As I followed Ciara down the grand hallway toward the dining room, my stomach grumbled in anticipation.
I was starving, but something told me this breakfast was going to be more than just food it felt like the beginning of another chaotic adventure, especially with Ciara's family involved.
Ciara had mentioned Leora being around, and knowing her, this morning was bound to be interesting.
When we stepped into the dining room, I had to stop for a second and blink. The spread on the table was absolutely breathtaking.
Every dish looked like it was straight out of a royal feast fluffy pancakes stacked high, golden-brown croissants, fresh fruit that practically glistened in the morning light, and eggs cooked in ways I didn't even know were possible.
There was even a pitcher of what looked like freshly squeezed juice, condensation beading down the glass.
"What in the world...?" I muttered, my eyes wide.
Ciara chuckled beside me, clearly amused by my reaction. "Leora likes to go all out for breakfast when we have guests. She's, uh, a bit intense."
"That's an understatement," I said under my breath, still taking in the sheer magnitude of the feast.
Just as I was about to ask who Leora had hired as a chef, the doors swung open dramatically, and in strolled Leora herself, wearing a confident smirk and a ridiculous apron that read
"Kiss the Chef" in bold letters. She looked every bit the master of the kitchen and of, well, everything else.
"Good morning, lovebirds," she said in a sing-song voice. "Hope you're ready for the best breakfast of your lives, courtesy of *moi*."
I blinked, looking between Ciara and Leora. "Wait, you made all this?"
Leora's smirk grew even more insufferable. "Surprised?"
Honestly, I was. The last thing I expected from Ciara's intimidating, no-nonsense older sister was culinary talent. But here we were, faced with a spread that belonged in a five-star restaurant.
"I didn't know you could cook like this," I admitted, still trying to wrap my head around it.
Leora waved a hand dismissively. "Oh please, I'm a woman of many talents, Aeliana. One of which is feeding those who steal my sister's heart." She shot a mischievous glance at Ciara, who shifted slightly beside me, looking just the tiniest bit uncomfortable.
I grinned, instantly realizing where this was going. "I didn't steal anything," I said, playing along. "She offered it willingly."
Ciara shot me a look, half-exasperated, half-amused. "Great, now you're encouraging her."
Leora clasped her hands together dramatically. "Oh, *so* willing. I've never seen Ciara act like this around anyone before. Usually, she's breaking hearts left and right, not getting all googly-eyed over breakfast."
Ciara groaned, rubbing her temples. "Leora, could you not? Just this once?"
"Not a chance." Leora winked at me and then gestured grandly to the table. "Now, sit. Eat. I didn't spend all morning in the kitchen just to watch you two stand there."
I stifled a laugh and followed Ciara to the table, taking a seat while Leora watched us like a hawk. Ciara's face had softened a bit, and even though she was still clearly embarrassed, there was a warmth to her expression that made my chest feel all fluttery.
As soon as we started eating, I couldn't help but let out an involuntary groan of pleasure. The food was just as good as it looked no, it was better.
The pancakes were light and fluffy, the croissants buttery and flakey, and the eggs were cooked to perfection. I glanced over at Ciara, who had already torn into her plate, her eyes half-lidded in satisfaction.
"Damn, this is good," I said through a mouthful of food.
Ciara nodded, swallowing a bite of her eggs. "I told you. Leora's a menace in the kitchen."
Leora, who had seated herself at the head of the table, looked immensely pleased with herself. "See? You're lucky to be with someone who comes from such a talented family."
I snorted. "Oh, believe me, I'm counting my blessings every day."
Ciara kicked me under the table, and I bit back a laugh, but it was hard not to enjoy this. Even if Leora was being a bit over the top with her teasing, it was kind of endearing. It was clear that she cared about Ciara and by extension, about us.
"So, Aeliana," Leora said, leaning forward with a glint in her eye. "What's your plan for the day? Are you going to whisk my sister off for a romantic adventure? Or are you two just going to sit around here, gazing into each other's eyes like lovesick fools?"
