“Hi.” She smiles shyly, then extends a platter toward me. “Sarah told me you like chocolate chip cookies.”
I stare at the plate of cookies, my eyebrows arching even higher. “Did you make these?”
“I did. Hot out of the oven. Try one.” She smiles. “Breakfast of champions.”
I open the door wider. “You…you want some coffee?” There’s a lump in my throat the size of my fist. I wasn’t expecting Rae, and I definitely wasn’t expecting kindness.
She steps inside, ducking her head in a quick nod. “I’d love some.”
Rae looks softer with her hair down. It flows around her face in thick, brown locks, making the spattering of freckles on her nose stand out a bit more. She smiles at me, a hopeful stare in her eyes. When she looks at me like this, that scar on her eyebrow doesn’t look like a flaw at all. It adds to everything I already like about her face.
“I had to go to the grocery store last night to get some supplies for the house, so I figured I’d get a baking sheet, too. Sarah let me borrow her mixer.”
She slides the plate of cookies onto my rickety kitchen table and accepts the coffee I give her with a smile on her perfect, pouty lips.
“Oh!” She reaches into her purse. “And this is from Roman.” She pulls out a messy picture with a bunch of colorful scribbles on it. “He says thanks for making his bed.”
My heart constricts. That lump in my throat doubles in size, and I do my best to clear it. “Thank you.”
Rae takes a sip of coffee, then lifts her eyes up to mine. “Look, Benji, I know we got off on the wrong foot. I didn’t know Harold had told you he’d leave you the business.”
I shrug. “You paid for it. Bought it fair and square.”
“Still,” she says, taking a cookie off the platter and tearing it open. A big, melted glob of chocolate droops out, and she licks it before it falls to the ground. I follow the motion, my eyes lingering on her tongue. Is it possible to be jealous of a chocolate chip?
Rae grins at me, nodding to the platter. “It’s a peace offering. Eat one. They aren’t poisoned. See?” She takes a big bite, smiling at me with chocolate-covered teeth.
I chuckle, grabbing a cookie off the platter. “Fine. Thank you. And tell Roman thanks for the picture.” I pop the cookie in my mouth and grab the scribbled drawing, sticking it to the fridge with a magnet right next to faded drawings that Gabby and Bradley gave me.
Rae’s eyes shine. A soft smile plays over her lips, and the morning sun streams through the window to hit her face in just the right way. She looks ethereal. Like a goddess.
She sticks her hand out toward me, drilling those brown eyes into my blues. “Truce?”
I hesitate.
Even though she brought me cookies. Even though I’ve seen another side of her. Even though I can tell she loves Roman with all her heart.
Still, I pause.
I’m betraying Sawyer. I know I am. I promised him I’d drive her out of town. I told him I’d be on his side no matter what. I agreed that Rae was the devil in figure-hugging jeans. Sawyer’s my best friend, and he doesn’t want to be anywhere near Rae.
But I saw a different side of her last night. Even this morning, I can tell she’s being sincere. She didn’t bring me something she bought. She made these cookies. Spent time baking them. Listened to Sarah when she said they were my favorites.
I lift my palm up to Rae’s, shaking it firmly. “Truce.”
My heart thumps. Her palm is soft against mine. Small. Warm.
Being here with Rae doesn’t feel like a betrayal. It feels right. She doesn’t look out of place or uncomfortable. A soft smile plays over her lips, and her eyes flick back to the cookies.
“Shall we seal our truce with chocolate chip cookies?”
I grin, picking up another cookie from the pile. “Let’s.”
We finish our coffee, and then head outside. Rae offers to help me clear twigs from the lawn so I can mow it, and then I watch her weed the overgrown garden beds that run along the front of the house. I mow the lawn, stealing a glance at her every time I turn the mower in her direction.
When we’re done, Rae plants her hands on her hips and grins at me. “Much better. Might need to enlist you to mow our lawn, too.”
“Don’t push your luck,” I growl, even though I really wouldn’t mind.
Rae laughs, and the sound rattles against my hardened heart. A hairline fracture forms, and I can feel her driving a wedge into it, prying it open.
Standing in the sunshine with her feels good. Too good. We stare at each other for a long moment until she takes a deep breath and gestures toward the road.
“I should go.”
My heart twinges, but I hide it. “Sure.”
“See you Monday?”
“Bright and early.”
Rae starts walking away but pauses, turning. “Would you mind bringing that plate to the garage when you’re done with the cookies? We don’t have very many dishes at the house.”
I grin, nodding. “I thought you came from old money. Can’t you afford a few plates?”
Rae’s smile fades ever so slightly, but she forces it back up again. “Probably, yeah.”
Waving, she turns away from me. I watch her walk down the road until she disappears, and I feel more confused than ever.
Standing on my freshly mowed and weeded front lawn, I realize I have no idea who Rae Montgomery really is.
10
Rae
I don’t expect Benji to actually show up to work holding my plate, yet here he is, waving the plate back and forth as he enters the office. He holds it in both hands, placing it down on the desk with a bow.
“As requested, madam.” A grin tugs at his lips.
I fight a smile. I like when he’s playful, but I don’t want
