Bella didn't move immediately after Lucas kissed her temple. For one suspended second, she simply stood there, breathing in the faint scent of his cologne and trying to convince her heart to behave like a normal organ.
It was ridiculous. She had a daughter. Responsibilities. A baby. A job interview to think about. She did not have the bandwidth to melt because a man brushed his lips against her skin.
But apparently her body disagreed. She cleared her throat, stepping back so abruptly her chair scraped lightly against the floor.
"I should start lunch," she managed, trying to keep her voice steady.
Lucas didn't comment on her reaction. He just nodded—calm, quiet, hands slipping into his pockets as if he wasn't the reason her pulse had decided to tap-dance inside her chest.
She walked to the kitchen, grateful for the familiar comfort of chopping boards and spices. She tied her hair up again. It wasn't necessary — her hair wasn't even in the way — but she needed the routine. The ritual. Something she could control.
She pulled out vegetables, rinsed them, lined them up neatly. Only when she reached for the knife did she notice it. Silence behind her. A presence.
Lucas had followed her in. He didn't hover. He just stood near the counter, leaning against it as if this was the most natural place for him to be. His posture wasn't his usual powerful, CEO-in-command stance. It was softer, quieter — the kind of stance someone used when they genuinely wanted to be in a space, not dominate it.
Bella sliced carrots. Pretended she didn't feel him watching.
"You were nervous earlier," Lucas said finally.
His tone was soft — not teasing. A little careful. Bella's grip tightened on the knife. "Maybe."
"Understandable."
She paused mid-chop, surprised. "You think so?"
Lucas gave a small, almost lazy shrug. "Of course. Anyone would be nervous before a job evaluation. And you haven't been working for a while."
Bella blinked. This wasn't the answer she expected. For some reason, she thought he would tease, or smirk, or say something dramatically overconfident — the way he sometimes did when he was trying to get a rise out of her. But he was just… being understanding.
"I just wanted to do well," she admitted quietly.
"You did," he said without hesitation. Bella froze. The knife hovered above the carrot.
When she turned to look at him, he wasn't even trying to look reassuring. He was simply stating what he believed. Something warm pressed into her ribs at the sincerity in his eyes.
"…Thank you," she murmured.
Lucas nodded once, slow and certain.
The silence that followed wasn't heavy at all. It felt warm. Comfortable. And then — of course — he ruined it.
"Well," he said casually, "if my cousin had rejected you, I would've bought the entire company out of spite."
Bella's jaw dropped before laughter burst out of her.
"Lucas!"
He smiled like a man very satisfied with himself. "What? I take career sabotage seriously."
"That's not how support works!"
"It is in my world."
She shook her head, unable to stop smiling. Lucas watched the smile, watched her like it was something he'd been trying to coax out of her.
"There," he said quietly. "That one."
"What one?"
"The smile you don't fake."
Bella's breath caught. He always noticed too much. She turned away again.
"I'm going to pretend you never said that," she muttered.
"You can pretend," he said lightly, "but I'll still mean it."
She tossed the vegetables into the pan just to give her hands something to do. When she reached for the rice container, Lucas stepped forward.
He shook his head, pulling out the measuring cup. "If I stand here and stare at you doing all the work, you'll think I'm an oppressive husband."
"I already think you're intimidating," she pointed out.
Lucas paused dramatically, lifting the rice cup. "You're teasing me."
Bella gave a tiny shrug. "Possibly."
"Good." His voice lowered a bit, amused. "It means you're starting to relax around me."
Bella pretended to focus on the stove. But she didn't deny it this time.
The lunch was ready. They sat at the dining table, not directly across from each other but angled — unintentionally forming a quiet little bubble of space between them.
Bella didn't realize she was eating more until Lucas spoke.
"You're finishing your plate today."
She blinked. "Huh? Oh."
She looked down. "I guess I am."
"The baby must be getting stronger."
Bella felt something flutter in her chest. "Maybe."
Lucas's gaze softened. "Bella…"
She lifted her eyes.
"You're doing good," he said.
She lowered her fork slowly.
The words shouldn't have hit her so hard, but… they did. Maybe because she'd been carrying so much in silence. Maybe because she'd spent so long worrying she wasn't enough — as a mother, as a woman, as someone trying to hold her life together.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Lucas tapped his fork lightly on the table. "A new job, a growing baby, less stress… you deserve a good week."
She swallowed. "You think so?"
"Of course." His voice gentled further. "You're building something stable. That's worth being proud of."
Bella inhaled shakily. He noticed. He always did. And then—softly, almost as if he accidentally let it slip—
"Our baby is growing stronger."
Bella froze. Our baby. He'd said it before. But today, it sounded… real.
"Lucas?"
He looked up immediately. She hesitated. "Thank you for being… extra gentle with me. Lately."
Lucas didn't move for a full second. Then his expression changed — softened into something warm, quiet, and unguarded.
"I'm not gentle with most people," he admitted. "But with you…" His voice dropped, sincere. "I want to be."
Bella's chest tightened. She didn't blush this time. She just felt it — the weight of his words settling into her like warmth.
"…Thank you," she whispered.
"You don't owe me anything," he replied quietly. "Just be comfortable. That's all."
Lunch went on, quiet and steady. Once they were done eating, Bella wiped the counter; Lucas stood beside her, drying dishes. The easy rhythm surprised her. No bickering. No awkwardness. Just… silence that felt oddly shared.
When she set the towel down, Lucas spoke again — low enough that she almost missed it.
"Bella?"
She looked up.
"I meant what I said earlier," he said. "I am proud of you."
The words weren't dramatic. They weren't even romantic. But they landed deep. Bella's throat tightened. Pregnancy really made her emotionally sensitive.
"…Thank you."
Lucas brushed past her, his fingers grazing her arm in the lightest touch — not intentional, but warm enough to leave her breathless.He slipped on his shoes and picked up the car key, ready to leave and get Rachel from school. But at the doorway, something made him stop.
"Bella?"
She turned again. His tone was softer than before, quieter. "I'm glad you're here. In our home. With me."
Bella didn't answer for a moment. Her heart needed one quiet second. Then she gave him a small, warm smile.
"…I'm glad, too."
Lucas held her eyes for a heartbeat longer before walking away. Bella stayed where she was for a moment, her hands drifting over her bump, her eyes softening. He is becoming more like a comfort zone for her.