Page 8 of Where We Promise

I ducked my face to hide the sudden blush from how embarrassed I felt. I should be over these fucking triggers and issues by now.

“Fine.”

“Hungry?” Red appeared with another warm smile. She set a plate packed full of bacon, eggs, and fruit in front of me.

Natty sweetly added one of her scones to my plate with a happy grin.

“This will add a little sweetness to it.”

“Thank you.”

I picked at my plate of food while everyone around me fell into easy conversation. Even Jamie seemed to laugh along with them, and it made me wonder how well acquainted he was with this group. He acted as though he’d been around them for years, but I had been around him that long so I knew that wasn’t possible.

It wasn’t until I heard Killian mention something about a perimeter alert last night that my head lifted.

Jameson seemed to notice my apprehension. His face was turned toward Killian, but his hand came out and rested on my thigh with a slight squeeze. I wanted to pull his hand into mine, just so I had something to ground me. As it was, I let his hand linger on me while I listened to what I could. Killian’s voice kept dipping, so I missed every other word.

“Alarm went off around three in the morning,” Laura leaned over, whispering in my ear. “It wasn’t back by the Chaos Kings, it was farther west. The trail cams picked up a coyote, nothing to worry about.”

I let out a sigh of relief and turned toward her to mouth. “Thank you.”

She squeezed my shoulder reassuringly before jumping up and rounding the barstool.

“Pen, do you want to come check out the kitchen with me?”

I hesitated for a second, and the conversation between Jamie and Killian paused. I knew Jameson wanted to be sure I was okay, but I hated that I was forcing him to coddle me, so I stood to my feet without waiting for him to talk to me.

“Sure, I’d love to.”

We rounded the bar, and slits of sunlight cut through the space from a window above the farmhouse-style sink.

It was wide and deep, almost industrial-sized.

There were butcher block counters that framed the large space, and in the middle a long, thick counter also topped with the thick butcher block. On it was dough being rolled out, Natty smiling up from kneading it.

At least a dozen or so loaves of freshly baked bread sat on the other end. The space was clean, organized and lacked any clutter.

“Here is the pantry. If you ever run out of anything at the cabin, you can come here and restock,” Laura said, guiding me to a smaller alcove. The shelves were lined with bulk items: peanut butter, canned tomatoes, beans, salsa, bags of chips, and baking ingredients.

“There’s no washer or dryer out at the cabin. I can show you an easy spot to slide in unnoticed to do your clothes while you’re here.” Laura walked farther into the kitchen, where a small room hid behind a set of gliding doors.

A simple top loading washer and dryer sat, next to a large sink.

“This door has a code I can give you. Only Red, Killian and I have the code, so it won’t be used hardly ever, if at all. Most of the club uses the washer and dryers designated to the floor they’re on. There’s one in the basement, and then another set over in the bunk houses—so really, this one is all yours if you want it. We use it from time to time for dirty rags.”

I nodded, unsure of what to say. The kindness she was offering was so foreign to what I had become accustomed to with the Chaos Kings.

Laura didn’t seem to notice my reluctance; she just pulled out her cell phone.

“You have your phone on you? I can text you the code.”

I didn’t have it on me; I had left it at the cabin. I was about to shake my head when she waved me off.

“I have your number from the last time I was there. I’ll just text it to you.”

We turned once more, but this time, I stopped at the sight of Jameson leaning against the frame of the door, watching me.

“You ready to head back?”

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