Close To Danger (Westen #4)(26)

“Good imitation.” He scooped the eggs out into a clean bowl, then started fishing the bacon out onto a paper towel-lined plate. “What I didn’t say was that my next cup is usually at the Peaches ’N Cream with my breakfast. And since the coffee at the office is so bad, Lorna takes pity on me and gives me a thermos to go.” He pointed to the clean thermos cup sitting on the counter near the backdoor. “I bring it back each day and she refills it.”

Reaching for two more plates, he set them on the island counter behind them, along with napkins and silverware. Next he slid the plate and bowl of food between them. “Ketchup?”

“Yes. How’d you know?” she asked, setting the four pieces of buttered toast on the plate next to the bacon and scooting onto a barstool.

Walking behind her he reached over her shoulder, setting the bottle of ketchup next to her plate, his arm caressing hers as he moved back. “Bobby always eats it on her eggs. Since she raised you, figure you might, too.”

He grabbed his mug of coffee and joined her at the counter. No further conversation was needed as they tucked into their food. When he finished, he went over and brewed another cup of coffee, the caramel drizzle. “Want one?”

She grinned. “I’ll try the chocolate donut.”

“Thought you might like that one when I was picking them out last night,” he said, popping hers in when his was finished and slipped her mug in place to catch the brewed coffee.

“You pegged me as a fru-fru coffee drinker?” she asked, challenge lacing her voice.

“No. But I remember how much you liked chocolate the last time you were in town. Figured you might like it in your coffee.”

She eyed him suspiciously. “Exactly how did you know I like chocolate?”

He handed her the fresh mug of coffee. “Three slices of the groom’s cake at your sister’s wedding.”

“I had three slices?” she asked, holding the mug hallway to her mouth, her color a little pale.

He nodded and sat back on his stool. “Yes. But I confess, I sort of forced the third slice on you.”

“Why?”

“To counteract some of the alcohol you’d consumed.”

Setting the mug back on the counter, she wrapped her hands around it and stared out the kitchen window, licking her lips, biting the top one, then licking them again. “Exactly what happened that night?”

“What do you remember?” he countered.

Turning in her seat to face him. “I remember the wedding, the food afterwards—which was fantastic for potluck style—then there was dancing.” She paused. “But we didn’t dance. You were in a dark corner hogging a bottle of Jim Beam.”

“That’s right. You joined me for a few drinks.”

“How many?”

“Started with a full bottle. I had two.”

She ran a hand over her face. “And how many did you ply me with?”

He nodded at the bottle sitting on the counter with two tumblers beside it. It had less than a third of the bottle left. “Haven’t had a drink of it since.”

“You got me drunk. Brought me back her and took advantage of it. And kept the bottle as a trophy? You bastard!” She jumped out of her chair and swung a fist at him.

He caught her hand in his. “That’s not what happened.”

Eyes narrowed and lips pressed in a thin line, she jerked her hand out of his and stalked around the counter. “Do you deny helping me get pissed drunk?”

Ah, interrogation mode. The counselor has returned.

“No, I don’t.” Good witness. Only answer exactly what is asked.

“Do you deny driving me and my car back here that night?”

“No. You were in no shape to drive.”

She arched a brow at him as if to say and whose fault is that? “I woke up in your bed.”

“That’s correct.”

A delightful flush crept over her features. “So we spent the night together.”

“Yes. We did.” Technically.

She inhaled and slowly exhaled. “Did you use a condom?”

He shook his head.

“Oh, God.” Gripping the counter, she bent over her knees.

Time to put her out of her misery.

“I didn’t need one,” he said.

She popped up, anger tensing her body like a long, lean Amazon warrior ready to strike. “How can you say that? You don’t know me that well. I could’ve had some STD or not been on birth control. I would think you were smarter than that.”

“You’re right. I didn’t know you that well.” He picked up his mug and plate, taking them to the kitchen sink and rinsing them off. He put them in the sink and ran if full of hot soapy water before turning to her. “I didn’t need a condom, because nothing happened.”

“What do you mean nothing happened?” The skeptical lawyer was back.

“Despite what you think of me, I didn’t get you drunk just to bring you back here and take advantage of you. Not sure, but that would be close to date rape. Not into that.” Reaching around her, he stacked the other dirty dishes on top of each other, then leaned close to her. “I like my women, warm and willing, not drunk and asleep.”

Moving past her, he put the dishes in the hot, soapy water and began washing them.