“Is there a banquet?” she asked innocently, blinking at the array of plates.
I chuckled as I flipped the batter in the cast-iron pan. “Thankfully, no. I’m making breakfast. For us.”
She gasped softly. “All this is for breakfast?”
I nodded, amused at her wide-eyed awe. “You deserve more than the usual assortment of meals.”
“Is there anything I can help with?” she offered, already moving closer.
I recognized that tone immediately. It was that familiar inflection that conveyed a subtle yet unmistakable desire to contribute. She was clearly trying to ensure that she didn’t come across as someone who was being served or, worse, someone who felt indebted to me in any way. And she had made it clear that it was important to her that our interaction felt balanced, rather than her simply recei
