Locked, Loaded, Loved ✔️ COMPLETE | UNDER EDITS

Chapter 7.5--Natasha

A/N: Full disclosure--this section has a bit of suggestive (non-detailed) content: includes a brief reference to skinny dipping. Nothing is explicit and it is a very short segment of the chapter. Just wanted to give a heads up and be as upfront as possible.

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I woke up the next morning and smiled. Steve was still fast asleep next to me. Our clothes were in a heap on the floor, so I carefully pulled the comforter off of the bed to wrap myself in before grabbing one of Steve's shirts from his suitcase to wear. I slipped it on in the bathroom before returning the comforter to the bed. Steve snored lightly in his sleep and I smiled before tiptoeing out of the room to make breakfast.

As I went to the kitchen, I found only a few things in the cupboards: a bag of pancake mix, some essential baking ingredients, and plenty of snacks. I really wanted to make eggs—scrambled were my specialty—to return the favor of breakfast that Steve had made me a few days ago.

I went back to the bedroom and changed into a halter top and shorts. I left a note for Steve and took the car to the general store around the corner. At the store, I bought some eggs, cheese, coffee, and a few other essentials we would need to make food for the next few days.

"Anything else I can do for you?" the cashier asked as she rang up my purchases. Her name tag read 'Elle' with a smiley face in purple sharpie.

"Nope, this will be all," I said.

She put my purchases in a bag. "If you're staying around here for a while, there's a beautiful spot a mile south. It has a gorgeous waterfall and it's a perfect spot for more—shall we say, intimate—fun." She winked at me. "If you're into that kind of thing."

I gave her a look. That's a weird thing to say to a customer. Or anyone. "Um, thanks. I'll keep that in mind."

I headed out, trying to shake the feeling that there was something more to that cashier than met the eye. Back at the lake house, I heard the shower running and smiled. Steve was awake. I unpacked my purchases and got busy cooking breakfast, making sure to brew a pot of coffee first.

I had just finished setting the table when Steve walked in. His hair was wet from the shower and he was only wearing a pair of shorts.

"Hey, you," he greeted me, coming over to give me a kiss.

"Surprise!" I said. "I made breakfast."

Steve wrapped his arms around me and put his face in the crook of my neck. "Mm, smells delicious. Although, I've never seen you cook before."

I hit him with a potholder. "I'm cooking now, aren't I?" I turned back to the eggs. "How'd you sleep?"

"Pretty well. You?"

I grinned. "Same. Ready to spend these next three days with you." I instructed Steve to go sit at the table while I served the food. He poured us each a cup of coffee before sitting down.

As we ate, I told him about my strange encounter with the cashier at the store.

"Well, we should check it out," Steve said. "Could be fun."

"Wait, are you serious? You're skipping over the fact that some random person told me where I could go fondue with my boyfriend?"

Steve snorted. "Ok, first of all—it was one time. It's not my fault."

I smirked. "Sure."

"Second of all...she probably meant well. And remember, this used to be Howard's cabin. I'm sure Tony has used it before too."

"Gross."

Steve rolled his eyes. "Not for that. But if the folks around here know the Stark family, then they likely know their...history."