Page 95 of Forever Fickle

“Because it makes them light and fluffy… now move over!”

“It makes them runny and…”

“No, it doesn’t.”

“Look, you’ve already messed them up, we can just add some flour and make pancakes instead.”

“Not now,” Jana taunted spitefully, throwing the scallions in the egg mixture, causing Karen to nearly snort her coffee in laughter – only to see Jace look at her grimly.

“Don’t encourage her,” Jace muttered, but his eyes were dancing with laughter. “Jana, if you are making the eggs, then step aside and I’ll make hashbrowns to go with them.”

“Nahh…”

“Move, I’m not asking permission,” he growled, stepping around his sister and taking the grater in his hand. “Ma, did you use all the potatoes?”

“No, there’s some…”

“We don’t need hashbrowns…” Jana snapped, bumping her brother to the side with her hip. “Go away. I’ve got this.”

“I’d love hashbrowns with my eggs,” Karen said easily, holding up her coffee cup towards his parents in a silent invitation for them to back her up.

“I would too.”

“Eggs and hashbrowns sound divine… and I for one, love shallots in my eggs.”

“Shallots, milk, and cheese,” Karen encouraged innocently.

“Cheese…” Jana acknowledged, turning away.

Jace looked at Karen over his shoulder in that moment. His conspiratorial smile and slight nod told her that she’d done the right thing. She raised her cup of coffee towards him in a mock-toast, smiling back at him.

This reminded her of when he was cooking the dish at her condo, watching those tan arms flex and move as he shredded the potatoes quickly. She’d never been into musclebound guys or thought much about physique at all, but there was something about Jace that was fascinating.

When had forearms ever been this sexy?

She could watch the man grate cheese, potatoes, or anything else for hours on end, just seeing those muscles, tendons, and limbs move with that quiet strength.

“Is everything okay?” Lindsey asked, distracting her.

“Huh?” Karen uttered blankly, glancing away from Jace and turning to his mother. “What did you say?”

“Is everything okay?”

“Yes. Why do you ask?”

“You let out a big sigh,” Lindsey said, frowning, and reaching up to feel her forehead. “And you feel warm, honey.”

“I bet she does,” Jana muttered in the background – only to hear Jace chuckle beside his sister, just before he stomped down on the floor, trying to get her toe.

“Watch it, loser!” Jana snapped. “You better not break my toe.”

“Shut your trap, lame-o.”

“That was lame…”

“Can you two just stop?” Lindsey said bluntly, turning away from Karen in that moment to snap at the two adults standing in the kitchen – acting like irate children.

“Sorry, Ma…” both said at once and grew quiet.

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