“Simple,” I said. “Eggs, bacon, fruit, oatmeal, coffee. No drama. No complicated guest requests. No?—”
“No filming staff,” Kaya finished, deadpan.
I glanced at her.
She grinned. “Just making sure we’re aligned.”
We moved through the kitchen in sync. Kaya pulled pans and plates like she had a map in her head. I cracked eggs and tried not to think about the fact that the Scots were already awake, voices drifting in from the sitting room.
Then, because the universe enjoyed timing, Graham walked in.
Baseball cap. Hoodie. Looking like he’d slept about as well as I had, which was not at all satisfying to notice.
He stopped when he saw me. Guilt crossed his face, quick and obvious. A tightening around the eyes, the way his hand stalled on the doorframe before he committed to entering.
Good.
“Morning,” he said, voice deeper than it had any right to be.
My pulse kicked. Once. Brief. Absolutely meaningless.
It annoyed me anyway
“Morning,” I replied, neutral, turning back to the stove, avoiding his gaze like eye contact was an invitation.
Kaya’s eyes flicked between us once, fast, and I caught the corner of her mouth twitching.
I shot her a look that saiddon’t you dare.
She looked delighted.
Graham lingered near the doorway like he didn’t know where to put himself. He cleared his throat. “I’ll… stay out of the way,” he said.
“That would be best,” I said, still not looking at him.
“I’m sorry,” he added, quieter.
I turned slightly, not fully, just enough to make my point land. “Don’t apologize. We’re past it.”
His jaw tightened. “Aye,” he murmured. “Right.” He backed out of the kitchen like it was a crime scene.
Kaya waited until he was out of earshot before she said, sweetly, “So.”
I didn’t look up. “No.”
Kaya leaned her hip against the counter. “You’re going to make it through today without stabbing anyone?”
“Yes.”
“Even the Scottish one?”
“I’m not stabbing anyone,” I said through my teeth. “He made a mistake.”
Kaya’s eyebrows lifted. “And?”
“And,” I repeated, “we’re not talking about it.”
Kaya hummed. “Okay. We’ll file it under: ‘Rose is fine.’”
