It hadn’t helped that she’d started the day feeling groggy and out of sorts. As a result, she’d dressed slower than usual, her fingers fumbling over the remaining two buttons. Stirring the oatmeal with a methodical rhythm, she eyed the black beast in front of her with mild trepidation. She could have sworn she heard it growl twice already this morning. “Don’t you dare bite me, you big ugly beast.” “Hadn’t planned on it.” “Oh.” She jumped at the sound of Pete’s amused voice coming from the doorway. Embarrassed, she kept her back to him. “I didn’t know you were standing there.” “I assumed.” Finally turning to face him, she took a deep breath and admitted, “I wasn’t talking to you, you know.” He lifted a single eyebrow. The laughter in his eyes had her fumbling for words. “I was talking to this…beast of a stove.” “A beast, huh?” Pete angled his head to glance around her. “It does look a little large in this room. I can get you another one, if this one is—”
