Chapter 13
13:
Flashing him a reassuring smile, she made her way to his desk. She stood next to him, gently placing the tray on a vacant spot. It held a plate of freshly baked cookies and a glass of milk that was still warm from the stove.
“I baked some cookies for you. Please, have one,” she offered, her voice soft and inviting. “I wasn’t sure about your preferences, so I opted for a flavor that’s mild yet delightful. If they’re not to your taste, just let me know—I’m happy to tweak the recipe.”
Collin looked up, his eyebrow arching slightly as he realized the effort she had put into making these cookies from scratch. He reached for the topmost cookie and took a cautious bite.
Instantly, the rich scent and creamy essence of the milk enveloped his palate, the cookie’s texture striking a perfect balance between crunchy and melt-in-your-mouth softness.
Linsey watched him carefully, her expression one of hopeful anticipation. She leaned in slightly, her voice tinged with eagerness as she inquired,
“What do you think? How does it taste?”
Collin’s gaze flickered with a trace of surprise so subtle it was almost invisible.
As she had mentioned, Linsey had toned down the sweetness—which happened to suit his preferences effortlessly.
With a stoic expression, he nibbled on half of the cookie and, feigning a discerning palate, commented,
“Overly sweet treats aren’t really to my liking.”
Linsey offered no rebuttal; instead, she silently logged this preference in her memory.
It was clear that Collin favored more subdued flavors.
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“I’ll whip up a new batch then,” she said, reaching to collect the plate of cookies.
“That won’t be necessary.” Collin intercepted her hand with his, reaching for the warm milk instead. “This is fine for breakfast.” His voice remained flat as he continued,
“You can leave now. I have work to complete.”
Pausing briefly, Linsey responded with measured calmness,
“Collin, I want to apologize for last night. I hold no hard feelings toward you. It’s just that we’ve recently met, and I’m still finding my footing. My actions meant nothing beyond that. And I certainly don’t want you to misconstrue anything because of last night.”
With each word weighed with gravity, she locked her gaze onto Collin’s.
“Since I’ve married you, I’m prepared to embrace every part of you—the virtues and the flaws. It seems only natural that I support you in any way you need. I assure you, what happened last night will not recur. Trust me,” Linsey assured, her voice imbued with sincerity.
Collin absorbed her words in silence, his face betraying no emotion. After a moment, he asked, his voice tinged with skepticism,
“Do you truly mean that?”
Linsey nodded resolutely.
“Absolutely. I committed to marrying you, and I intend to fulfill your needs to the best of my ability.”
A subtle smile crept across Collin’s lips. Did she know what she was doing?
She offered to meet his needs?
Suppressing a chuckle, he took a deep breath, momentarily setting aside the layered meanings in her words.
Driven by a mix of curiosity and hope, he ventured further,
“There’s a piece of my past I haven’t yet shared with you. I was involved in a car accident when I was young, leaving me with a lasting disability. This scar has led my family to overlook me consistently. I’ve spent recent years launching businesses away from their shadow, striving to gain their acknowledgment. Regrettably, luck hadn’t been his ally. His business attempts had mostly stumbled, piling up a mountain of debt in their wake.
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