I groan. “Those are my favorite.”
“I know.” Her smile stretches. “Eva told me.”
“She did?” I ask, surprised. “I’ll have to thank her. I had no idea you baked.”
“Oh, I don’t.” she laughs. “But I found a popular recipe online and it seemed simple enough. Baking and chemistry have a lot in common.”
I chuckle. “I believe that.”
“Don’t worry, I tested a few and they’re not poisonous.”
“If you’re telling me my little chemist mastered lemon cookies on your first go, I may put you to work in the kitchen with Marco.” I squeeze her hips.
A key turns in the front door lock with aclick.
Hudson drops his keys in the bowl by the door like he’s done it a million times. I watch the casualness of the motion and feel something settle in my chest—belonging.
“How’re you feeling?” Hudson crosses the room.
“Tired,” she admits, “but okay.”
I kiss her temple and then pass her to Hudson so they can embrace. She leans into him without thinking, like her body already knows this is safe. We fall into place easily. Hudson on one side, me on the other.
I tell Hudson that Pippa made lemon cookies. He’s even more excited than me.
I plant a kiss on him, as well. His enthusiasm over these simple pleasures draws me to him like a moth to a flame.
“I quit today,” Pippa says suddenly.
Hudson blinks. “Youwhat?”
She huffs a laugh. “Cramden called, angry I wasn’t at work. Said Jake complained to him about my ‘behavior’ last night. Apparently, I was rude and embarrassed him. Poor little guy.”
My jaw tightens.
“I told Cramden exactly what kind of man Jake is. Then, I told him I wasn’t going to work for someone who protects that kind of behavior. And I hung up.”
Hudson exhales. “Good.”
I echo him. “Good.”
Pippa retrieves the cookies and we make ourselves drinks before moving to the larger couch together. Pippa is situated in the middle.
I take one bite of a cookie and moan loudly.
Hudson does the same, adding curses under his breath, very him.
“Boys. Those noises are doing things to me, stop.” She laughs.
I stare at her with desire.
Pippa teasingly waves me off. She really is lighter.
I didn’t know what I’d come home to today, but I didn’t expect this. She looks happier than I’ve ever seen her—no mask, no armor, no pretense, no need for the fire or fight that I’ve come to expect from her.
“Do you plan to do more baking with your free time?” Hudson asks as he grabs his third cookie.
“Enzo thinks I should work with Marco,” she reports.
