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“It does. Now, back to work,” I said, glowering playfully at Stuart, who bowed dramatically at me, smiled at Summer, and left.

“I need to get back. I have some chicken thighs marinating for dinner,” Summer said, reaching up onto tiptoes and kissing my cheek.

“I can drive you. You don’t have to walk,” I assured her, but she shook her head.

“No, it’s a lovely day. The fresh air is good for us, and as much as I’d like a little extra time with you, you have work to do.”

For some reason, the urge to pout was almost overwhelming. “Fine,” I huffed.

“I’ll see you at home. Now you better go. All those cookies are going to be demolished.” She laughed, that beautiful sound that made my skin prickle.

“They better not be,” I grumbled as she pushed the stroller out the front door and down the sidewalk. I watched her until she turned the corner and was out of sight.

Would it be too much to ask her to put a tracking app on her phone? She could have our location at all times and vice versa. I just wanted to make sure she got home safe because I sure as hell couldn’t focus on work until I was certain. Would that be creepy and pushy? I really didn’t care, but I didn’t want to freak her out.

“Cole!” I shouted, turning back and striding into the garage. With my mate and son out of sight, I had one other objective.

Cookies.

Chapter 40

Emmett

For some reason, the work just kept piling up.

Ever since we had matched with Summer, I had been making a considerable effort to get home at a reasonable time. That was supposedly one of the few benefits of working for yourself: I could dictate my workload.

But, for some unfathomable reason, I kept being called into the office for last-minute late-night emergencies.

I was the one who was physically bonded to Summer, and yet it felt like I was the alpha who was away the most. It was completely nonsensical.

I frowned as I looked over the note on the file. “Jenn, why the hell couldn’t this wait until morning?” I asked, holding up the folder.

My assistant appeared in the doorway, a grimace on her face. “I’m sorry, Emmett, the client insisted.”

“I should be home right now,” I grumbled, pouring over a legal textbook. But apparently another client wanted to file an emergency custody motion, but it felt like a Hail Mary and not a smart move. Where did they even get the idea to do this?

“I’ll order us some Chinese food.” Jenn smiled brightly as she sat across from my desk, folder in hand. “We can have a little feast—spring rolls, wontons, that duck dish you love.”

I wasn’t feeling very smiley myself. I didn’t want to be here, eating takeout with my assistant. All I wanted was to be with my family. Milo was asleep half the time when I got home, and I hated losing out on time with him and Summer. He was only going to be a baby for so long. He was already starting to pull himself up. He would be a toddler in the blink of an eye, while I burned the midnight oil at the office. I needed a better system. One that didn’t involve more late nights than not.

I lasted an hour.

One hour of sitting across from Jenn while she hummed happily as we flicked through papers. She kept trying to engage me in idle chitchat about mundane things, like what was going on around town or her family’s drama. This would go a lot quicker if she would let me concentrate.

I pinched the bridge of my nose and made a decision. “Look, I’ll have to deal with this tomorrow. I need to get home,” I said, closing the book and standing.

Jenn rushed around the desk, a look of concern on her face. “You never used to mind late nights. Is everything okay, Emmett?”

“Everything is fine, I just want to be home with my family.”

Jenn grimaced. “Emmett…”

Her hand reached out, touching my chest as she stepped closer. The contact felt oily, dirty, unwanted.

Immediately, red flags started to wave.

She was close. Far too close. Her scent was floral, but not the sweet kind—the cloying, heavy kind, like soured fruit. It made my nose twitch, and my entire body wanted to shrink back from it.