Page 95 of Oathbreaker

“Baby—”

Colt is close again as I open the oven door, both of us getting a face full of steam.

I study the top of the scalloped potatoes, seeing it’s almost perfectly golden brown.

Just a few more minutes.

I bend, check on the asparagus, getting more steam before I study the stalks.

Almost there. I reset the timer.

“Briar, baby?—”

I close the oven door, hurry back over to my sauce and start transferring it into the serving dish.

“Briar—”

“Out,” I say, jerking my chin to the hall. “I need to finish before everyone gets here.”

He opens his mouth again, but Frankie beats him to the punch.

And immediately throws me right under the bus.

“Mommy only cooks like this when she’s nervous.”

Ugh.

Why did I have kids?

His eyes come to mine then he crouches, smoothing back Frankie’s hair. “Will you go watch for your aunts and uncles, baby?”

“’Kay!” she agrees for once.

Then again, she loves her aunts and uncles.

I focus on dressing the salad, ignoring Colt’s footsteps as he comes closer again.

“It’s going to be okay,” he murmurs, hugging me from behind and resting his chin on my shoulder as I add the croutons and parmesan cheese then finish tossing the salad.

“Of course, it’s going to be okay,” I lie.

Unless the men get into a fight and overturn the table, thus ruining the food and injuring Colt when he’s finally almost better.

“Baby.”

The timer goes off and I hurry back over to the scalloped potatoes, the asparagus, then slide in the rolls that just need to be toasted.

He waits until I close the oven then tugs me close again, cupping my jaw and tilting my head up. “Talk to me.”

It’s an order.

But I can tell by his set expression that he’s not going to let this go.

“Dash is coming.”

“I know, baby.”

“He…” I nibble at my bottom lip. “He might not be…welcoming.”