herself to a lather trying to cook for a small herd of men. Spoon took a position at the stove, working on the vegetables, while Night mashed potatoes. Loco and Cale retrieved the table leaves from under her bed, set them in place, and brought in the two spare chairs from the second bedroom. Dillon rounded up the kittens, keeping them entertained and out from under people's feet lest they get stepped on.
If they filled their plates with turkey and stuffing from the stove, most of the smaller dishes should fit and give them plenty of room left for eating. Desserts would have to sit on the kitchen counter for the time being. Half a pan of cinnamon rolls disappeared before dinner could be called half done. As soon as the turkey came out, she could shove a loaf of homemade bread in the oven to warm it. Lily planned out the tactics of space and so many bodies, and getting the food ready at the same time. Spinning, she barely missed Loco as he pulled dishes and silverware out for the meal.
She planned and directed, amazed at the abilities of the guys. Rumor had it most men wouldn't step foot in a kitchen to cook unless they worked as chefs or simply loved to prepare meals. Yet, here stood five tall, dark, handsome, and deadly men, cutting, slicing, cleaning, and mashing just like they did it every day at home.
Home. She wondered if they even had one. Like everyone else, they probably had a place they called theirs, to drop off their clothes, pick up bills, and sleep occasionally. A house sure, but a house didn't always make a home.
Through cordial chit chat, she discovered none of them were married and they all were in the military at some point in their lives. No surprise considering what little she knew about the job they did now. Too bad for the women of the world. Despite their dangerous nature and intimidating appearances, they really behaved like true gentlemen. They worked right along with her, no laziness in any of their bones as they all progressed together toward placing a nice feast on the table. A woman could do worse, much worse. Sure, nothing was ever perfect, but having a hunky man, with gentle hands, a kind nature, the ability to cook, clean, and protect was the stuff of dreams.
Her eyes fell on Cale. Definitely the stuff of dreams. If only she could be sure he felt the same.
The chime of a timer brought her back to reality. The turkey was done.
With all the help, a feast lay before them. Cale carved the turkey, while the group commented on his knife handling skills, tossing out comments and comparisons, not all of them positive or flattering. Lily couldn't be sure, but she thought he might have given them a one fingered wave between slices.
"Scavengers." Night announced from his seat at the end of the table.
Lily looked down. Sure enough, Hope and her kittens smelled the hot food and marched right over, sitting between the men, outright begging for table scraps. Dillon swore he wore them out playing, but leave it to her bunch to find energy when it entailed food. Smiling, she hopped up to grab a couple of paper towels. Cale anticipated her move, cut two thin slices of turkey and laid them gently on the towels. Calling the girls, she lured them away from the table and over to their feeding station. She quickly pulled the tender meat apart with her fingers, cautioning the cats their food was still hot.
"It's easier to give up and feed them first than to try to keep them off the table. Besides, they have that downright pitiful starvation look down pat." Dillon tossed out the information as he passed a bowl full of mashed potatoes around.
Watching the girls eat with their usual haste, Lily moved back to Cale's spot in the kitchen. "I think we're going to need a couple more pieces to fill them up."
She set to tearing up the extra turkey into smaller chunks, spreading the meal out before the fur babies. "They should sleep well this afternoon with such full tummies."
"Just like people?" Spoon shoveled in a
If they filled their plates with turkey and stuffing from the stove, most of the smaller dishes should fit and give them plenty of room left for eating. Desserts would have to sit on the kitchen counter for the time being. Half a pan of cinnamon rolls disappeared before dinner could be called half done. As soon as the turkey came out, she could shove a loaf of homemade bread in the oven to warm it. Lily planned out the tactics of space and so many bodies, and getting the food ready at the same time. Spinning, she barely missed Loco as he pulled dishes and silverware out for the meal.
She planned and directed, amazed at the abilities of the guys. Rumor had it most men wouldn't step foot in a kitchen to cook unless they worked as chefs or simply loved to prepare meals. Yet, here stood five tall, dark, handsome, and deadly men, cutting, slicing, cleaning, and mashing just like they did it every day at home.
Home. She wondered if they even had one. Like everyone else, they probably had a place they called theirs, to drop off their clothes, pick up bills, and sleep occasionally. A house sure, but a house didn't always make a home.
Through cordial chit chat, she discovered none of them were married and they all were in the military at some point in their lives. No surprise considering what little she knew about the job they did now. Too bad for the women of the world. Despite their dangerous nature and intimidating appearances, they really behaved like true gentlemen. They worked right along with her, no laziness in any of their bones as they all progressed together toward placing a nice feast on the table. A woman could do worse, much worse. Sure, nothing was ever perfect, but having a hunky man, with gentle hands, a kind nature, the ability to cook, clean, and protect was the stuff of dreams.
Her eyes fell on Cale. Definitely the stuff of dreams. If only she could be sure he felt the same.
The chime of a timer brought her back to reality. The turkey was done.
With all the help, a feast lay before them. Cale carved the turkey, while the group commented on his knife handling skills, tossing out comments and comparisons, not all of them positive or flattering. Lily couldn't be sure, but she thought he might have given them a one fingered wave between slices.
"Scavengers." Night announced from his seat at the end of the table.
Lily looked down. Sure enough, Hope and her kittens smelled the hot food and marched right over, sitting between the men, outright begging for table scraps. Dillon swore he wore them out playing, but leave it to her bunch to find energy when it entailed food. Smiling, she hopped up to grab a couple of paper towels. Cale anticipated her move, cut two thin slices of turkey and laid them gently on the towels. Calling the girls, she lured them away from the table and over to their feeding station. She quickly pulled the tender meat apart with her fingers, cautioning the cats their food was still hot.
"It's easier to give up and feed them first than to try to keep them off the table. Besides, they have that downright pitiful starvation look down pat." Dillon tossed out the information as he passed a bowl full of mashed potatoes around.
Watching the girls eat with their usual haste, Lily moved back to Cale's spot in the kitchen. "I think we're going to need a couple more pieces to fill them up."
She set to tearing up the extra turkey into smaller chunks, spreading the meal out before the fur babies. "They should sleep well this afternoon with such full tummies."
"Just like people?" Spoon shoveled in a
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