Winning Back His Ex's Wife's Broken Heart by Hayley

Chapter 78

Richard's

pov

The morning started off as one of those rare, lazy days. I'd woken up with Sarah curled up beside me, her hair fanning across the pillow in wild waves.

The sun peeked through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. Everything seemed perfect. Calm. Until I tried to sneak out of bed.

"Where do you think you're going?" Her voice was muffled, half-asleep, but she caught me.

"Thought I'd get us coffee." I grinned, still only halfway off the bed.

She lifted her head, one eye open and suspicious. "Don't think I didn't notice you were avoiding the dishes last night. You don't get coffee privileges till you do them." I held up my hands in surrender. "Fine, fine. Dishes first, coffee later."

On my way to the kitchen, I passed by the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the estate. Everything looked normal-guards in their usual spots, the gates secured.

Just another day, right? But I still felt an odd twinge, like there was something I was missing.

I shook it off and got to work on the sink full of dishes. I'd just started rinsing when Sarah appeared, looking far too smug.

"Oh, did the big CEO forget how to scrub a plate?" She teased, taking a mug down from the cabinet.

"Hey, I know my way around a sponge, thank you very much."

She leaned against the counter, watching me fumble with the sponge. "Right. Looks like you're scrubbing a priceless piece of art."

I scoffed, spraying water everywhere, just to watch her jump back. "See? Totally a pro."

We laughed, and I felt a pang of something warm. This was the side of Sarah I loved most-the easygoing, playful banter that reminded me of why we worked so well together.

Finally, after wrestling the last plate into submission, I dried my hands, feeling pretty pleased with myself. "Coffee now?"

She handed me the mug she'd already filled, rolling her eyes. "You're lucky I love you."

Our lazy morning drifted into the afternoon. Sarah decided she wanted to bake something.

Watching her try to figure out where anything in my kitchen was stored became a whole other form of entertainment. "Do you know where the measuring cups are?" she asked, spinning in place as if they might appear out of thin air.

lounging against the counter. "I might. But I'm enjoying

kitchen towel at me. "Big help you are. Isn't this

I have people

exasperated. "Of course, you

we ended up with flour everywhere, including on my suit pants, which was the

***

go out. It had been a while since

sure where we'd go, but I figured we

jacket," I called out as we headed

"Oh, so

the last bits of flour off my jacket.

latest kitchen escapade, when something caught my

Parked in exactly the

paused, a frown settling over my

wrong?" Sarah asked,

car... It was here

closer to get a better look. "Maybe it's just a coincidence. Someone

people who came through

it off, though

headed out. But I couldn't help but

finally got into the car and drove off, the strange vehicle was nowhere in sight. I tried to relax, to focus on making the night

me. It was like a shadow creeping just

on where you want to go?" I asked her as I drove, trying to lighten the mood. "You're the navigator for

air around us. "How about that little Italian place we passed the

best to shake off the lingering thoughts about the car. It was probably

couldn't quite rid myself of the feeling that it

cozy little spot tucked away from the main road. The aroma of garlic and herbs greeted us as we entered, and I finally started to feel

were seated, Sarah glanced at me, her eyes bright with amusement. "You're still thinking about

forced a chuckle. "Can't get anything past you, can

table to take my hand. "Hey, I get it. You're cautious. But it's probably nothing,

you're right," I said, squeezing her

moment. We talked about everything and nothing, making silly bets on how many breadsticks we could eat, and

looked around, eyes sparkling with mischief. "So, how much do you want

an eyebrow, smirking. "Are you really