Maybe in time, when I was older, married, and settled with a few kids, I would look back on this with amusement as a final reckless fling, like most people did with their stupid mistakes in their twenties. They chalked it up to being young and stupid and left it all in the past.
And that was where Hyde belonged. In the past.
I slipped into a simple black dress and a cozy pair of socks before heading downstairs.
The smell of coffee drew me to the kitchen.
Henry was standing in front of my tiny stove wearing my frilly French maid-inspired apron.
I laughed.
He turned and gave me an innocent look. Feigning confusion, he held up his spatula and said, “What?”
I kept laughing.
He winked and turned his attention back to the stove. He gestured over his shoulder. “There’s fresh coffee.”
I poured myself a cup in my favorite mug and took a seat at my kitchen table. I silently watched Henry cook me eggs. He looked absolutely ridiculous in my apron, but I had a feeling that was the point. I smiled. Henry was a keeper. He was the type of man a girl could spend the rest of her life with. He wasn’t like Hyde who would only bring tears, worry, and fear. Nope. Henry was husband material.
He grabbed a plate from my clean dish rack and loaded it up with scrambled eggs just as the toaster popped up with two pieces of wheat toast. He spread both slices liberally with butter and placed the plate in front of me.
I wrinkled my nose. “This was really sweet, but I’m not sure I’m hungry. I usually just have coffee in the morning.”
He leaned over and kissed the top of my head. “Nonsense. You need to eat. Just try at least a bite.”
With a sigh, I lifted my fork and scooped up a bite of eggs just to make him happy. The moment the eggs hit my tongue I closed my eyes and groaned with satisfaction. They were warm, buttery perfection. Before I knew it, I had eaten the entire plate and half the toast. I lifted up the second piece and spread it with some lingonberry preserves before finally looking up at Henry who sat across from me sipping his coffee, a finished plate of eggs pushed to the side.
I smiled again. “This is nice.”
Henry smiled back. “Yes, I could get used to this.”
So could I. It felt comfortable and domestic in a good way.
It seemed silly to be sharing this intimate moment after all the taboo things I had done with his brother just upstairs only a few hours earlier.
Guilt twisted my stomach. “Henry, listen…”
He set his coffee mug down and stared at me. “Before you say anything, there is something I need to tell you.”
CHAPTER15
CATHERINE
“What do you mean,you’reHyde?”
No. No. No.
This isn’t happening.
Henry looked stricken. “I can explain.”
“What you betterexplainis your bad joke.”
He sighed and ran his hand through his hair. “It’s not a joke. I’m Edward Hyde.”
I stood and stormed out of the kitchen. Henry caught up with me in the living room. He snatched at my upper arm, turning me around.
I pulled my arm back. “Don’t you dare touch me.”