“I’m usually a good breakfast cook but I think I got too ambitious in going for the pancake-bacon combo on an unfamiliar stove.”

I step closer towards the kitchenette and Ryan cautiously feels the handle of the frying pan. Not finding it scorching, he picks it up and dumps the charred bacon into the garbage. “Your fridge was very well stocked. I’m usually proud of myself if I have milk from the same year in mine.”

“I went shopping before you got here.” I raise my hands over my head in a stretch and Ryan turns around to busy himself with something at the counter.

“Don’t feel obligated to buy a lot of stuff on my account. I can reimburse you for the groceries if you want.”

“No, it’s fine,” I say. “Besides, if you make breakfast every day, I should be the one reimbursing you.”

“Honestly, I don’t usually cook a hot meal for myself every morning.” He moves back to the stove as he scoops the last pancake off the pan and onto a plate. “I may be showing off for you a bit.”

My heart skips a beat and I wish it wouldn’t.

“How are you even up this early?”

“Believe it or not, some of us have boring, real jobs and it’s not easy to break those schedules.” He looks through my kitchen cabinets and stops when he finds the maple syrup.

I sit down at my small bistro dining table that only seats two, situated a few feet from the kitchenette. “You’re just jealous because my job is cooler than yours.”

“You’re probably right.” A moment later, he places a plate in front of me with a pleased look on his face. He leans over my shoulder, bracing his weight on the back of my chair. I twist my head to look up at him. “Are you impressed?” he asks.

I take a startled breath when I realize just how close he is. “Quite impressed.”

“Good.”

My cheeks warm as he walks back over to the stove, and I’m glad he doesn’t see it. I cut into my pancakes soon after as he sets his plate across from me and sits down at the table.

“When did you adopt Duke?” I ask before I take my first bite.

Ryan smiles a proud pup-dad smile as he sips his coffee. “I got him last April, and Big Boy will be four next month.”

“What made you decide to adopt him?”

“It was my sister’s idea. Sophie’s obsessed with dogs. She has two of her own and she fosters a bunch for a rescue shelter in her area. She thought a dog would be good for me.”

“Why’s that?” I ask.

Side note, these pancakes are delicious. I have to exercise serious discipline not to scarf them down and instead take ladylike bites.