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.

against the counter. "I might. But I'm enjoying watching you

me. "Big help you are. Isn't this your

have people

me, exasperated. "Of course,

which was the least appropriate baking outfit I could have chosen.

***

since we'd done anything outside

we'd go, but I figured we could figure

my jacket," I called out as we headed

and down, an eyebrow raised. "Oh, so you're not going out

brushing the last bits of flour off my jacket. "Gotta

laughing about her latest kitchen escapade,

from yesterday. Parked in exactly the same spot, just outside

frown settling over my

wrong?" Sarah asked, following my

was here

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

of the people who

about it," I said, brushing it off, though I could feel my guard

out. But I couldn't help but glance over my shoulder one

the car and drove off, the strange vehicle was nowhere in sight. I tried to

at me. It was like a shadow

as I drove, trying to

if the answer might appear in the air around us. "How about that little Italian place we passed

shake off the

a one-off. Someone lost or visiting family. But I couldn't quite rid myself of the feeling that it was

from the main road. The aroma of garlic and herbs greeted us as we entered, and I finally started to feel myself

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

chuckle. "Can't get anything past

hand. "Hey, I get it. You're cautious. But it's probably

squeezing

I needed-a chance to just unwind and be in the moment. We talked about everything and nothing, making silly bets on how many breadsticks we could eat, and laughing about the

mischief. "So, how much do you want to

smirking. "Are you