Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 80555 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80555 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
“You look like hell.” Magnus didn’t waste energy on a greeting. I’d showered at the station, but my eyes were likely red and weary. I certainly felt like I’d aged a decade over a single shift.
“So do you.” I gestured at his rumpled bar T-shirt, more stubble than usual, and tired eyes. Exhaling hard, I stared up at the darkened house. Only the deck light was on. “At least the kids didn’t wait up. God, that sounds wrong. I should want to see them. It’s been a day.”
“No, it’s okay.” Magnus clapped me on the back. “You’re a good dad, and you’re allowed to want a quiet moment to yourself.”
Arm around my shoulders, he walked me to the deck and continued steering me up the stairs.
“You’re not going to your place?” I asked.
“First, Maren texted that the dogs are in your place because of this never-ending heat wave.” He opened the door and both dogs greeted us with big licks and wags. “Second, I came over to fetch you a beer and whip you up something fast. Something tells me you haven’t eaten.”
“I haven’t.” I groaned, unable to summon the energy for a white lie. “But I can’t make you bartend and cook. You had a long day too and deserve to leave the restaurant behind.”
“I left The Heist a good ten minutes ago.” Chuckling, Magnus handed me one of my own beers from the fridge. “Cooking for you isn’t work. It’s recreational.”
He saluted me with his bottle before rummaging more in the fridge.
“At least let me help.” I came up behind him only to be given three large potatoes.
“Any good at peeling potatoes?” he asked as he set a pot of water on to boil.
“I’ve certainly peeled my share.” I grabbed a peeler and got to work over by the sink. “What are you making?”
I was asking more or less to be polite and make conversation and to avoid thinking.
“A new mashed potato dish we might debut in the fall.” Magnus looked up from deftly peeling and smashing garlic cloves. “See, you’re helping with market research.” Garlic tended to, he returned to the fridge, yanked out a package of chicken, and made a quick stop at the pantry for a container of flour. “And because man cannot live on potato alone, I’m going to bread us some chicken cutlets to go along with it.”
“Sounds great.” I would have eaten flavored cardboard, but if Magnus made it, it would be top-notch. I was also brightened by that us. “You’re eating too?”
“We were slammed tonight, so I didn’t get much time to eat at work.” He waved a hand airily as he loaded spices and flour into a plastic food storage baggie. “Also, I know you, Captain. You’ll eat more if I join you.”
“True.” I had to work not to wince at the captain. Technically, I was the lead paramedic, not a captain, but I wasn’t explaining that at the moment. The last thing I wanted was to be in charge of anything right now. Instead, I turned my attention to the dogs poised steps from the stove, on high alert. “The dogs seem to be starving. But there’s chow and water in their bowls.”
“Kibble?” Magnus scoffed. “Who needs kibble? They’re hopeful some chicken might miss the pan.” He made a go-on gesture with his hands. “Go lie down.” His eyes widened as his gaze took in the two fuzzy cushions we’d lined up in the breakfast nook. “Hey. When did they get beds here?”
“I was at the warehouse store with the kids.” I used a casual tone like it was no big deal that I now kept water, kibble, and beds on hand for my temporary renter’s dogs. “Somehow, they fell into one of our carts.”
“Well, thank you.” He nodded before collecting the potatoes I’d peeled and chopped. He continued cooking, browning the chicken and stirring the bubbling potatoes as I cleaned up our prep work. It was a lovely silence, more proof of how easily we worked together.
“Your place is likely still hot even this late.” I kept my voice observational, using the weather to hide my reluctance to be alone with my thoughts after we ate. “Want to watch a stupid comedy after we eat?”
“I’d love to.” Magnus winked at me. “And my turn to pick.”
I had no clue how he’d guessed I was in no shape to make decisions, but his saucy wink gave me pause. I truly was looking to collapse on the couch, not embark on a sex fest.
“I’m…uh…that wasn’t innuendo.”
“I know.” Magnus patted me on the shoulder. “I’d love to watch a movie. Sleep has been in short supply lately, and I’m all keyed up because we had to let a server go earlier in the day.”
“That’s hard.” I was more than happy to let his bad day distract me from mine.