Emily narrowed her eyes and leaned in, her voice low and teasing. "Don't think that smile gets you off the hook, Mr. I'm-Always-Up-To-Something."
Ryan leaned closer too, lowering his voice. "Would it help if I made pancakes in the shape of hearts?"
"That depends," she said. "Will they be edible this time?"
"Define edible."
She smirked and brushed past him into the kitchen. "You've been watching too many spy movies again."
Ryan followed, watching her toss her hair back as she grabbed the pancake mix. She was graceful, sharp, and way too good at keeping him on his toes. Every day, she was the only opponent that ever truly got the best of him—and he loved it.
Faith came barreling in from the living room wearing a tutu, a foam sword, and a crown made of cereal box scraps.
"DADDY, HOLLY STOLE MY UNICORN!"
"I was borrowing it!" Holly yelled from somewhere off-screen. "For science!"
Emily sighed. "And here comes the usual."
Ryan scooped Faith up mid-sprint and spun her in a circle. "Princess Glitterstorm, calm your fury. The land of Breakfastonia still needs peace."
Faith giggled wildly. "Then make me sparkle-pancakes!"
"Yes, Commander," Ryan said solemnly. "Operation Sparklecake is underway."
Minutes Later – The Kitchen
Emily flipped on the radio while Ryan prepped the pancakes. Jazz played softly in the background, interrupted by a brief news update.
Emily glanced at him. "So… weird day at the station."
"Oh?" Ryan kept his tone light. "Nothing glitchy, I hope."
Her eyes narrowed. "You would joke about it."
"Would I?" He raised an eyebrow as he flipped a pancake perfectly onto a plate.
"You didn't see what I saw. That wolf symbol? The one that hijacked the feeds? It felt like more than just some hacker prank."
Ryan played it cool, slipping a pancake onto Faith's plate like a magician. "Well, I'm sure whoever's behind it will get caught soon."
Emily looked at him, long and hard. "You're oddly calm about it."
"I just really believe in our local cyber task force?" he offered.
She didn't laugh. But she also didn't push. Instead, she stepped close and tugged gently at his apron string.
"You're hiding something," she murmured.
He smiled. "I'm hiding how bad I want to kiss you right now."
That broke the tension. She smiled back, eyes softening. "Then stop hiding."
He leaned in and kissed her right there in the kitchen, surrounded by glitter, syrup, and tiny chaos goblins.
Later – Living Room Fort
The kids had built a blanket fort with tactical pillows and a "no adults unless snacks" policy. Ryan and Emily sat just outside it, sipping coffee on the couch.
"Y'know," Emily said, "we might be the only couple in New Orleans who flirt through pancakes and disaster management."
Ryan rested his head on her shoulder. "You're welcome."
"Still doesn't get you out of fixing the leaky sink."
"I'll fix it tonight."
"You said that three nights ago."
"I was undercover. Deep cover."
She rolled her eyes but smiled. "Just don't disappear. I like having you home."
Ryan held her hand. "I'm not going anywhere."
At least… not yet.
[TO BE CONTINUED...]