“Christopher helped make croissants,” Isabella announced, and Christopher heard the pride in her voice.
“Did he now?” Gabe grinned at his friend. “Since when did you develop domestic skills?”
“I’m learning,” Christopher said dryly.
“I guess it is the season of miracles.” Gabe’s eyes were laughing, and Christopher shot him a look. “My mother is going to love this. She’s been saying for years you need to learn to cook something that doesn’t come in a vacuum-sealed pouch.”
Isabella smiled and began preparing breakfast for both of them.
“Please, both of you, take a seat,” Isabella pointed to the booth in the corner.
Christopher watched her move around the kitchen with easy competence, and that warm feeling in his chest settled in to stay.
He was in trouble. He’d known Isabella Turner for less than twelve hours, and he was already in trouble.
And the strangest part? For the first time in his life, Christopher wasn’t sure he wanted to run from it.
4
ISABELLA
Gabe limped toward the booth, his medical boot making a distinctive thump with each step.
“That coffee,” Gabe said, sniffing the air. “Smells amazing.”
“It is amazing,” Christopher announced, sliding into the booth as Isabella brought over a basket of croissants. He took one and held it up with the pride of a kid showing off a school project. “I made these. Well, Isabella taught me, but I actually made croissants. From scratch. With my own hands.”
Gabe “Hmmm.” His eyes narrowed as he eyed them skeptically, then glanced at Isabella. “Who mixed the dough?”
“We both did,” Christopher and Isabella said in unison, their eyes caught, and her heart thudded as heat crept up her neck, and she turned her attention back to Gabe.
“I’ll get you some of that coffee,” Isabella said hurriedly, glad of the reprieve as she hurried to the coffee machine. She turned back, grateful that her hand wasn’t shaking as she put the coffee in front of Gabe. “What can I make you two for breakfast?”
“Oh, you don’t have to do that,” Gabe told her. “These croissants and coffee are great. We don’t want to be any trouble.”
“Nonsense,” Isabella scoffed. “You need something more substantial than croissants.” She forced a smile. “I’m going to be cooking for the other guests anyway in about an hour. Might as well get started. Besides,” she pulled eggs and bacon from the fridge, “cooking for people who actually appreciate it is one of my favorite things.”
She set to work, muscle memory taking over as she whisked eggs and heated pans. The two men fell into easy conversation, which Isabella wasn’t following as she set to work. Their voices created a comfortable background rhythm to her cooking.
“Trinity and Maddy have become good friends,” Gabe said suddenly, directing the comment to Isabella. “She wanted me to ask you if Maddy could come with us on our outing today?”
Isabella smiled, cracking more eggs into a bowl. “I don’t want her to impose on your father-daughter time.”
“It’s not imposing at all,” Gabe assured her.
“I’m going with them,” Christopher added.
“Exactly,” Gabe said. “And it’s good to see my daughter so happy. Trinity doesn’t make friends easily.” His voice carried a weight that made Isabella look up from the stove. “She’s always been a little different from other kids. Between her mom being gone and me being deployed so much...”
“She told Maddy about her mother,” Isabella said gently, sliding a perfectly plated omelet in front of him. “I’m so sorry for your loss.”
Gabe’s jaw tightened for a moment, then relaxed. “Thanks. It’s been six years, but that’s a scar that never really heals, you know?”
Isabella did know. Not the same kind of loss, but she understood scars that stayed tender no matter how much time passed. She set a plate in front of Christopher, their eyes meeting briefly, and she saw understanding there, too.
“Trinity’s an amazing kid,” she said, returning to the stove. “So bright and funny and kind. You and Holly have done an incredible job with her.”
“Mostly Mom,” Gabe said with a self-deprecating shrug. “I’ve been gone more than I’ve been home. But this assignment, this medical leave, maybe it’s a blessing in disguise. I get to actually be here for Christmas this year.”
