“You’re the best!”
I notice the girls’ bags lying beside the couch. “Why don’t you take your bags to your room and wash up while I get the ingredients for the cookies ready?”
“Okay.” Lainey’s attention is drawn to Easton when he comes into the house. “Hi, Uncle Easton.”
“Did you have a good day at school?” he asks.
She nods. “Only one week until spring break. I can’t wait.” She glances around. “Where’s Mom?”
“She’s taking a nap but will be up soon,” Easton replies. “So be quiet while you’re upstairs.”
“Okay.” The girls giggle as they grab their bags and head to the second floor.
I walk to the pantry, and opening the door, I gather flour, sugar, chocolate chips, and anything else we’ll need to bake the cookies.
I carry my haul to the island and place it on the marble top.
Easton comes to rest his hand on my lower back and leans into me. “Anything I can help with?”
If the man keeps touching me, I’m going to start getting ideas that have no place being in my head.
I clear my throat. “Ahh ... can you get the eggs and milk?”
“On it.”
I walk to one of the drawers and take out mixing bowls before grabbing a few spoons and a whisk.
After Easton places the milk and carton of eggs on the island, he takes a seat and rubs his palms together. “What’s next?”
I let out a burst of laughter. “Are you planning to bake with the girls?”
He shrugs. “I have nothing better to do.”
Lainey and Porsha come back down, and each of them climbs onto a stool.
I pull the recipe closer and say, “Let’s get to work. Your mom said we need to bake two hundred cookies.”
We all crowd around the piece of paper with Rachel’s handwriting on it. The process goes slow, and I keep having to check the recipe so we don’t make a mess of things.
I’m focused on cracking an egg open when Lainey smears a streak of flour over my cheek. The girls’ laughter fills the kitchen while I chuckle and try to rub it off with my shoulder.
“I’ve got it,” Easton says. He grabs a paper towel, and coming to stand in front of me, he carefully dusts the flour off my skin.
“Thank you.” I lift my gaze to his, and my heart fills with so much love I fear it might burst.
There’s something tender in his expression as he replies, “You’re welcome.”
I’ll be happy if this is all I ever get from him.
My lips curve up as we get back to work, and I relish how wonderful it feels to be a part of this amazing family after being separated from them for so long.
Chapter 13
Easton
“Are you sure we’ll be able to sell all the cookies?” Nova asks while she skeptically eyes the boxes filled to the brim with bags.
“You all decided to bake enough to feed a small country. We only needed two hundred,” Rachel mutters. “Whatever we don’t sell, we can donate.”
