Gone Too Deep by Katie Ruggle

didn’t mean to interrupt your breakfast. Go ahead and finish.” Flustered, Ellie wondered if she should offer to wait out in her car.
    Instead of taking his place at the table, however, he moved to the stove. She watched as he got a plate from the cupboard and loaded it with scrambled eggs, bacon, and hash browns. He laid it on the table and then returned to pour coffee into a blue mug. When he held it out to her, she accepted the coffee with a smile of thanks. Ellie normally liked her coffee milky and sweet, but she didn’t want to be demanding. He was already feeding and caffeinating her. Until they were on their way to her grandpa’s cabin, Ellie didn’t want to risk changing George’s mind about being her guide. She’d do everything she could to avoid giving him the impression that she was high-maintenance.
    He put a fork by her place and pulled out the chair in front of it. When he looked at her, she slid into the seat. “Thank you.”
    He grunted as he took his own chair, and she looked up from her plate in surprise. That was the first vocalization he’d made in her presence. Maybe there was hope for actual conversation by the time the trip was done? She ducked her head, staring at her eggs to hide a smile.
    They ate in silence. Ellie was surprised by how good the food was—the eggs fluffy and the bacon a perfect level of crispiness. Even the hash browns, which usually she didn’t like very much, were tasty. The coffee, though…she took a sip and hid her wince. It was probably strong enough to put hair on her chest.
    The scrape of George’s chair against the floor startled her, and she almost spilled her coffee as she set the cup back on the table. He moved to the fridge and pulled out an old-fashioned-looking glass milk bottle, which he set on the table next to her elbow. She must not have hid her reaction to the coffee well enough.
    â€œThank you.” She poured some milk into the black-as-pitch beverage, and then added some more. “The food is really good.” Ellie stopped herself before thanking him again. She’d repeated it so many times in the past fifteen minutes that she was afraid she was sounding like a talking doll that could say only one thing when her string was pulled.
    As usual, he shrugged off her thanks before finishing his food. Ellie eyed what was left on her own plate. George had given her a lumberjack’s portion, plus nerves had tightened her stomach. When she put her fork down and sat back in her chair, he looked between her face and her unfinished food with a frown.
    â€œIt was great, but I’m really full.” As she sipped her milky yet still-strong coffee, he slid the plate from her place to his and proceeded to finish off the breakfast she’d left. As she watched him eat from what had been her breakfast, a blush warmed her cheeks. She wasn’t sure why, but the act of sharing food seemed almost intimate, like something an old married couple would do. Shaking off her silly thoughts, she focused on the upcoming trip.
    â€œI couldn’t get cash yesterday, since my bank doesn’t have a branch here.” She watched him, holding her breath, hoping he didn’t immediately cancel the trip and kick her out of his house. “I can write you a check, though, if you…um, take checks.”
    His head shake could have meant anything from “the deal is off” to “I’ll guide you for free.” Ellie decided to go with one of the more optimistic translations.
    â€œShould I just pay you after we get back, then?”
    His shrug was combined with just enough of a nod for her to blow out a sigh of relief.
    â€œDo you have winter camping gear?” she asked, and, between bites, he jerked his chin toward two professional-looking backpacks. One was huge, while the second—the one she assumed was hers—was much smaller. “Oh, good. Should I bring my suitcase in here and