The next morning, after calling Elena to come by his place with Hailey, Alexander found himself pacing the living room, his mind restless.

"They’ll be here soon. What should I do next?" he wondered aloud, running a hand through his hair.

His gaze shifted to the kitchen. "Breakfast," he muttered, a sudden thought sparking. He strode into the kitchen, pulling out ingredients. Cooking wasn’t something he’d ever done for her—not even once. Maybe this gesture would make his plan work. A good pretense, he thought, was the key.

As he moved around the kitchen, his eyes kept darting toward the boiling pot on the stove. The scent of rosemary and...