Page 113 of Seen Knot Heard

I head over to the coffee pot, only to find it empty. Irritation buzzes beneath my skin, and I spill coffee grounds onto the floor as I empty the basket into the compost bin.

Cursing under my breath, I grab the sponge to clean up the mess.

Booted footsteps thud on the tiled floor, and Blake crouches next to me, silently waiting.

I glare at him through the spill of my hair. “If you wanted a babysitter, you should have just said so. There was no reason to make it sound like Chloe needed me.”

A comforting purr comes to life in his chest, and he leans closer.

“Don’t.” I lurch to my feet and throw the sponge into the sink. “Stop trying to placate me and head down to the job site. You have a list of shit to fix so construction can resume.”

With a heavy sigh, he gives me the space I ask for and meets up with Nathaniel. Their quiet goodbyes with Chloe are like hot pokers under my skin. I busy myself finishing the prep on the coffee pot and slide a mug onto the hot plate instead of the carafe, needing a quick caffeine boost.

When I look up, I find Holden’s sad gaze on me. “Sorry, I gave what was left to Kyle and didn’t expect you to be up before noon.”

“It’s fine.” I return my attention to the machine as it gurgles, and a thin, dark-brown stream pours out. “I’m a big boy capable of brewing my own coffee.”

The carton of cream settles on the counter next to me. “I assume you still like your first cup more milk than coffee?”

Surprised, I shift to find Chloe standing next to me. She offers a hesitant smile, and simple as that, all of my irritation vanishes.

“Yeah.” Her lilac and lily scent wraps around me like a whisper of the past, and I inhale deeply, letting it sink into my bones. “That hasn’t changed.”

“How are you doing?” I swap my mug for the glass carafe when my cup fills halfway. “Did receiving the laptop shake you up?”

“A little.” She opens the cream and pours it into my mug, turning my coffee pale brown. “Okay, that’s a lie. I’m disturbed knowing he read what I was writing. But I’m also glad to have the story back. It helped me…stay sane.”

“I’m sorry he’s still messing with you,” I whisper. “You deserve only happiness in your life.”

Chloe fiddles with her collar again, and her eyes lift to meet mine. Fear shines in their quartz depths, and worry etches her face. But beneath that fear, I see something else that sends a spark of warmth through my veins. A flicker of the connection that once burned between us.

I clear my throat, breaking the moment before I do something stupid. “Would you like to sit out on the front porch and have breakfast? Some fresh air might help.”

Chloe’s attention shifts to the laptop, a shadow passing over her delicate features before she looks away. “Sure, let me just grab?—”

“Here you are.” Holden extends a plate loaded with breakfast sandwiches in one hand and a mug of coffee, which must belong to Chloe, in the other.

“Thank you.” She accepts both, then raises her voice. “Quinn, bring Sprinkles out front?”

“Sure!” The little girl turns to the massive dog. “Walkies?”

Sprinkles prances in place, his tail wagging.

“Race you to the door!” She takes off.

“No running in the kitchen!” I yell, but they’re both already gone, the two-way door swinging behind them.

A soft giggle escapes Chloe, and when I turn back to her, she blushes a faint, rosy pink.

I give her a mock-frown. “We will leave like adults?—”

Before I can finish speaking, she darts after Quinn and our dog, breakfast balanced in her small hands.

A laugh escapes me. I really should have expected that.

Holden gives me a nudge. “Well? What are you waiting for?”

Absolutely nothing. Taking a large gulp of my coffee so I don’t spill any, I take off after her.

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