“Also fair.”
He pointed at her. “No touching my protein powder.”
“Which one?” She gestured to the arrangement of black canisters lining the counter by the backsplash.
“I said the protein powder. The others are pre-workout and creatine, obviously.”
“Obviously.” She wrinkled her nose at them. “I have all the muscle I need for baking already, don’t worry.”
“Wouldn’t hurt you to do a pushup every now and then.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Maybe I’ll have some rules too. Like no insulting your guests.”
Linc scoffed. “Guest? This is more like a hostile takeover. I saw the size of your suitcase.”
Her eyes lit in challenge. He loved arguing with her. Pretty sure the feeling was mutual. “Oh yeah? Don’t change the subject. I’m not the one who implied you were scrawny.”
They both simultaneously looked at his crossed arms, his thick biceps filling the sleeves of his T-shirt. He lifted a brow at her.
A tinge of color coated her cheeks. “Well, okay. Obviously that wouldn’t be realistic.”
He held up one hand. “I wasn’t insulting your appearance when I suggested working out. You’re obviously pretty…” Oops. Too far. He coughed.
Her turn for a brow raise. “Oh? You think I’m pretty?”
He cleared his throat.Danger, danger. “I was saying, pretty much in shape. You know, for your lifestyle.” He swallowed, tried to look nonchalant.
“Why, Linc Fontenot, I do declare.” Zoey dramatically fluttered her eyelashes, took on a thick southern accent that didn’t sound too far from Elisa’s real voice. “You sure know the way to a woman’s heart.”
“Come on, you know what I mean.” He didn’t know whether to laugh, insult her further to distract her, or simply take his coffee and vanish to the front deck. “Working out is good for you. Endorphins and all that chemical stuff. You could probably use some of that lately.”
“Ahh, I see. I didn’t realize you’d gotten a life coach certificate.” Thankfully, this time she grinned, letting him off the hook.
Though catch and release was the last game he should be playing with her right now. It was all their usual banter and fun to her. To him…well, it was getting way too real, and she could never know that fact. He gulped his coffee just as Zoey’s phone chimed.
She pulled it from her pocket, looked down. “Voicemail.”
Huh. People actually set those up?
“That’s weird. It didn’t even ring.” She frowned and began tapping the screen.
“I don’t get great service out here.” Exactly the way he liked it—minimal distractions. Except for this pixie-sized one taking over his kitchen. At least the coffee she’d made smelled good.
She held the phone to her ear, listening to the message. “It’s automated.” Then her eyes widened, cheeks flushed. “Oh no.”
“What?” On second thought…“Wait.” He couldn’t handle anything else pre-coffee. He got up, pushed past her to the gurgling pot, and switched the carafe with a mug, expertly catching the stream of hot liquid before swapping them back.
Linc leaned one hip against the counter and took a long sip. The brew burned his mouth, but it would keep him alert for whatever was next. He inhaled a long sniff of steam. “Okay, go.”
Zoey’s face, for once, wasn’t full of hope. “That was the insurance company.”
He took another long sip, frowned. “Go.”
“They said the claim was still pending.” She paused.
Another sip. Swallow. “Go.”
“Something about failure to disclose relevant information.” Zoey rolled in her lower lip, eyes wide beneath her bangs. “I didn’t report the new fryer or add it to the policy after it was installed.”
