The Owner's Box

Chapter 39

Harlow POV

Our time in the mountains has been going great. Ever since the other night, my mom and Saint have been talking and getting to know one another. They've been spending time together one-on-one which I didn't expect but I am happy about it.

I stretch and turn over to cuddle Saint, but when I do, the spot next to me is cold and empty. I groan at the absence of her warmth beside me. Yawning, I get out of bed.

Reaching for my phone, I check the time—it's only 8:30. Unlocking my phone, I notice a text from Rai.

Rai: Good morning, hoe. I checked with your assistant—everything's good. None of your businesses are burning down. Turn your phone off and enjoy yourself. Get you some nookie or something, bitch!!

I laugh, shaking my head at the text before sending a quick reply to Rai and powering down my phone.

Lately, it's been feeling so good to just disconnect and enjoy myself. It feels like a new me. Well, the same me—but now I feel like I'm actually living. With Saint, I'm truly living.

Now on to the search for her...

I check the balcony, but Saint wasn't there. I then went to the bathroom, but no sign of her there either. At that point, I figured she had gone somewhere else in the house. I smile because to me that means she must be getting more comfortable with my family.

The first couple of days we were here, she didn't want to leave the room alone. One night she wanted water but wouldn't go get it herself, so I had to go for her. It seems like we're making progress now.

I got dressed for the day after finishing my morning routine. The smell of food filled the air, and I just knew my mom had cooked enough to feed an army, even though there were only five of us.

"What have you cooked this morning, mo—" I stopped talking when I rounded the corner and saw that Saint was the one standing at the stove, while my mom sat on a stool at the large kitchen island with a cup of coffee in her hands.

"Good morning sweetie," my mom said as I approached. I raised my brow at her surprised at what I was looking at.

Saint was standing at the stove, moving around like she belonged there, flipping pancakes with one hand and stirring something in a pot with the other. She was in my mom's kitchen, cooking, and judging by the way my mom was sitting back, completely at ease.

"Morning, bae," I read Saint's lips as she spoke without even looking up from her cooking. She appeared to be so casual, like this was something she did every day.

I blinked, trying to process the scene in front of me. "Morning... what's all this?"

My mom smiled at me over the rim of her coffee cup. "Saint was already cooking breakfast when we came down. She's quite the cook," she said, speaking and signing to me when she noticed I didn't have my hearing aids in.

I looked at all of the food that was on the island. There was bacon, grits, eggs, waffles, pancakes, french toast, sausage and fresh fruits.

I watched as Saint turned off the stove, then refilled my mother's coffee cup and handed it back to her.

"Juice or coffee?" Saint asked, locking eyes with me and ensuring I was looking at her before she started speaking.

"Umm, kisses," I smiled as I approached her, pulling her into me. She tensed up a bit when I put my hands on her waist, but eventually, she melted into me as I leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her lips.

"Ew, almost worse than the parents," Hardin signed as he grabbed a piece of bacon from the counter. Just then, my dad walked in and slapped the back of his head, making Hardin choke.