through the mansion like an o

across polished floors that had only ever known silence and surface. It didn't match the

it s

eves rolled to her elbows. Her hair was tied in a loose knot at the base of her neck, a few strands falling in front of h

ched on one of the high

o. But he came to the kitchen every morning at the same time, like clockwork,

, he'd done

ed for the

he small glass bowl toward him. "Think

. Just a glance.

apped the sides of the measuring cup care

said softly. "That's the whole

slowed, the

time she and Nina had ruined a whole batch of croissants by accidentally using salt instead of sugar. About a custome

oosened in his posture. He was si

gh toward him and hande

t too heavy. Just enough to give

wly. Carefully

he said. "I'm gonna h

. But his hand did

timer and leaned back against the counter,

efore things got complicated. She used to say baking was magic, because even

His eyes stayed on

added with a smirk. "He strikes me as more o

usement cross

thing to a smile

gre

his home office, pretending to

king toward the hallway. The scent had reached him ten minutes ago-cinnamo

ought down bef

a luxury. It opened doors to grief, to sof

the hallway. Still followed the sc

kitchen doorway

he saw st

covered in sticky sugar. Emery stood beside him, grinning like it was the most natural th

used. Conte

smil

big. It wa

t was

ouldn't

ears since Leo ha

done it in

kitchen before he co

ion shifting-surprised, but n

't sl

asking. No fancy machine. Just

ipped. It was

hed him

r. "We've got cinnamon rol

a flicker-but

at was tight

. "I'm pretty sure he's going

at his son.

no

something

oll and handed i

plate. Not pushed i

d it

n fr

trust. It was his son saying I see

because of him-b

oll, fingers

d, softer now. "

ed back,

the oven. "Fresh batch'

at her. Re

his kitchen. His son trus

ed through walls no

k to you," he

s lifted

vate

ck glance. "I'll b

d returned to

empty dining room-massive table, un

ed to f

etting to

o who? Your son? Isn't th

mean emo

to feed him. Dress him. Tuck

agile. If you walk out-if y

e, Jaxon. You offered me this job. You pushed me into your fortre

," he said coldly.

htened. "He

don

Too close. The air

g about your company and less about scaring of

You think I don't kn

loving him wrong that you'v

ded like

ist-not hard, jus

dn't f

this house," he said, voice lo

n and soft. "I'm not here for

echoed in

tur

nding in the doorw

ed her wris

eo

sn't looki

s father. At the wide

r dot had appear

hen a

anot

a

shat

Emery just a