Stella
I’m gonna take a guess that you’re super confused right now?
You know me well
Stella
You and Charlie should come by tonight for dinner
Maybe another time? I’m in so much pain. My heating pad and pain pills are calling my name
Stella
That sucks girl. Let me know if you need anything
By the time I reach Dottie’s I’m exhausted. But the exhaustion isn’t the worst part. It’s the razor-sharp pain in my thighs that’s radiating down my legs and wrapping around my back. I practically drag myself out of the car and amble up the steps and to the back door.
When I push inside, the scent of cookies hits me and warms me to my center instantly. But that doesn’t make any sense. Maybe Beck lit a candle?
I slip my shoes off and shuffle down the hall with a one-track mind: pain meds and my heating pad. Except the sweet smell of sugar and chocolate has me distracted.
“Mama!” Charlie’s little voice sounds out and my vision skims across the living room and over into the kitchen.
She’s sitting up at the island, propped on her knees.
“Hey, baby girl.” I go to her and drop a kiss to the top of her head.
“Daddy is making cookies.”
My gaze moves into the kitchen where Beck is bent in front of the oven and pulling a batch of fresh cookies out. Beck’s backside in a pair of Carhartts is still as hot as ever. I suck my lower lip in between my teeth. I definitely should not be checking out his butt. Regardless of the license that says heismy husband, I’m engaged to another man. A nice man. One who wants to take care of me and Charlie.
“Rosie?” Beck calls, his eyes wide.
“Huh? What?” I shake my head, the blaring pain in my gut and legs presenting itself tenfold—along with heat filling my face from being caught red-handed gawking at him.
“I asked if it was okay that I made cookies?”
“Oh, right. Yeah, it’s fine.”
“And then I asked if you were okay. Are you? Okay?” His brows are up high on his forehead. It’s his worry face. I’ve never liked to make him worry.
“I’m okay. Nothing some meds and a heating pad won’t fix.” I give him a pained smile, because we both know that isn’t true.
“And cookies?” He flashes me a wink and it fractures part of the barrier I’ve built around myself.
What’s this? A peace offering…from Beck?
He takes a cookie from the cooling rack and offers it to me. “They always used to help you on flare days. Thought it was worth a try.”
My heart gives a punch against my ribs.It is a peace offering. The smallest olive branch. I’ll take it. “Thank you.”
He shrugs and returns to transferring the warm cookies to the cooling rack. “I’m just glad Dottie had the ingredients.”
“Me too,” Charlie exclaims from her stool.
“Okay, but not too many.”
“She’s only had six,” Beck announces, but I think I only half hear him correctly.
