Stepping into the room, I froze. The scent of pancakes and frying bacon hit me. Haley giggled again. She was standing on a chair beside Ro—who was still in the scrubs shirt, which shouldn’t look hot on him but did. He was cooking while Haley leaned into him, helping.

The boys were on the couch, playing a game on my television. Emily was setting the table.

Ro’s head whipped up and focused on me. His gaze ran over me.

“Tessa!” Haley cried.

Everyone looked at me. I saw relief on Emily’s face as she hurried over to hug me.

“We’re having pancakes,” Haley announced. “Ro’s cooking them.”

I hugged Emily back. “I’m okay.”

She nodded, her eyes teary.

I raised my voice. “Pancakes sound great, Hay-bear.”

“Glad you’re feeling better, Tessa,” Josh said. The boys all nodded and smiled at me.

I wandered into the kitchen and ran a hand over Hayley’s hair. Ro slipped an arm around me.

“How are you feeling?”

“Shocked. I didn’t know you could cook.”

His lips twitched. “I had a family chef who taught me one summer. I think he just wanted to keep me out of trouble. I can manage pancakes.”

“We’re having brunch,” Haley announced. “Ro told me that’s after breakfast but not quite lunch.”

“Brunch sounds awesome.”

His gaze turned serious. “Are you all right?”

My throat tightened at his obvious concern and I nodded.

He pressed a kiss to my forehead. “Good. I bet you’re hungry.”

I realized I was.

Everyone bustled around. Soon, we were at the table, and pancakes and bacon were served.

“Leo is hogging the bacon,” Caleb cried.

Leo loaded more onto his plate. “You’ve got to be quick, pipsqueak.”

“I’m not a pipsqueak.”

“Leo,” Emily said in her warning tone.

I was sitting in between Haley and Ro. He poured me a glass of orange juice. Then I watched with no surprise as Leo poured a gallon of maple syrup on his stack of pancakes.

Caleb growled. “Mom, Leo is hogging the maple syrup!”

Emily snatched the syrup off Leo and tipped some on Caleb’s plate. “Eat, Caleb Maximillian, and use your inside voice.”

Everyone started eating and talking all at once. It was the usual crazy mayhem when we all ate together. Josh started talking about college with Ro, and Ro nodded thoughtfully and asked him questions on his upcoming studies.

I sat there frozen.

Ro…fit. He talked easily with my cousin, he was good with Haley, he’d cooked breakfast.

He shouldn’t belong here. He shouldn’t look like he belonged in my cute house, in my small town. He was private jets and penthouses.

This thing between us was temporary. I couldn’t let myself forget.