Chapter Seven
Saint
I woke up before she did.
That wasn’t unusual for me. Years of early mornings and late nights had wired my body to stay half-alert even when I slept. What was different was the weight against my chest and the way my arm was draped protectively around someone I hadn’t planned on letting this close.
Belle lay curled into me, her hair fanned across my shoulder, and one bare leg hooked over mine like she’d claimed it sometime in the night and decided not to give it back. Her breathing was slow and even, deep in the kind of sleep that only came when exhaustion finally won.
The dogs were sprawled everywhere.
Salt lay stretched out at the foot of the bed like a rug with his ears twitching occasionally. Pepper was pressed against Belle’s side with his head on her pillow, snoring softly like he’d run a marathon in his dreams.
I didn’t move.
I just lay there and let myself feel it.
The quiet.
The warmth.
The simple, dangerous sense of rightness settling into my bones.
Last night hadn’t been planned. Not like that. I’d wanted to feed her, give her a place to breathe, maybe make her laugh. I hadn’t expected to claim her.
I didn’t regret it.
Not for a second.
But I also knew something she didn’t.
I knew about the loan shark and the debt.
And watching her keep working herself into the ground was starting to eat at me.
Belle stirred at four forty-five and shifted against me with a soft sound that went straight through my chest. She blinked a few times, disoriented, then her eyes focused on me. “Hi,” she murmured.
“Morning,” I said quietly.
She smiled, slow and sleepy, and tucked herself closer. “I didn’t dream it.”
“No,” I said. “You didn’t.”
Her fingers traced idle patterns on my chest, and I fought the urge to roll us over and start the day very differently.
Instead, I brushed my thumb along her jaw. “How do you feel?”
She considered. “Tired. But… good.”
Good.
I pressed a kiss to her forehead and carefully disentangled myself, ignoring Pepper’s disgruntled huff when the mattress shifted.
“I need to get going,” Belle mumbled.
“I know, doll,” I said. “I’m going to go start the coffee. Sleep for ten more minutes, and then I’ll drive you.”
She smiled and rolled onto her stomach, immediately half-asleep again.
I stood there for a second, watching her breathe, then turned and headed for the kitchen.
I moved quietly, not wanting to wake her. I knew it was only a few extra minutes of sleep, but I knew every minute counted for Belle right now. The house smelled faintly like sugar and her shampoo, a combination I hadn’t known I needed until now.
When I glanced out the window, the world was still asleep. Christmas lights across the street blinked lazily, and for once, they didn’t annoy me.
I leaned against the counter, mug warming my hands, and let my thoughts settle where they didn’t want to go.
I should tell her.
Every instinct I had said honesty mattered. That keeping this from her was a mistake waiting to happen. But timing mattered too, and Belle was fragile in a way she didn’t let anyone see.
She needed rest. Space. The chance to realize she wasn’t drowning anymore before I explained why.
Footsteps padded softly behind me.
“Smells good,” Belle said, her voice still rough with sleep.
I turned to find her already dressed, hair piled on top of her head in a messy knot that looked like she hadn’t overthought it and somehow made her even more dangerous to my focus.
“You hungry?” I asked.
“Starving,” she said, grabbing a mug and pouring herself coffee. “But I need to get to the bakery. I left it a mess last night because we were all too tired.”
I leaned against the counter, watching her move around her kitchen. “I’ll take you in.”
She glanced at me over the rim of her mug. “You don’t have to.”
“I know,” I said. “I want to. I’ll drop you off, then I’ll run and grab breakfast.”
That got a smile. “Okay. But if you’re getting breakfast, you better bring enough for Jessa and Owen. They’re opening with me.”
I huffed a laugh. “Noted. No one gets left out.”
“Good,” she said, satisfied.
I went to get dressed while she finished her coffee, and by the time I came back out, she was slipping on her boots. Salt and Pepper were already stationed by the door like they knew exactly what was happening.
“Everyone ready?” I asked.
Pepper wiggled. Salt sat.
“Guess that’s a yes,” Belle said.
We loaded up the truck with the dogs in the back seat, Belle beside me, and pulled out as the morning light crept over the town.
Belle rested her elbow on the door and watched out the window.
At the bakery, I walked her inside and flipped on the lights with her while she shrugged out of her coat.
“I’ll be back,” I said. “Don’t start without me.”
She smiled. “I don’t think you know the first thing about making gingerbread, Saint.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Yeah, you’re right, doll.”
Jessa and Owen showed up just as I was heading back out, both of them looking half-awake and curious.
“Morning,” Owen said. “You look suspiciously cheerful.”
“Breakfast is coming,” I replied.
That woke them up fast.
I took the dogs with me when I left. Pepper stuck his head out the window like it was the best day of his life, and Salt was steady and calm beside him.
I hit the café down the street and ordered enough breakfast sandwiches to feed an army. They had the best fluffy eggs, crispy bacon, sausage patties, melted cheese, all stacked on toasted brioche and wrapped up warm. I grabbed extra hash browns and a carrier of coffee just to be safe.
By the time I got back to Cookie Haven, the place already smelled like sweet sugar.
I set the bags on the counter, and Belle looked up like I’d delivered treasure.
“You’re a hero,” she said.
“I know,” I replied solemnly.
She laughed, leaned up on her toes, and pressed a soft kiss to my lips. “Thank you.”
Jessa immediately let out a loud whoop. “ABOUT TIME.”
I didn’t even look embarrassed.
I just smiled at Belle because honestly, as long as I got to kiss her, I was good.