Chapter 23
Dahlia
I stop at the sound of laughter coming from the kitchen, but it’s too late. Marco’s seated at the table and already spotted me. His grin widens as he takes me in.
“What the hell happened to you, kid?”
I open my mouth, ready to ask him about getting supplies for the greenhouse, but I stop myself. There’s something about that place that feels like mine, and I’m not ready to share it yet.
He seems to read my thoughts and lets it go, pulling out the chair beside him. “Come help me out. She’s been bleeding me dry for the last hour.”
The blonde woman across from him laughs, rolling her eyes as she stands and holds out her hand. “Hi, we didn’t really get to meet at breakfast. I’m Becca. It’s nice to meet you.”
I recognize her now as Xander’s chef, but she looks different like this. Relaxed. Sleeves rolled up past her elbows, apron tossed over the back of her chair. There’s a warmth to her that makes it easy to smile back, even through the awkwardness, as I take her hand.
“I’m Dahlia,” I say automatically.
Becca laughs, giving my fingers a light squeeze. “Yeah, I know. Xander held an hour-long meeting telling us all about you.”
Heat creeps up my neck, but it fades just as fast at the ridiculous image of Xander standing in front of everyone explaining how he married his unconscious wife.
“Hmm. I bet he left a few parts out.”
“I doubt it. Xander’s nothing if not honest. Probably too honest,” she says, still smiling.
“Now, stop that. We’re supposed to be helping him,” another voice chimes in. The housekeeper walks in, carrying a large tray, her tone too kind to sound like a real scolding.
The smell hits me first, grilled cheese sandwiches, buttery and warm. My stomach growls loud enough to make all three of them laugh.
Marco taps the back of the chair again. “You coming or what?”
“Yeah…sure.” I slide into the seat, the tension in my shoulders easing when I see how relaxed everyone looks.
Mrs. Price sets a plate in front of me. “Glad to see you’re finally well enough to leave your room.”
We both know hiding in there had nothing to do with being hurt, but she’s kind enough not to say it. Instead, she slides another plate my way, this one piled with cookies. “Eat up. You’re still too skinny.”
I do as I’m told, taking a bite of the sandwich. Melted cheese and toasted bread hit my tongue, and a hum escapes before I can stop it. All three of them are staring, so I cover my mouth and mumble, “It’s good.”
“Of course it is, dear.” She gives me a satisfied smile.
Becca explains that Mrs. Price usually handles lunch because she’s only around in the mornings to pack meals for Xander.
“Pack?” I ask, lifting a brow.
“Oh, he’s not normally here much,” Becca says. “He stays in the apartment building beside his office. But this house is closer to mine, and I like this kitchen way better. So I cook his meals for the day here and drop them off in the morning.”
It doesn’t line up with anything I know about Xander. I can’t go two hours without running into him or one of his people wandering through the halls. “He never leaves though?”
Becca grins, talking around a bite of her sandwich. “And it’s been so freaking nice not to have to go to the city each morning.”
I blink, trying to make sense of it. So I’m not the only one stuck here after all. “But why?”
Marco leans back in his chair and gives me a look that says I should already know the answer. “Because there’s no way he’s letting his new wife out of his sight.”
“We barely know each other.”
“Oh, honey. You’ve got a lot to learn about the Everette brothers.” Mrs. Price smiles in that knowing way.
I take another bite, deciding I don’t even want to know what that means. In my opinion, it’s absolutely better if Xander stays a mystery. The less I know about him, the better.
“So,” I say, changing the subject, “does Xander know you guys are in here?”
All three of them tilt their heads at the same time, which is a little unsettling. Becca’s the one who answers. “Why wouldn’t he?”
I gesture toward the table covered in food, cards, and laughter. “You know…most bosses don’t let their employees hang around playing games in their kitchen. Especially not that boss.”
Becca sets her sandwich down, watching me with something close to disappointment. “You really do have a bad impression of him, don’t you? You should cut him some slack.”
“Enough nagging her. He’s a grown man. He can figure out how to woo her on his own,” Marco says, giving her shoulder a playful shove.
“Woo?” I echo, eyes narrowing.
Becca doesn’t even blink. “You know how to play Uno?”
“Sorry, what?”
Marco holds up a colorful deck like it’s self-explanatory. “Uno.”
“Well… yeah, I’ve played it before,” I say, still trying to process the whole wooing comment, when a small boy barrels into the room and throws himself at Marco.
“Uncle Marco! You said you’d wait for me!”
Marco grunts at the impact, then scoops the kid up like it’s nothing, settling him on the chair between him and Becca. Whatever scary, mafia vibe he usually gives off disappears completely as he raises both hands in surrender. “We haven’t started.”
“You promise?” the boy asks, his words stretching with a lisp.
“Promise.” Marco raises both hands like he’s swearing an oath, eyes wide in mock fear.
Becca licks her thumb and leans over, wiping a smear of something from his cheek. He groans and squirms away.
“Mom! Stop!”
His dark hair falls into his eyes, and for a second, something tightens under my ribs, but before the thought can settle, he turns that same big-eyed curiosity on me.
“Who are you?”
“I’m Dahlia.” I smile as he reaches out to snag a cookie from the plate, and Marco wordlessly slides it closer for him.
The kid’s grin lights up his whole face. He stuffs the cookie in his mouth before his mom can say a word, chewing as fast as he can. Then he looks at me again, eyes sparkling. “You’re so pretty. No wonder he married you.”
I choke on a laugh. “Thank you. And who might you be?”
