CHAPTER 117: SHOWER (1)

Nick’s POV

As per Wendy’s tip, I bought donuts—two of every flavor, just to be safe. I had no idea which kind Georgia would like, but I wasn’t about to risk disappointing her.

I couldn’t ask Wendy since she left as soon as she gave me her cart full of cleaning supplies while I was waiting at the cashier.

When she finally reappeared, I was done loading six boxes of donuts into the car, and her frown hit me like a punch. "Where have you been?" I asked, more sharply than I intended.

"ATM," she sighed. "I was going to withdraw from the house funds, but the account’s empty. Georgia must have forgotten to transfer, since she was busy with her wedding and we weren’t at home anyway." Her voice trailed off. But her eyes—they told me something else. Something that didn’t add up.

I bit my tongue. Pushing her now wouldn’t get me answers.

Back at the house, the living room was empty. Georgia and Katie’s things—gone. The crayons, the coloring books, her tiny laughter—all missing.

"They’re probably in Katie’s room. It’s her Bedtime," Wendy said when she caught me searching, like she could read the tightness in my chest.

I exhaled and focused on my task. "I’ll replace the faucets and pipes first. They need to dry overnight."

"Alright. I’ll unpack these, then head home. Tell Georgia I left. I’ll lock the front—you take the back," she instructed.

I gave her a nod and threw myself into the work, replacing fixtures with a soldier’s precision. My phone cut through the silence. Oliver.

[Monday. Don’t forget your administrative hearing,] he reminded.

It’s Friday today. I’ve got two days.

But what the hell was there to prepare for? I already knew my answer. I’d plead guilty. No excuses. I did what I did, and I didn’t regret a damn thing. End of discussion.

There was still time, so I headed to the basement to replace the doorknob. My phone buzzed again.

Liam.

A call from him this late or Vicky never meant anything good. If it wasn’t urgent, they’d just text.

[Father wants to see you this Sunday. Dinner. Good luck, bro,] Liam said flatly before hanging up.

I didn’t need him to spell it out. I already knew what was coming. Father’s disappointment. His endless reminders of what I lost—my captain’s license, my career, my reputation. A year free of David Lewis’s shadow, and still, my failures stained me.

But this time, I had something to say to him, too. And I hoped—God, I hoped—it would be enough to make him proud again, even if just for a fleeting second.

I finished every last replacement on my list, grabbed the donut box Wendy swore Georgia would love, and headed upstairs. She hadn’t come down yet.

Katie’s door was cracked open. I peeked inside and caught Georgia gently patting Katie’s back, her voice a low hum of comfort.

She glanced up at me, her eyes locking with mine. "I’ll be right there in a minute," she whispered.

I didn’t know where to wait for her, but her bedroom door was slightly open, almost like an invitation. Inside, I noticed a neatly folded stack of bedsheets and pillowcases on the edge of the bed.

I set the donut box down on the dresser, rolled my sleeves up, and changed the linens myself.

The room carried a faint trace of her—soft, floral, familiar. But what struck me more was the thin film of dust clinging to the furniture, a quiet reminder of how long she’d been gone.

My hands moved before I could stop myself. I grabbed the supplies Wendy had left and began wiping, dusting, straightening—restoring order to a room that deserved her presence.

I lost track of time. Every motion was a way to keep myself composed, to keep from drowning in thoughts of her. But exhaustion finally caught me. Muscles heavy, I sank onto the freshly made bed, letting my body melt into it. Just a moment, I told myself. Just a minute of rest.

The moment I closed my eyes, sleep pulled me under.

And then it was there—sweet, warm, and intoxicating. The scent of hot chocolate and sugar, donuts fresh from the box. It wrapped around me like a tether, dragging me awake... and I knew before I even opened my eyes that she was near.

A smile tugged at my lips the second my eyes landed on her. She was curled up on the small loveseat by the wall, a book in one hand, a donut in the other, with a cup of steaming hot chocolate resting on the side table. She looked... soft, tempting, like the embodiment of comfort and desire all in one frame.

"You’re back..." The words slipped out, my voice rough from sleep, catching her attention.

Her smile lit the room. She shifted, ready to stand, but I was already moving—closing the space between us. "What are you reading?" I asked, my gaze flicking from the book to her lips.

"Just some romance novel," she said, her tone playful. She nudged the donut box toward me. "Thank you for these. I’m guessing Wendy told you what I like."

"Not really," I murmured, taking one but never breaking eye contact. "She disappeared before I bought them, so I just grabbed every flavor. There are five more boxes waiting in the kitchen."

Her eyes widened in disbelief. "No, you didn’t! I’ll get fat."

That pulled a laugh out of me, low and unrestrained. "Then I’ll take care of the ones you don’t want."

"No," she teased, smirking. "I’ll eat them all." She brushed sugar off her fingers before lifting the hot chocolate and offering it to me. I wrapped my hand around hers, deliberately slow, and drank from the same spot her lips had touched. The intimacy of it shot straight to my gut.

"You must be tired," she said softly. "I was filling the tub for you when I saw you asleep." She rose, her dress brushing against her thighs as she disappeared into the bathroom.

When she returned, she handed me a towel, her smile warm, almost innocent. "Here, you can use this."

I took the towel, but instead of stepping away, I pulled her into me in one swift motion, making her straddle my lap. Her surprised yelp dissolved into laughter, her body molding against mine.

"Join me," I whispered against her ear, my grip tightening on her waist. "I’m not getting in there without you."

Her answer wasn’t words—it was the sudden press of her mouth against mine, hot and desperate. Her tongue slid against mine, her kiss wet, intoxicating, and absolutely shattering my restraint.

"Sure," she murmured against my lips, breathless, hungry. "I would love to join you..."

And just like that, I was gone—aching, throbbing, already hard as hell.