Ciara rolled her eyes. "Leora, enough."
But Leora ignored her, fully invested in her role as the nosy older sister. "Come on, spill. What's next on the agenda for the new couple?"
I felt my cheeks heat up at her words. "Uh, well, I think we're just... taking it easy today. No grand adventures planned."
"Ah, so you're easing her into the commitment," Leora teased. "Smart. Start small, then work your way up to the big stuff. Like marriage."
Ciara choked on her coffee, and I nearly spit out my juice.
"Leora!" Ciara's voice was sharp, but her face had gone a bit pale, clearly thrown by the sudden mention of marriage.
Leora raised her hands in mock surrender. "Relax, I'm kidding. Mostly." She shot me a sly grin. "But you never know. You two seem pretty serious already."
I wasn't sure whether to laugh or crawl under the table and hide, but one thing was clear Leora had no intention of letting us get through breakfast without a few more embarrassing comments.
Ciara finally sighed, putting her fork down and glaring at her sister. "You know, I could have had breakfast alone. Quiet. Peaceful. Without your commentary."
Leora just smirked. "But then you wouldn't have had nearly as much fun, would you?"
Ciara opened her mouth to retort, but then stopped, her expression softening just a bit as she glanced at me. I could see the fondness in her eyes, and my heart skipped a beat. Even if Leora was being a pain, there was something undeniably warm about the whole scene.
"Okay, fine," Ciara said, shaking her head. "You win. But don't think I'm letting you do this every time."
Leora's grin widened. "We'll see about that."
I couldn't help but smile at the playful exchange. Despite all the teasing, it was clear that Leora and Ciara had a strong bond, one that I was slowly becoming a part of. And honestly, even with all the embarrassment, I wouldn't have traded this morning for anything.
"Alright," Leora said, standing up and clapping her hands together. "I've had my fun. I'll leave you two alone for now. But don't think this is over." She shot me one last wink before sauntering out of the room, her apron fluttering behind her.
As soon as she was gone, Ciara let out a long breath, rubbing her forehead. "I swear, she's impossible."
I grinned, reaching over to squeeze her hand. "She's just looking out for you. In her own... unique way."
Ciara rolled her eyes, but her lips twitched into a smile. "Yeah, I guess."
For a moment, we sat in comfortable silence, finishing up our breakfast. The morning light streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow over the table.
Despite the chaos, I felt strangely at peace, like this was exactly where I was supposed to be.
As I reached for the last croissant, Ciara leaned back in her chair, looking at me with a soft, almost unreadable expression. "You really handled that well."
I raised an eyebrow. "Handled what?"
"The interrogation. Leora doesn't usually go easy on people."
I laughed, shaking my head. "If that was her going easy, I'd hate to see what she's like when she's really trying."
Ciara chuckled, her eyes warm. "Trust me, you don't want to know."
We fell into another comfortable silence, the tension from Leora's teasing melting away.
I could tell Ciara was still a little embarrassed, but there was a warmth between us now, something that made the morning feel special in a way I couldn't quite describe.
"Hey," I said softly, meeting her gaze. "I'm glad we're doing this."
Ciara smiled, her eyes softening. "Me too."
And just like that, the world seemed a little brighter. Despite Leora's antics, despite the teasing and the embarrassment, this was exactly where I wanted to be. With Ciara. In her world.
As we finished the last of our breakfast, I couldn't help but feel like this was just the beginning of something even better.
As we lingered at the table, Ciara reached over to brush a strand of hair from my face, her touch light but filled with warmth. "You know," she said with a teasing grin, "you handled Leora's teasing like a pro. I'm impressed."
I laughed softly, feeling the blush creep up my cheeks. "I had to, didn't I? Otherwise, she'd never let it go."
Ciara chuckled, leaning closer. "You're braver than I thought, Aeliana."
I playfully nudged her. "Well, I have to be if I'm dating you."
Her smile softened, and I could feel the warmth between us grow.