Page 33 of Seal the Deal

“Perfect,” he echoes. But he doesn’t seem annoyed by the interruption. In fact, there’s warmth in his eyes as he turns toward the kids.

“Mama!” Meadow’s voice rings out as she runs into the kitchen, wrapping her arms around my legs. “We’re back!”

I bend down to scoop her up, her little arms squeezing tight around my neck. “Hey, honey bee. Did you have fun?”

She nods eagerly, catching sight of Jake over my shoulder. “Hi, Jake!” She wriggles out of my grasp, rushing over to him.

Jake crouches down, giving her a huge smile. “Hey, Princess. You’ve got perfect timing—cookies are almostready.”

Noah steps forward, eyeing Jake with a mix of curiosity and familiarity. “Did you make donuts, too?”

Jake chuckles, reaching out to ruffle Noah’s hair. “Not this time, buddy. But we did make some awesome cookies.”

After Nina leaves, the next half hour becomes a whirl of flour, sugar, and laughter. Jake is amazing with them—patient, playful, completely present. At one point, Meadow ends up with flour all over her, and Jake laughs along with her, gently wiping it off with a kitchen towel. It’s a simple gesture, but the tenderness in it makes my heart swell.

Watching him with my kids feels almost too natural, as if he’s always been here.Stop it, Charlie. This is just baking.

Eventually, we gather around the table to sample our creations.

“This is the best cookie ever!” Noah announces, mouth full of chocolate chips.

Jake takes a bite of his own. “I agree, bud. Your mom’s a pretty great baker.”

I feel heat rush up my neck and quickly take a sip of my wine to hide it. “Thanks. But you did most of the work.”

Jake raises an eyebrow, the dimple in his cheek appearing. “Pretty sure you didn’t let me do anything more complicated than measuring.”

“Someone had to keep you and your lack of folding skills in check,” I joke, and he laughs, the sound warm and full of genuine happiness.

After the cookies are devoured and the kids start to get sleepy, I take them upstairs, tucking them in with promises of more baking adventures. When I return, Jake’s wiping down the counters, looking so at home it hits me like a punch.This is dangerous territory, Charlie.

“Thanks for helping out,” I say, leaning against the doorframe, trying to steady the strange mix of contentment and longing building in me.

“Anytime,” he replies, meeting my eyes. “This was fun. We should do it again.”

I nod, feeling the tension spark again now that we’re alone. “Yeah, we should… if you can handle the chaos.”

He laughs, tossing the cloth in the sink. “Meadow and Noah are adorable. I’d be happy to hang out with them anytime.”

His words wash over me, but I control the urge to climb this man like a tree. We stand there, eyes locked like we’re both weighing the risks, deciding if we’re ready to cross whatever line we’re toeing.

But then he blinks, breaking the moment with a soft, bittersweet smile. “I should go. Gotta be ready for the event tomorrow.”

I nod, feeling a pang of disappointment. “Yeah, of course. We’ll see you there.”

“You better,” he says, the corner of his mouth curling up.

He grabs his jacket and walks to the door, but he pauses while opening it. “For the record, you’re an amazing mom, Charlie. I mean it.”

There’s something about Jake saying that to me without any hesitation that has me swallowing hard. He knew who I was and sees exactly who I am now. Somehow, he bridges both versions of me, filling the gap with a warmth I haven’t felt in years. Maybe not since him.

“Thanks,” I say softly, unsure if I can say more without getting weird and emotional.

He gives me one last, lingering look before heading out, leaving me standing there with my spinning thoughts.

While tidying up, I find his cap on the floor by the dining table. I pick it up, feeling the worn fabric between my fingers. It looks identical to the one he used to wear at camp.Don’t smell it. Don’t be a fucking psychopath, Charlie.

I take it upstairs with me and place it on my dresser. Once I’m in bed, I settle under the covers, but my thoughts keep drifting back to Jake. I grab my phone from the nightstand, intending to check the time, but my fingers hesitate.

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