I feel heat rise to my cheeks that has nothing to do with the preheating oven. “Is it that obvious?”
“Honey, you both disappeared for hours and came down looking like you’d been thoroughly—”
“Okay, okay,” I interrupt, laughing despite my embarrassment. “Point taken.”
Wren smiles, but her eyes are serious. “Just be careful, okay? Kane’s a good guy. He hides behind a bottle whenever he’s scared someone might see past his tough-guy act. But I’ve watched how he looks at you when he thinks no one’s paying attention. That armor of his? It's got cracks now.”
“I know,” I sigh, sliding the brownies into the oven. “Believe me, I’m not planning anything long-term. We’re just... helping each other through some stuff.”
“With orgasms,” Wren adds helpfully.
I choke on air, which sets her laughing. “You’re terrible,” I tell her, but I’m smiling too.
The kitchen door swings open, and Mia enters, followed by Rory. They both pause, taking in the flour-covered counters and the smell of chocolate beginning to fill the air.
“Stress baking?” Mia asks, her eyes knowing.
“What gave it away?” Wren replies dryly.
“I’d recognize that look anywhere.” Mia rolls up her sleeves, joining us at the island. “What can I do to help?”
“Cookies?” I suggest. “We’ve got bread and brownies covered.”
“Perfect,” Mia agrees, already reaching for more flour. “Rory, make yourself useful and get the mixer.”
Rory complies with an exaggerated bow. “As the lady commands.”
The kitchen grows livelier with four of us working. Mia and Wren fall into a familiar pattern, moving around each other with the ease of people who have done this many times before. There’s something in their interaction that reminds me of—
“Oh my God,” I blurt out, the realization hitting me suddenly. “Are you two sisters?”
Mia and Wren freeze, exchanging a look before Wren bursts out laughing.
“Took her less time than it took you, Rory,” Mia says, grinning.
“To be fair, I was distracted by Kat trying to kill me at the time,” Rory defends himself, measuring vanilla extract with careful precision.
“Wait, what?” I look between them, confused. “Kat tried to kill you?”
“Not Kat,” Wren clarifies, still chuckling. “Mia. Well, she was sent to kill Connor and Declan.”
I stare at the petite, flour-dusted woman now calmly creaming butter and sugar. “You tried to kill Rory, too?”
“Not Rory,” Mia chirps. “Just Declan and Connor. It was my job.”
I must look as baffled as I feel because Wren takes pity on me.
“My sister was an assassin,” she explains, as casually as if she were saying ‘accountant’ or ‘teacher.’ “Sent to eliminate the MacGallan brothers. If they had known about Kane at the time, he would have been on her list, too.”
“An... assassin,” I repeat faintly.
Mia nods, adding eggs to her mixture one by one. “Former assassin. I retired when I fell in love with the target.”
“Connor,” I guess, remembering the way they stood together on the steps when we arrived.
“Connor,” she confirms with a smile that transforms her face. “Turns out it’s hard to kill someone when you’re busy sleeping with them.”
“Jesus Christ,” I mutter, reaching for the wine bottle Rory has magically produced from somewhere. “And you all just... laugh about this now?”
