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 watching

a kitchen towel at me. "Big help you

but I have people for

exasperated. "Of

She got to work, and we ended up with flour everywhere, including on my suit pants, which was the least appropriate baking outfit I could have chosen. But, honestly, I didn't mind.

***

to go out. It had been a while since we'd

we'd go, but I figured we could figure it out along the

grab my jacket," I called out as we headed toward the

looked me up and down, an eyebrow raised. "Oh, so you're not going out looking like a flour-dusted

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

entrance hall, laughing about her latest kitchen escapade, when

that same car from yesterday. Parked in exactly the same spot, just

frown settling

Sarah asked, following my

car... It was here yesterday

get a better look. "Maybe it's

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

I said, brushing it off, though I could

Mr. Security Expert," she teased, nudging me as we headed out. But I couldn't help but glance over

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

was like a shadow

go?" I asked her as I drove, trying to lighten the mood. "You're

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

and I tried my best to shake off

I couldn't quite rid myself of

at the restaurant, a cozy little spot tucked away from the main road. The aroma of garlic and

were seated, Sarah glanced at me, her eyes bright with amusement.

"Can't get anything past

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

right," I said, squeezing her hand. "Just me

moment. We talked about everything and nothing, making silly bets on how many

looked around, eyes sparkling with mischief. "So, how much do you want to bet I can charm the chef into giving us free

raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Are