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“Exactly.” He wiped flour off her cheek.

“You literally put that there,” she told him.

“I know.” He gave her a quick kiss.

Claire tried not to smile and failed.

The cookies finally came out of the oven and Claire immediately reached for one.

Noah stopped her. “They’re hot.”

“I know.”

“Claire.”

She took one anyway and burned her tongue. “Hot.”

“I said that.”

She chewed carefully. “Worth it.”

Noah shook his head. “I knew you were going to do that.”

Claire shrugged. “You still let me.”

“I’ve learned you don’t listen,” he said. Then he broke one open and let it cool for her.

Noah gave Biscuit another treat, and then they carried a plate of cookies into the living room. They started an episode of Gilmore Girls and Claire curled up beside Noah.

By the time the opening theme started, she had a warm cookie in one hand, her feet tucked beneath Noah’s leg, and her flowers visible on the kitchen counter.

CHAPTER 29

Balance

Claire sat at her desk attempting to reply to an email while Avery sat across from her yapping when a voice came from behind Avery.

“Claire?”

They both looked up. Victoria stood outside her office.

“Do you have a moment?”

Claire’s stomach tightened automatically. “Of course.”

Avery stood and smoothed her skirt. “If you’re being fired, I call dibs on your chair.”

“Thank you for the support.”

“That’s what friends are for.”

Claire carried her notebook into Victoria’s office and took the chair across from her desk. Victoria closed the door. That did not help.

Claire mentally reviewed every active project. Nothing was late. No clients had complained. The draft she submitted yesterday had been—

“You look worried,” Victoria said.

“I’m not.”