The warm aroma of garlic and sizzling onions drifted through the kitchen, wrapping Amelia in a sense of comfort she hadn’t realized she craved. She leaned against the counter, arms crossed, watching Ethan move with effortless precision. He chopped vegetables with a rhythm that was almost hypnotic, occasionally glancing her way, a subtle, almost mischievous smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
“Are you going to help, or just stand there looking concerned?” he asked, voice teasing, though his eyes held an intensity that made her heart skip.
Amelia flushed. “Concerned? About what?”
He raised an eyebrow, not missing a beat as he added the vegetables to a sizzling pan. “About whether you survive my cooking. It’s been known to be… unpredictable.”
She chuckled softly, the sound feeling st
