Page 73 of Where We Bloom

Aside from the fact that my bladder is screaming at me.

I ease out of the bed, scoop up his shirt, and quietly pad into the bathroom, where I do my business, brush my teeth with his toothbrush—he’s had his mouthall over meso if he has an issue with me using his toothbrush, I don’t know what to tell him—and wash my face.

When I open the bathroom door, I see that he’s still asleep, so I decide to go find coffee.

Snagging my handbag from the bathroom, I walk downstairs and pull my phone out and text Millie. The owner of the coffee shop will know how my guy takes his morning brew.

She knows everyone’s orders by heart.

Hey girl! How does Connor Gallagher take his coffee?

When I get to the kitchen, I startle and stare at a gorgeous woman standing at the island.

“Oh, hi there,” she says with a bright smile. She looks like she should be on the cover of magazines. “I’m Cassie, Mr. Gallagher’s cook. I’m just taking some cinnamon rolls out of the oven.”

I’m standing here in just a thigh-length T-shirt because I don’t have any clean underwear, my hair is a mess, and Cassie is fuckingbeautiful.Her auburn hair is tied up in a slick bun, she’s fit and trim in her skintight tank and yoga pants, and her biceps flex as she takes the pan from the oven, showing that she clearly works out. Often.

And it occurs to me that the house smells amazing. How did I miss that?

“I didn’t—” I have to clear my throat. “Do you make that every morning?”

“No, he requested that I make them today. Now I know why.” She winks at me, seemingly unfazed by my appearance. “I just have to frost them.”

“Is the frosting ready?”

“Sure, it’s right here in the bowl.”

“Do you mind if I finish up here? I’m going to make an executive decision and give you the rest of the day off.”

Her eyebrows fly into her hairline, but I stand my ground. I’m sure she’s a nice person, and she hasn’t done anything wrong, but I don’t love the idea of anotherwoman in this house while Connor and I are having Sunday Fuckday.

I made that one up. I like it.

“Just let these cool for about fifteen minutes,” she says, pointing at the pan. “Then spread the frosting over them and enjoy. You can also leave it on the side, if you prefer. They’re pretty sweet.”

“Thank you. And coffee?”

“It’s a simple pod-style machine,” she replies, pointing at the built-in machine in the walk-in butler’s pantry, which makes my eyes bug out of my head. This pantry is bigger than my entire kitchen. “I know, right? Killer pantry. Makes my life so easy.”

“Do you work here every day?” I ask.

“A few days a week. I do a lot of meal prep so he can eat whenever it suits him.”

She doesn’t have an accent, which I find intriguing.

“Do you travel with him?”

I’ve known Connor for months, and I’ve never even heard of Cassie.

“God, no. I should be so lucky. I live in Silver Springs, about thirty minutes from here. I’m a private chef for quite a few people, not just Mr. Gallagher. I usually have Sundays off, but he requested the cinnamon rolls, so I came in to make them.” She grins at me. “You’re a lucky lady.”

“I know.” I offer her a smile. “Thanks for these. They smell great.”

“Oh, you’re welcome. Tell him to let me know if you guys need anything.”

And with that, she gives me a wave, and then she’s off.

I have to take a deep breath.

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