And the food...
Oh, my God, the food.
He made the whole house smell good.Made her stomach happy in a way she hadn't experienced since the rare days she'd splurged on a chicken meal at the restaurant after a long shift.She took a deep breath, letting the smell of Baker's cooking calm her nerves.He had the same skill.Steady hands, relaxed shoulders, and humming as if he loved every second.She watched him chop, stir, and season, all with a quiet confidence she wasn't used to seeing in men like him.
A woman came into the kitchen and stopped, smiling at Lydia."I see Baker's taking care of you."
Lydia rubbed her arms.This wasn't one of the bitches from the other room.
"I'm Roma.Kodiak's old lady."She moved across the kitchen.
Another woman entered the room."There you are."She stopped."Oh, I didn't know someone new was here."
"That's Baddy's guest."Roma removed a stack of paper plates from the cabinet.
"Cool."The woman held out her hand."I'm Annie.I belong to Hunter."
She tried to picture them together and couldn't.Hunter was mysterious and quiet.Kodiak was dominating and scary.
"If you need anything, just let Baker know."Roma looked at the old man."We'll be in the office."
"No problem.I got things under control."Baker went back to cooking.
The room quieted again, and she watched Baker, listening to the rhythm of the kitchen and the low hum of mayhem in the other room.
Caught up in her own thoughts, she startled when a hand landed on her shoulder.
She jolted so hard the stool scraped across the floor.Her heart slammed against her ribs as she spun around—
And then she froze.
Baddy stood there.
Dust on his jacket and windblown hair and beard, he was a welcome sight.Tired eyes studied her from head to toe and back up again.
Her breath left her in a rush that she hadn't meant to let out.Relief washed through her so fast it made her knees weak.He'd come back.
His expression softened."Easy, sweetheart."
She swallowed hard, trying to pull herself together, trying not to show how much she worried about him not returning.
But she couldn't help it.
He was back.
And she could breathe again.