Becca shakes her head, though there’s amusement in her voice.
“This rascal’s name is Toby. Xander lets him stay here with me when I can’t find childcare.
He really saved me, because I was out of options.
Most employers don’t let you bring your kids to work.
” She nods toward the room he came from.
“Let alone give them a whole playroom full of toys.”
Toby perks up. “Mr. Xander bought me a race car set! It’s super fast. He said if I win a race, I can pick dessert.”
Becca laughs. “That’s because he wants you to stop begging for ice cream every morning.”
“But he still gave me ice cream,” Toby says, puffing his chest with pride. “He says winners get treats. He’s the coolest grown-up ever.”
I grin, resting my chin on my hand. “Sounds like you’ve got him wrapped around your finger.”
Toby nods hard, crumbs flying. “Yup. You too. He likes you. He talks funny when you’re around.”
Becca hides a smile behind her hand, and Marco snorts into his drink. My face heats immediately.
Toby beams, completely unaware of the damage. “He’s gonna marry you forever.”
I blink. “That’s…one way to put it.”
I pause, trying to reconcile the Xander they describe with the man I know. My thumb traces the letters on my ring finger as my thoughts spin in circles, each one contradicting the last.
That night at the bar, when everything felt like it was falling apart, he’d appeared out of nowhere.
Scared off that scumbag. His breath had been warm against my ear as he promised me things I never thought I could have.
It hadn’t just been sex. He made me feel powerful.
Untouchable. Like with him beside me, I could take whatever I wanted and never feel ashamed of it.
And he kept his word. He touched me like I was something to be worshipped. Held me close. Whispered against my skin. He was strong and in control, but somehow, he made me feel the same.
I’d planned to keep that night forever. A reminder that I could still want things, still reach for something more.
Which is why seeing him with Elliot, both of them standing over what they thought was my unconscious body, hit like a punch to the chest. All the shame he’d helped me forget came flooding back. I keep trusting the wrong people.
Toby tugs on his mother’s shirt, and Becca turns to tickle him.
His giggles fill the room, high and bright, showing off a missing tooth as he squirms in her arms. He looks at her with such complete trust that it hurts to watch.
That kind of love doesn’t come easy. It’s earned by never letting someone down.
My chest squeezes tight. This boy will never be abandoned.
He’ll never have to fend for himself. Xander made that possible.
The same man who tattooed his name on my finger, married me while I was unconscious, and locked me in this house is the same man who made it possible for this boy to be with his mom.
I may not know much about rich people, but I know this isn’t normal. Most employers want their staff invisible, not laughing in their kitchen.
Some of the weight in my chest eases. Maybe I didn’t misjudge him completely. Maybe, for a few brief hours that night, I saw the man he really was. I shove down the ache that follows, the reminder that whoever he was then isn’t the man who married me.
“We ready?” Marco asks, laying down a card in front of me and dealing seven to each of us.
Toby studies his cards like a tiny general planning a war. Mrs. Price presses a hand to her chest and groans when she has to pick up four more.
Becca laughs. “He’s been impossible since Mr. Xander taught him how to play.”
“He’s the best,” Toby says proudly, then turns to me with a grin. “You know, Mr. Xander, he watches you a lot.”
My fingers freeze on my cards. “Oh, does he?”
Toby nods with complete confidence. “Yup. I saw him looking at you this morning. He was smiling.”
Marco snorts. “Kid’s got a gift for observation.”
“Play your card,” Becca says, still laughing.
Toby slaps down a red four. “Uno!”
“Already?” I say, shaking my head. “You’re cheating.”
“I’m just good. Mr. Xander says hard work always wins.”
It doesn’t take long for Toby to win again. When he does, Becca leans toward me. “I forgot to warn you. He’s pretty good at this game.”
“Good? He’s a menace.” I laugh, tossing my cards down. “I’m just glad we aren’t betting.”
Toby yawns, eyelids drooping. “If we were, I’d buy Mr. Xander more cookies. He really likes cookies.”
Becca scoops him up with a smile. “Time for a nap, champ.”
He rests his head on her shoulder and mumbles, “He likes her too.”
Marco chokes on a laugh, and I’m left staring, wishing I hadn’t heard him so clearly.
I stare after them as they disappear from the room.
“You know, everyone here has a story like that.” Marco’s voice is casual as he gathers the cards.
“Xander’s helped each of us in some way.
We all care about him, which is why it’s been hard watching him bury himself in work.
So if it feels like people are pushing him on you, that’s why.
We’d all given up on him ever settling down.
The man never left his city office. Then he shows up with you, and suddenly, he’s eating breakfast in the kitchen.
” He shakes his head, smiling like he still can’t believe it. “It’s romantic, really.”
“Romantic?” I look down at my hand. “If this is his idea of romantic, he’s really bad at it.”
Mrs. Price and Marco share a look before she smiles. “That’s the spirit. Don’t let him off too easily.”
Marco grins. “Maybe suggest a matching tattoo. Fair’s fair.”
Mrs. Price laughs. “She can do better than that. Ask for something big. You know he’s rich, right? You should at least get an island out of this.”
I inhale so sharply it squeaks. “An island?”
“You really don’t know who you’ve caught,” she says, amused.
“I think you’ve got that backwards.” My brows pull together. “Pretty sure I’m the one who’s been caught.”
Mrs. Price snorts. “He’d like you to believe that.”
Long after I head back to my room, Toby’s sleepy voice echoes in my head.
He likes you.