Sunlight poured in through the cabin windows, lighting up the room as morning came. Dressed in a pair of blue jeans, a beige long sleeve shirt and a short sleeve crop sweater with a pair of thick wool socks, Mackenzie stood in front of the stove flipping over the last of the pumpkin spice flapjacks. She glanced out the window above the kitchen sink as flapjacks sizzled on a flat griddle she had sitting on the front burner.
“It smells good.” Reid said and watched as Mackenzie’s grip on her spatchula tightened while she whipped around with a frightened expression upon her delicate looking face. “Sorry. Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”
Reid held his hands up in front of him as a sign of peace, his blue eyes never leaving Mackenzie’s wide brown ones. Her bottom lip trembled before she could fully gain control over her nerves. Reid frowned, but stayed where he was. This woman was kind enough to help him when he needed it and offer him an ear to listen. He did not want the risk of asking who made her so afraid and it cause her to shell herself away from him.
“I didn’t hear you get up.” Mackenzie breathed out, her shoulders dropping as she relaxed.
“My mother always claimed that I was a ninja.” Reid joked and surprised a half laugh out of Mackenzie.
“Yes, well I can attest to that.” She stated, turning back to the stove to remove the flapjacks and turn off the heat. “You’re not allergic to anything that may be in a pumpkin spice flapjack, are you?”
Taking the two plates Mackenzie held out for him, Reid walked over to the dining room table. Mackenzie followed after Reid with a bowl of fresh fruit and a jug of orange juice. Reid noticed that the table was already set with silverware and glasses along with a bottle of syrup.
“I highly doubt you or anyone would cook a flapjack with oyster sauce, so I think I’ll be just fine.” Reid spoke with a grin as he looked down at the five breakfast cakes on his plate.
“You’re allergic to seafood?” Mackenzie questioned as she scooped a few fruit slices onto her plate.
Reid shook his head ‘no’.
“Strangely, I only break out in hives around shellfish. I can eat fish, just nothing that lives in a shell.” He said and took a bit of his flapjacks.
Mackenzie watched Reid through her own bite as he let out a happy groan.
“This is amazing.” Reid said, his mouth full as he continued eating.
His honest response had her smiling.
“Well, I’m glad you like it. After we finish eating, we can take a look at your truck. The storm passed over early this morning.” Mackenzie voiced before taking a sip of orange juice.
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“Here, take this.” Mackenzie said, grabbing a large parka off of the coat rack by the door and handing it to Reid. “When I open the door, it’ll feel like a slap to the face with how cold it is outside.”
Reid grinned as he shrugged the dull red parka on. Mackenzie slid her own gray bear parka onto her arms after she finished tying the laces to her snow boots. He did not miss the glance she sent his chuck taylors while pursing of her lips.
“Try not to slip on the porch. It likes to ice over.” Mackenzie stated and opened the door.
She tugged her knit hat over her head as the freezing wind smacked into her and Reid. Reid shivered immediately as the cold seeped through the open parka. His already iced-fingers tugged the zipper up, blocking out the harsh cold as much as it could. Together, the two trudged through the thigh high snow.
