The next morning, Kate walked down the stairs. She could hear noises coming from the kitchen. She peeked in and found Bastien trying to cook—one-handed.

—“Damn it…”

—“Need help?” —Kate’s voice made Bastien freeze, though he didn’t turn to face her.

—“What are you doing here? I told Lucca to let you know you didn’t have to come down anymore… ah—”

—“Let me help. He said it wasn’t necessary if I didn’t want to, but today… I wanted to.” —Kate took the spoon from his hand, the one he was using to stir the eggs, and looked into those stunning amber eyes—. “Sit down. I’ll finish.”

—“What made you change your mind? Yesterday, you hated me.”

—“I still hate you. I’m just hungry.”

Bastien smiled at her remark. Deep down, he knew—Kate was beginning to soften.

She made breakfast. Even baked her cookies.

When Bastien reached for one, Kate slapped his hand.

—“Wait. They’re hot.”

—“But they smell amazing.”

—“I know. I made them,” —she said proudly.

Kate walked to the fridge for milk, and Bastien took the chance to sneak a bite of a cookie. It was, indeed, hot—and he began fanning his mouth.

—“You’re stubborn. I told you they were hot.”

Kate blew on his mouth, not realizing how close they had gotten. She could feel his breath. She looked into those amber eyes… and quickly stepped back. She poured a glass of cold milk and handed it to him.

—“Here. This’ll help.”

Bastien drank it and swallowed the bite.

—“It’s delicious.”

—“Of course. I made them.”

He took another cookie, smiling wistfully. He brought it to his lips, savoring every bite. Then he took another sip of milk, grabbed a third cookie, dipped it into the glass… and ate it.

Kate stared at him.

That was exactly how her childhood friend used to eat her cookies.

—“Where did you learn to eat them like that?”

—“A lot of people do.”

Kate looked down and sipped her milk.

—“How’s your hand?”

—“Better.”

—“Only idiots punch walls, you know that?”

—“Sorry. You push me to the edge sometimes.”

—“You could’ve hit me. Would’ve hurt less.”

Bastien raised his gaze, startled.

—“I would never hurt you, Kate. I’d never raise a hand against you.”

At that moment, Lucca walked in and saw the cookies.

—“Freshly baked cookies!!”

He reached for one, and Bastien slapped his hand.

—“They’re mine!”

—“What do you mean yours? I made them!” —Kate grabbed one and handed it to Lucca—. “Here, Lucca. Eat.”

Lucca devoured it.

—“Mmm… they’re amazing.”

—“I know. I made them. And everything I make… I make well.”

—“So humble,” —Lucca joked.

Kate laughed for the first time since she’d been taken. Bastien looked at her with pure adoration. While she smiled, so did he. Kate turned and saw him smiling too—he had the sweetest smile she had ever seen. She cleared her throat.

—“Well… I’m off. I finished breakfast. Excuse me.”

—“Where are you going?”

—“To my room.”

—“The house is yours. You can walk around. No need to lock yourself away in your room.”

—“Last time I walked around, someone almost assaulted me. I don’t feel like wandering.”

—“No one will enter again. I gave strict orders.”

—“I’ll think about it.”

Kate left, and Lucca took the opportunity to snatch another cookie.

—“Hey! Drop that! It’s mine!”

—“Nope!” —Lucca ran out of the kitchen with a cookie in his mouth.

Bastien looked down at the bowl of cookies, running his finger gently over them.

—“I never thought I’d get to eat these again…”