Chapter 124

Chapter 124
Sheryl's POV

The maple syrup oatmeal tasted...strange. And sickeningly sweet. I forced down another spoonful, trying not to grimace.

"How is it?" Rhett was watching me intently, his brow furrowed. "You don't like it?"

I noticed a small reddish mark on the back of his hand, about the size of a fingernail. It stood out against his pale skin—clearly a burn. He probably never had to lift a finger in the kitchen before marriage, but he had burned himself making me breakfast.

Something warm unfurled in my chest.

"It's delicious," I lied, offering him a smile. "Just the right amount of sweetness."

His expression immediately softened. "Good. Then finish every last drop."

He'd clearly dumped a ton of sugar into it thinking that's what I liked. Rhett seemed absurdly pleased watching me eat, staring at my mouth with an intensity that should have been uncomfortable.

His phone rang, breaking the moment. He pulled it out, glanced at the screen, and his expression soured. I couldn't help but peek at the caller ID.

Rhett answered and put it on speakerphone, placing the phone on the table between us.

"Keep eating," he nodded toward my bowl. "It'll get cold."

A woman's voice came through the speaker, gentle but urgent.

"Rhett? Is that you?" It was Cherisse. "Where are you? I heard about the accident on the news. Are you okay?"

I continued eating my oatmeal, but when I glanced up, I found Rhett staring directly at me rather than paying attention to the call.

"Rhett? Are you there?" Cherisse's voice grew more anxious, on the verge of tears.

I nodded toward the phone, silently telling him to respond.

Without taking his eyes off me, he said flatly, "I'm fine."

"Thank God," Cherisse exhaled with relief. "I was terrified something had happened to you."

Rhett's lips curved into a slight smile. "How did you know about the accident?"

"It was on the news. When I heard, I was beside myself with worry. I care about you, Rhett."

"Really? The news mentioned me specifically? That's interesting." His tone carried an undercurrent I couldn't quite identify, but his expression remained amused.

I thought back to the news report. I had recognized Rhett's car and license plate, and then Claudia had called to confirm it was him. But I didn't recall the news actually revealing who had been in the accident.

There was a pause on the other end. Then Cherisse's voice returned, more urgent. "Well, Sarah told me it was your car. Rhett, this isn't funny. How badly are you hurt?"

Her voice was honey-sweet, trembling with concern. Despite Rhett's assurances that there was nothing between them, hearing her speak to him like that twisted something inside me.

"Seems Miss Cole is quite concerned about you," I said, finishing the last spoonful of oatmeal and setting the bowl down. I smiled sweetly at Rhett. "It was sweet and delicious. You should make it for me again sometime."

My voice was just loud enough to carry through the speaker.

"Is that Sheryl?" Cherisse immediately caught on. "Sheryl, are you with Rhett right now?"

"It's me," I replied coolly. Despite knowing she'd saved Rhett's life somehow and ended up injured because of it, I couldn't bring myself to like her.

Cherisse seemed unfazed by my coldness. "I heard you say you liked sweet things, Sheryl. You should try the maple syrup oatmeal sometime—I taught Rhett how to make it. You remember, don't you, Rhett?"

After hanging up, the bedroom fell into a silence that stretched for nearly twenty seconds.

I turned to look at Rhett. The sweet oatmeal I'd just consumed now felt like poison in my stomach.

"So your 'recipe' came from Cherisse Cole," I said.

No wonder he knew to add maple syrup to oatmeal. He'd been taught by someone else. The thought that before our marriage, he and Cherisse had spent years together doing who knows what made something sour rise in my throat.

All those days, those years I wasn't part of his life. All those experiences I'd never know about. The thought stung more than I wanted to admit.

"Jealous?" Rhett reached for my hand, but I pulled away.

"No," I snapped, glaring at him. "Just feels like I swallowed a fly."

I stood up to head for the bathroom, intending to shower.

Behind me, Rhett clicked his tongue. "Sheryl, you have strange taste buds."

That only stoked my anger. He wasn't even trying to explain, just mocking me instead.

I ignored him and walked straight to the bathroom. He followed me in.

"Are you angry?" he asked.

I didn't answer, just started running the water and removing my clothes. My long wavy hair fell forward, hiding my expression. Rhett brushed it aside and kissed my cheek.

"At least give me a chance to explain before you get mad," he said.

I looked up at him, waiting.

His lips curved into a smile. "Yes, she taught me how to make it. My mother was sick at Pine Grove Retreat and wouldn't eat anything. The staff called me because she insisted on having something I made with my own hands. Cherisse happens to be good with desserts, so I asked her to teach me."

After his explanation, I felt the tension in my chest ease a little.

"That's all it was," he said, watching my expression soften. "Nothing more."

"You haven't made it for anyone else, have you?" I asked.

Rhett smiled beautifully. "Like I said, who else would be lucky enough to eat something I made?"

That finally made me smile. "Fine, I'll let it slide this time."

"Sheryl." He pinched my cheek lightly. "You're actually cute when you're jealous."

"Hey." I grabbed his wandering hand. "Hands off. I need to shower. Get out."

"Tsk." In one swift motion, he lifted me onto the bathroom counter, bracing his arms on either side of me. "You eat my food and then dismiss me? Weren't you the one who said you wanted to have my child?"

My eyes brightened at that. I placed my hands on his shoulders. "Are we trying now?"

Rhett stared at me for two long seconds before answering with his lips on mine.