Page 91 of Seen Knot Heard

Evidence of Holden’s baking spree fills the kitchen island, giving me ample options. I grab a basket and load it up with scones and muffins, drooling over all the yummy treats.

Outside the kitchen, a board creaks, and I freeze, my ears pricked.

Another creak sounds, and I snatch up the heavy marble rolling pin sitting next to a canister of flour.

Heart pounding, I grip the wooden handle tighter, my palms slick with sweat as I inch toward the door. The hum of the refrigerator fills my ears, along with the distant chirp of crickets outside and the ragged sound of my breathing.

As I near the door, it swings inward, and I react on pure instinct. With a cry that’s half battle scream, half terrified yelp, I swing the rolling pin with all my might.

Before it connects, a hand catches my wrist in an iron grip, yanking me forward and pinning my arm behind my back. The rolling pin clatters to the floor as I collide with a solid chest, the musky scent of citrus filling my nose.

“Chloe? What the hell?” Dominic’s deep voice rumbles through me in a mixture of concern and exasperation.

I sag within his grasp, relief and embarrassment flooding through me in equal measure. “I thought… I heard a noise.” My cheeks burn. “I thought it might be the intruder.”

Dominic’s hold on me softens, but he doesn’t let go, his breath a warm caress at my ear. “It’s only me. I was checking the perimeter.”

My heart keeps racing, but for a different reason now. Being this close to Dominic, feeling the strength of his body, does things to my body that I don’t want to acknowledge.

I try to step away, but his arm tightens around my waist, keeping me close.

“Dominic,” I whisper, hating the way I tremble. “Let me go.”

He remains silent for a long moment, tension in his muscles. “Are you planning to ignore what happened between us forever?”

My face grows hotter as the memory of his mouth on me floods my body with desire.

He groans as my pheromones fill the air. “You want me.”

“Shut up.” I turn my face away. “And let me go.”

Dominic releases me, his fingertips trailing electric shocks along my arms as he steps back. The sudden absence of his touch leaves me bereft, and I wrap my arms around myself, trying to hold on to the warmth of his embrace.

“You need to be more careful,” he says gruffly. “At least until we set up the security system.”

“Sorry.” I hug my elbows. “I was just coming down for a snack before heading to bed.”

Dominic spots the loaded basket on the counter and strides to it, picking up the rolling pin on the way. He sets it on the counter and returns with the treats. “You really are a little mouse sneaking sweets.”

A laugh escapes at the reminder of when Blake caught me trying to sneak pie before dinner. “I love anything with sugar.”

“And I love you.” He holds the basket out to me. “But you already know that.”

My chest aches at the words, and my body burns. If I asked him to, he’d drop to his knees right now and show me just how much he loves me. And part of me yearns to do just that. To take what he offers and give nothing in return. To hurt him for the pain he caused me all those years ago.

But I don’t want to further the pain between us. I just don’t know how to heal it, either.

My hands shake as I take the basket from him, our fingers brushing and setting off sparks.

Clutching it to my chest, I back out of the kitchen, the door swinging shut behind me.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Nathaniel

Iadjust the angle of the security camera mounted under the eaves, ensuring it has a clear view of the Homestead’s garden.

The intruder’s footprint had vanished after a downpour two days ago, but not before we followed the trail as far as the grass, where the trail vanished.

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