. Sit.”
Tess looked at the pancakes in his hand, then up into his eyes. “They are mighty fine pancakes.”
“The best in Montana.” He could drown in Tess’ blue eyes. He hadn’t stood this close to her since Molly had taken their photos in her apartment. And he still remembered the taste and feel of her when he’d kissed her in front of his sister. His heart rate had spun out of control then, and it was doing the same thing now.
Tess’ eyes drifted to his mouth and he moved closer. He imagined her body pressed against his, the way his mouth would slip along her skin as they slowly devoured each other.
She ran her hand across his chest and down his arm. With a cheeky grin, she took the plate of pancakes out of his hand. “You’ll make someone a wonderful husband.” She kissed his cheek and sat on the kitchen stool, filling her mouth with fresh blueberry pancake instead of him.
It was enough to make a grown man cry.
Tess pointed her fork at another stack of pancakes sitting on a plate. “Are you going to eat your breakfast or watch me?”
He’d vote for watching, but he had a feeling Tess would have something to say about that. He pulled another stool out and sat beside her. “How did you get everything ready in time for last night’s dinner?”
“We called in a favor a friend owed us. Christopher provided the roast meat and vegetables. The rest was all Annie’s doing. She’s amazing.”
“What about the decorations?”
“We had a small wedding reception here a few months ago. The bride and groom left most of the decorations with us. Annie stored them in boxes.” Tess slid off her stool and walked across to the fridge. “Do you want a glass of juice?” she asked.
“Sure.”
She poured a glass of juice for each of them and left his beside his plate. “You make good pancakes.”
“I learned from the best.”
Tess ate quickly, glancing at the clock on the wall more than once.
The kitchen door opened and Annie stumbled into the room. “Someone left the front door unlocked.” She looked at Logan. “Did you go home last night?”
Tess choked on her last mouthful of pancake and went as red as a beet.
Logan, at least, had been in the process of lifting his glass of juice to his mouth. “I went home and now I’m here.”
Annie grinned. “That’s what they all say.”
He turned to Tess. She’d gone even redder and was staring daggers at Annie. “All? How many boyfriends do you have?”
“You’re not my boyfriend,” she muttered. “And you,” she pointed at Annie, “will not be my friend for much longer if you tell Logan all of my secrets.”
He imagined Tess with a string of men following her around. She was pretty. She was tall. She owned her own business. She was everything most men wanted.
Annie left Tess’ empty plate in the dishwasher and rubbed her hands together. “I’ll get started on the paninis and wraps.”
Tess washed her hands and put a cup of butter in the microwave. “I’ll make the shortbread crust for the tarts.”
Annie watched Logan carry the empty glasses to the dishwasher. “Tess hasn’t had a boyfriend since she arrived in Bozeman.”
A metal pan dropped to the floor. Logan turned around and watched Tess pick it up and put it in the sink.
“I’ll have one less friend before the day’s out, too.”
Annie breezed past the counter and took the cover off a stack of plastic trays. “It’s not for the lack of offers. She’s just incredibly picky.” She lifted the top tray off the stack and left it on the counter. “Mr. Kussack sent us extra pastries this morning.”
Tess didn’t seem concerned. “Thank goodness for that. Work out how many there are and we’ll add them to the invoice.”
“Who’s Mr. Kussack?” Logan asked.
“He owns, The Heavenly Bake House. He makes the best croissants and specialty breads in Montana.” Annie slid a tray of paninis onto the stainless steel counter. “He delivers our order fresh each morning. We don’t have time to bake everything from scratch. Did you want to help with the fillings?”
Logan glanced at his watch. “I can help you for another thirty minutes.”
Annie pointed to the sink. “Wash your hands and we’ll get started. You can do the ham, bacon, cheese, tomato and onion filling.”
It sounded like a mouth-watering combination to Logan. And if Annie decided to share more of Tess’ secrets as they worked, he wasn’t going to complain.
The phone rang and Tess looked up from the buttery dough she was rolling out. “Could you get that, Annie?”
“Sure.” She reached for the phone and smiled into the handset. “Good morning. It’s Annie speaking from Angel Wings Café. How can I help you?”
Logan smiled as he took what he thought he’d need out of the fridge. Annie sounded as though it was ten o’clock in the morning instead of when most people were getting out of bed.
“Oh, Connie. I’m so sorry.”
Logan quickly glanced at Annie. She had tears in her eyes and looked so sad that it could only be one thing. Tess left her rolling pin on the counter and moved closer to Annie.
“Yes, I’ll tell her. Logan’s here, too. Thanks for letting us know. We’ll see you in a couple of days.” Annie put the phone down and took a deep breath. “Connie’s mom passed away at three o’clock this morning.”