Page 25 of His Surrender

“My roommates appreciated it.”

“They did?”

“Oh, absolutely. They conveniently always had somewhere to be whenever it was their turn to cook.”

“I’ve heard that’s a common problem.”

She grins. “You’ve had roommates.”

“In college.”

“Were you the one who never cooked?”

“I was the one who ordered pizza.”

She laughs again, shaking her head. “Somehow, that doesn’t surprise me.”

For a few minutes, the only sounds in the room are forks against plates and the gentle hum of Liana’s swing.

It’s … nice. Comfortable.

Not something I’m used to.

Out of the corner of my eye, I watch Aubrey cut into her pancakes without the slightest bit of self-consciousness. She eats because she’s hungry, not because she’s worried about appearances.

It’s strangely refreshing.

I’m used to business dinners where women pick at salads before insisting they’re full after three bites.

Aubrey, on the other hand, pours another drizzle of syrup over her pancakes and happily takes another bite.

The corner of my mouth twitches.

She catches me looking. “What?”

“Hmm?”

“You smiled,” she says with her mouth full.

“I did?”

She swallows. “You definitely did.”

“I was just …” I shake my head. “Nothing.”

She narrows her eyes playfully. “I don’t believe you.”

As she talks, a tiny drop of syrup clings to the corner of her mouth.

Without meaning to, my attention catches there. Her lips are full. Soft-looking.

I force my gaze back to my plate before she notices.

Get it together, Ledger.

She’s sitting in your kitchen because she agreed to help raise your daughter. Not because she’s someone you should be looking at.

This is Aubrey Cooper here, Noah’s little sister. You can’t be noticing her lips.