Page 84 of Her Summer Hope

Cal shoved back through the door the way he always did, like he was breaching the door and clearing a room of hostiles. He had a bag on his back.

He was headed to the woods.

“Stay off that step stool,” he threatened, seeing Maddy coming from the pantry.

“I’ll have to use it sometimes. We aren’t all giants like you,” she retorted.

“I mean it. Get somebody else up there,” he growled, snatching the jug of milk from the fridge and striding out the back door without another word.

Madison raised her eyebrows and wrinkled her nose. “Did he just take off to the woods with a half gallon of milk?”

Kyle shrugged and grinned. “He drinks to unwind.”

She giggled and he felt like his day had just gotten ten times better than it had been before, and before had been pretty great already.

As they unpacked the ingredients, Kyle couldn’t help but admire how effortlessly Madison navigated his kitchen. She was a whirlwind of efficiency, and it was almost mesmerizing to watch.

“So, what’s on the menu tonight? I noticed Jimmy’s plan for the evening had been erased. He didn’t seem too worried about it,” he asked, trying to sound casual while his heart did a little extra beat.

“Secret family recipe,” Madison said with a wink. “If I tell you, I’ll have to... well, you know the rest.”

Kyle chuckled, leaning against the counter. “I’ll take my chances. I’ve been known to live dangerously.”

Madison laughed.

He noticed the way her hair fell softly around her face, slipping from her braid, the way her eyes sparkled when she smiled. There was an undeniable warmth that radiated from her, and he found himself drawn to it, like a moth to a flame.

As she took the cloth from a covered bowl in the corner and began to make bread with the dough, Kyle tried to keep the conversation light, sharing funny anecdotes from his military days.

Madison told stories of her past, each one filled with humor and a touch of sass. He noticed nothing she said held any real hints about her life right now.

Their lighthearted moment ended abruptly when Jace came in, his injured arm hidden in his pocket. With a sudden flash of insight, Kyle knew he was feeling insecure, even after their chat.

“Jace!” Madison said, whirling around. “I was hoping I would see you today.”

She came around the edge of the counter, wiping her hands on a cloth before putting a hand on his arm—the one with a hand missing.

She did it deliberately.

Shrewd woman.

Jace looked up, the ghost of a smile flickering across his face. "Yeah, well, here I am."

“You probably deserve another purple heart for the way I almost killed you in the pantry,” she joked, pulling the huge Dutch oven from the cabinet and putting it on the expansive range top. She moved to the box she had brought and pulled out several very large containers, dumping the contents into the pot to heat.

Kyle watched as amusement lit Jace’s eyes.

“Maybe a silver star for throwing myself into the line of fire?” he added.

“Definitely,” she laughed. “Oh! Hold on a second.”

She bustled over to the bag she’d brought in with her.

Madison's eyes twinkled with mischief. "I've got a mission for you if you choose to accept it. Murdock has absconded with a half gallon of milk into the woods. Your task is to deliver these." She held up a bag filled with chocolate chip cookies. "And make sure he shares them."

Jace's smile became more pronounced, a rare sight. "He’s one scary guy, so I make no promises on the sharing part. But I'll deliver your package."

As Jace turned to leave, Madison called after him, "Remember, those are for sharing. I'll know if he doesn't!"

---