KAEL
I woke before Aria did.
The suite was quiet except for the faint howl of wind outside—softer now, the storm finally beginning to lose its grip on the city.
She was curled against me, one hand tucked under her cheek, the other resting on my chest. Her breathing was deep and even, peaceful in a way that made something in my chest tighten.
Twenty-nine today.
My Aria. My fiancée. The mother of my child.
And I was going to make damn sure she knew how much she meant to me.
I slipped out of bed carefully, making sure not to wake her, and padded quietly to the kitchen.
I briefly thought about something simple I could make...
Pancakes. I could make pancakes.
I'd ordered the new ingredients from the room service last night while she slept, along with fresh fruit, whipped cream, and a small, elegant birthday cake from the hotel bakery.
The flowers had arrived this morning... white roses and lilies, arranged in a crystal vase.
