250

MAXINE

“Don’t cut yourself,” I warned, watching as he chopped through a carrot. He was more confident now. “I’m not sure how good I am at first aid.”

“I’ve handled worse,” he replied. “And besides, I’ve got this under control.”

I found myself smiling again. It was nice, seeing him like this. He looked less like a ruling Alpha and more like just a guy trying to impress someone. He looked almost normal.

He moved on to the herbs next, picking up a bunch of parsley. He sniffed it before beginning to chop it into bits. I watched as his hands moved and I was struck by the thought of how gentle those same hands could be. The memory of him holding me as I cried was still fresh in my mind. I remembered how his fingers brushed against my skin.

I shook the thought away, choosing to focus on now. “You’re doing great,” I said, surprising myself with how much I meant it.

He looked up, a genuine smile crossing his face. “Thanks,” he said.

He continued to slice, and dice. His attention was fully on t