Page 99 of Knot a Thief

I chuckle as Max picks up his cell. “Can you prepare the kitchen with all the ingredients to make cakes?” He listens. “Thank you.”

He disconnects. “Ten minutes and we can take them.”

“Daddy!” Lily yells as she sits on a swing and Ava pushes her from behind. “Mommy said we can bake cakes.”

Mommy?

Ava’s worried gaze lands on mine. “Sorry,” she mouths.

“Did I hear you wanted to bake cakes?” Max interrupts, but I’m still whirling over ‘Mommy’.

“Yes!” Lily shrieks.

“Come here, you,” Max grabs Lily by her waist and hauls her until she is sitting on his shoulders.

As Max gallops away with Lily laughing her little head off, I turn to Ava.

Her eyes are glazed as she stares back at me with her teeth digging into her bottom lip. I’m not sure if I see fear or something else.

“Mommy?” I ask. My voice is quiet so as not to alarm her.

“I’m sorry. I misjudged my reply to Lily. She asked me if I would be her mommy and I told I’d love to and was about to say, ‘but you already have a mommy’ when she wrapped her arms around my neck and told me she loved me.”

Lily loves Ava.

My lungs feel like they are desperate for air, but it is my heart that thrums. “It’s fine,” I murmur.

She shakes her head, worry coats her face. “It isn’t. I should have handled the question better. I should’ve spoken to you first.”

I slide my arm around her shoulder and whisper, “You’re mine, Ava. Not for nine months, not for the time you planned to be on this island. You’re mine for life. You’re my mate. My scent match and even if you had escaped, I would have found you.”

She shivers in my embrace, but it doesn’t stop her smile. And as her perfume emits in the air, I know it is purely for me.

“I can’t decide if that’s the most romantic thing you’ve ever told me or if I should run for the hills.”

I chuckle and pull her close to me, pressing a kiss against her temple. “Try it. I’m up for the chase.”

My cock jerks at the possibility.

“Mommy, watch me,” Lily shouts from up ahead as Max takes her to the kitchen.

I take Ava’s warm hand in mine, entwining our fingers, and we follow them to the kitchen.

Ava’s eyes widen as she takes in the scene. There are bowls of different sizes, measuring cups, fresh ingredients, and even a tiny apron for Lily.

“Wow,” Ava exclaims, her voice soft with surprise as she looks around at everything needed to bake a muffin-baking extravaganza.

“Who organized this?” Ava asks.

Max and I exchange a glance before I speak. “We remembered how much you enjoyed baking with your sister. We thought you might like to share that experience with Lily.”

“No pressure, no expectations,” Max adds gently. “Just a day for you to enjoy something you love, Ava.”

For a moment, Ava is silent, and I worry we’ve overstepped. But then, slowly, a genuine smile spreads across her face and reaches her eyes.

“Thank you,” she says, looking between us. “This is ... it’s wonderful.”

Lily squeals with delight, immediately reaching for the little apron. “Can we make chocolate chip cookies and then muffins, Mommy? Please?”

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