Page 80 of Break

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The scent of bacon, coffee, and cinnamon rolls wakes me up. For a hot second, I’m not even sure where I am.

Living room. Hotel suite.

I’ve somehow been tucked onto the sofa with a blanket and pillow. “Kerrington?”

“He’s in the bed, passed out,” Nicole says.

There are more clinking and clanking noises.

What the hell is going on? Sitting up, I rub the sleep from my eyes and blink blearily at Nicole. She’s got an entire table filled with room service and is currently pouring two cups of coffee. “Eat with me.”

Oh, hell yeah.

I shuffle over, smoothing my tangled hair back, and drop into the chair opposite her.

“I wasn’t sure what you guys liked, so I ordered one of everything off the menu.”

“Perfect.” My smile broadens when I seesmoked salmon. “Damn, this is a feast for the gods, sweetheart.”

Nicole giggles as she pours hot sauce all over her eggs. “The lox are all yours, Lan. I do not do fish, and I know Kerr’s not a fan.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because at the gala, you devoured an entire platter of salmon puffs and Kerrington wouldn’t go near it.”

I build the perfect bite of lox, capers, cream cheese and red onion onto a baguette slice and squeeze a bit of lemon onto it. “Never realized you stalked us so hard, Duchess. I’m flattered.”

Shoving the entire thing into my mouth, I almost choke on it when she says, “I’ve never been able to keep my eyes off either of you.”

My throat tightens, fighting my big swallow. I chug some OJ to get it all down. “Oh yeah?”

“I know I always acted like I hated you, but…” Her gaze lifts to mine, holding me hostage. “It’s very much the opposite.”

My heart clatters in my ribs. Before I go off the rails, drop to my knees, and propose, I clear my throat and ask, “How are you feeling this morning?”

“Really, really,reallygood.”

“Not too sore?”

“Nope.” She stabs her pancakes and stuffs a huge bite in her mouth. “I slept like a baby, too.”

“Did anyone ever tell you it’s not ladylike totalk with your mouth full?”

“Are you accusing me of being a lady?”

We both crack up laughing and I swear I’m eating breakfast with a new version of Nicole I don’t think I’ve ever met before. She’s relaxed, content, peaceful, and happy. She’s fuckingglowing.

Kerrington got her this way. I wish he could see her right now, but I’m not about to wake him up. He’s a fucking grouch in the mornings.

“Smiles look good on you, girl. You should wear them more often.”

Instead of dropping into brat mode and losing that gorgeous grin, she beams even brighter. “I feel so different today. So good.”

Morning person or not, I really should wake Kerr up. He’s missing this. “Kerrington’s going to be relieved.”

Her brows knit as she brings her coffee up for a sip. “Why?”

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