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.

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

towel at me. "Big

have

me, exasperated. "Of course, you

suit pants, which was the least appropriate baking outfit I could have chosen. But, honestly, I didn't mind. If every day could look like this-messy,

***

go out. It had been a while since we'd done anything outside the estate, and Sarah

but I figured we could figure it out along the way. Something spontaneous.

called out as we headed toward

and down, an eyebrow raised. "Oh, so you're

the last bits of flour off my

strolled through the grand entrance hall, laughing about her latest kitchen escapade, when something caught my

in exactly the same spot, just outside

a frown

wrong?" Sarah asked, following

was here

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

I said, though I didn't fully believe it. I knew most of the people who came through here, either visitors or

not worry about it," I said, brushing it off, though I could feel my guard rising. "Probably

Expert," she teased, nudging me as we headed out. But I couldn't help

vehicle was nowhere in sight. I tried to relax, to focus on making the

something about it gnawed at me. It was like a

where you want to go?" I asked her as I drove, trying to lighten the mood.

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

and I tried my best to shake

Someone lost or visiting family. But I couldn't

main road. The aroma of garlic and herbs greeted us as we entered, and I finally

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

a chuckle. "Can't get

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

I said, squeezing her hand.

the moment. We talked about everything and nothing, making silly bets on how many breadsticks we could eat, and laughing about the chaos we'd created in the kitchen

do you

smirking. "Are you really going