I didn’t expect him in my bed.
But I hadn’t expected this either.
The gown from last night lay draped over the chair.Last night’s armor.
I brushed my fingers over the beadwork, registering the faint scent of his cologne that still clung to it, sharp and familiar.It didn’t make my chest ache.
It made me think.
Creed didn’t leave traces accidentally.
The house was eerily quiet as I made my way downstairs, the grand staircase stretching before me like a path I wasn’t sure I had the strength to walk.The air felt heavier somehow, as if something had shifted in the night, leaving an emptiness in its wake.
Then, a sound, subtle, distant.The soft hum of movement.The kitchen.
I followed it, desperate for anything to break the silence.The scent of coffee curled around me, mingling with something warm and savory, drawing me forward like a lifeline.
And then I saw him.
Not Creed.
Ennis.
He was setting the table with the same precision he applied to everything.Breakfast plated.Silver aligned.No excess.No indulgence.
A message, whether intended or not.
He looked up as I entered, his expression unreadable, composed as always.
“Good morning, Ms.Peyton.”His voice was steady, polite.But there was something in his gaze—something careful.Measured.
I swallowed, forcing a small nod.“Good morning, Ennis.”My voice was quieter than usual, but I didn’t bother disguising the exhaustion beneath it.
“I trust you slept well.”
“I slept,” I replied, which was true enough.
He gestured toward the table.“Mr.Kirkland left instructions for breakfast to be prepared before your departure.A car will be available at your convenience.”
There it was.
Not dismissal.
Coordination.
“When did he leave?”I asked.
“Early,” Ennis said.“He returned to the city.Business required his attention.”
Business always did.Or was I still a complication he didn’t know how to handle?
I sat, wrapping my hands around the coffee when he set it down.The warmth grounded me.The silence didn’t feel cruel—it felt intentional.
“He didn’t leave a message?”I asked.
Ennis barely hesitated as he placed a plate of toast in front of me.“No, ma’am,” he said evenly.“But he did ensure that your comfort was addressed before his departure.”
Comfort.
