Delilah's Pov

The smell of burnt food filled the kitchen like smoke from a battlefield. Verret and I just stood there, staring at the blackened pan before bursting into helpless laughter. It felt good to laugh like that after so long.

He looked at me, his eyes crinkling at the corners, and said, "So, what are we going to do now, Chef?"

I rolled my eyes and tried to catch my breath between giggles. "I don't know, maybe cry? Or start over?"

He tilted his head, still smiling. "Start over, then. I've got the strength."

His words made something flutter in my chest. I shouldn't feel this way, not with...