Page 12 of Unbound

“And cleaning and laundry,” I add on.

He narrows his eyes. I think he’s about to nod in agreement when the smell of half-cooked pizza wafts through the air. Something must be stuck to the bottom of the oven because the burning stench with it makes me lose the battle I’ve been fighting with the underlying nausea. I jump off the barstool, running toward the only thing I see that I can vomit in—the trash can.

I jerk the plastic lid off of it and hurl the contents of my stomach up. I instantly feel Sterling behind me, pulling my hair back from my face.

After I empty everything out, the mortification sets in. He hands me a kitchen towel, which I use to wipe my mouth. When I finally turn to face him, his brows are lowered with clear concern.

“You need to go lie down. No cooking and no housework until you feel better.” He moves to the fridge to fill a glass with water.

No. I have to do something.

He gently takes my hand, guiding me over to his sectional. He sets the water down on the coffee table and hands me the remote.

I lean back against the sofa, feeling an overwhelming sense of guilt.

5

STERLING

Even though I loved visiting my family at Redford Ranch, I’m committed to serving my country as a Marine Raider. The specialty training I’m here in Virginia Beach for is rigorous.

I’m going on several top-secret missions overseas. I’ll be undercover, unable to communicate with anyone back home for months at a time or even tell them where I am.

After my first day of training, I’m physically exhausted. I walk into my house, my nostrils flaring when the scent of freshly baked bread hits me.

I almost moan out loud. It smells so damn good. I’m sweaty from the last workout, my muscles straining. I kick my boots off by the door, walking toward the kitchen in my camouflage cargo pants and standard-issue gray T-shirt.

Eden is humming while she bends over the counter, kneading a loaf of bread. She’s wearing the T-shirt and a pair of the black leggings I got her. Her long hair is back in a braid.

“Hey, Sunshine.”

She jumps, shrieking. “Oh my, you scared me.” She turns around, grinning at me.

A smudge of flour is on her cheek. I lean forward, using my thumb to dust it off. She blushes, but doesn’t pull away.

A little flirtation goes a long way with Eden.

“How was your day? Something smells good.”

“Bread. I made a loaf with what limited flour I could find. These are going to be biscuits for breakfast. I hope they turn out. You don’t have very many ingredients.”

“I usually eat TV dinners.”

“Not while I’m here you don’t.”

I smirk, loving how I’m starting to see more of her personality. “Let’s sit down and put in a grocery order for tomorrow. You can tell me what you need after I shower.”

I back away, walking toward the bathroom. I peel my sweaty shirt off once I’m out of sight.

After a quick shower, I put on a pair of sweatpants and walk back into the kitchen. Eden’s eyes bug out of her head when she sees me shirtless. A bruise is starting to form on my lower abdomen from training.

“Don’t worry about it. I’m gonna be looking worse over the next few weeks.”

She wets her lips, seeming to be stuck in a trance as her gaze licks over my chest and abs. I step closer to her, my hand bracing against the countertop behind her.

The air feels thick. I’ve thought she was beautiful since I first laid eyes on her, but now that we’re in my house and I see her baking and am close enough to count her freckles, heat is starting to trickle through my veins.

“I like you being here, in my kitchen.”