Must Love Cowboys by Cheryl Brooks Page A

last night.” I paused, yawning as Ophelia trotted up the steps and into the kitchen. No doubt she also wanted breakfast. “And, yes, I can fix breakfast for all of us. Just let me get dressed, and I’ll be right back.”
    â€œGreat!” Joe said. “We’ll have this mess cleaned up in no time.”
    I went back to my room and put out some food for Ophelia. I was about to change into my jeans when I realized I probably didn’t need to.
    Normally, the thought of four men seeing me before I’d washed my face and combed my hair would’ve embarrassed me half to death. But that was prior to last night’s drama. Each of these guys already knew what I looked like in my pajamas, and I’d seen one of them naked. I reminded myself that I was wearing flannel jammies, not a slinky, see-through negligee. I put on my robe and slippers and returned to the kitchen.
    â€œI’ll get dressed later,” I said. “Any idea where I might find an apron?”
    All four men burst out laughing.
    â€œYou’ve got to be kidding,” Dean said between chuckles.
    â€œYeah. Should’ve figured that.” I heaved a sigh. “Okay. What do you all normally have for breakfast when Calvin’s here?”
    â€œBacon, eggs, toast, and coffee during the week,” Nick replied. “Pancakes on Saturdays, biscuits and sausage gravy on Sundays.”
    That didn’t sound too bad—until I realized I had no idea what day it was.
    Still lagging a time zone or two behind.
    â€œUmm…my brain is kinda foggy. What day is it?”
    â€œThursday,” Nick replied. “Although if you want to make pancakes, we’re good with that.”
    I’d made plenty of chocolate chip pancakes for Grandpa. Quite often, that was the only thing I could get him to eat, and I hadn’t made any since he died. This situation was different, but it still didn’t take me long to decide to go with the usual Thursday menu, especially since I only knew how to make enough pancakes for one man. Something told me I wouldn’t find any pancake mix in the pantry.
    â€œLet’s stick with bacon and eggs. If you guys will make the coffee and toast, I’ll handle the rest. Just tell me how much you want.”
    The men each put in their order, which sounded like an awful lot to cook at one time until I remembered the restaurant-style griddle. I’d never used anything like it, but once I scraped off the burnt eggs and got it heated up again, I had to admit, it was freakin’ awesome.
    The eggs were about done when Dean sidled up behind me, smoothing his hands over my hips. Amazingly, I didn’t even flinch—a testament to what “snuggling up” with a naked man had done for me the night before. “Coffee’s ready and the toast is toasting.” He inhaled deeply. “And you smell good enough to eat.”
    Fortunately, I caught myself before asking him if he really wanted to eat me.
    Talk about your suggestive remarks…
    â€œHumph. That’s what happens when you fry bacon without an apron.”
    He buried his face in my hair and inhaled again. “Doesn’t smell like bacon to me. Smells like you .”
    â€œYou just like my brand of shampoo.”
    â€œAnd you need to learn how to take a compliment. If I say you smell good, you smell good. Period.” He followed that up with a kiss on the side of my neck that made me drop the spatula.
    â€œWill you stop pestering her?” Nick snapped. “We’ve already had one fire in the kitchen this morning.”
    The steam from the griddle was reaching stifling proportions—at least I thought that was where the heat was coming from. I reached up and switched on the exhaust fan.
    â€œDamn. Forgot about that fan,” Dean muttered. “Would’ve gotten rid of the smoke a lot quicker. Probably should’ve had it on all along.”
    Nick practically growled his