Lara stood in Sweet Haven's kitchen the next morning, kneading dough for a new batch of cookies, but her mind was on the letter—Claire Monroe, Ethan's ex, and her cryptic message (Chapter 10). Ethan sat at the counter, his green eyes clouded, his black hair still messy from sleep, the letter in his hands. Lara's hazel eyes kept darting to him, her heart heavy with worry, her curly brown hair falling into her face as she worked.
"Ethan, who's Claire?" she asked finally, her voice quiet but firm, her hands stilling on the dough. "And what does she mean, you owe her?"
Ethan sighed, running a hand through his hair, his voice low. "Claire's my ex—we dated two years ago, back when I was just starting out as a photographer. I borrowed money from her to buy my first camera—five hundred bucks. I thought I paid her back, but she's claiming I still owe her, with interest. I don't know why she's coming after me now."
Lara's stomach twisted, jealousy mixing with fear. "Why didn't you tell me about her?" she asked, her voice sharper than she meant, her hands clenching the dough. "After everything—your debt, the wedding—I thought we were done with secrets."
Ethan stood, walking over to her, his green eyes pleading. "I didn't think it mattered, Lara. Claire's in the past—I love you. I'll handle this, I promise." He reached for her, but she stepped back, her hazel eyes flashing with hurt, the memory of Jake's betrayal too fresh.
Their argument was cut short by a flour mishap—Lara's bag of flour slipped, bursting open, covering them both in a white cloud. Ethan coughed, then laughed, the tension breaking as flour dusted his hair, his shirt, his face. Lara couldn't help but giggle, her anger fading as he pulled her close, wiping flour from her cheek, his touch gentle, his smile soft. "We're a mess, but we're our mess," he said, kissing her forehead, her heart softening despite her fears.
But the moment shattered when the bakery door opened, and a woman stepped in—tall, with sleek blonde hair, blue eyes sharp as ice, her red coat striking against the bakery's pastel decor. "Ethan," she said, her voice cold, confident. "We need to talk. Now." Claire Monroe had found them, and her presence promised trouble for Lara and Ethan's fragile new beginning.
To be continued…