The smell of vanilla and chocolate wafted through the air as Jade hummed softly, standing at the counter with Sofia by her side. The little girl’s dark curls bounced as she stirred the batter enthusiastically, her small hands gripping the wooden spoon. Flour dusted both their aprons, and Sofia had a streak of chocolate on her cheek that Jade couldn’t help but find adorable.
“You’re doing great, Sofia,” Jade said with a smile, checking the consistency of the batter. “Just a little more stirring, and it’ll be perfect.”
Sofia grinned, her excitement infectious. “I love baking! Papa never lets me because he says I make a mess.”
Jade laughed, handing her a small spatula. “Well, sometimes messes are the best part of baking. Besides, what’s a little flour on the floor when we get delicious cookies out of it?”
“Exactly!” Sofia agreed, beaming.
They had just started scooping the batter onto a baking tray when the sound of footsteps echoed from the hallway. Jade glanced up as Milan, Enzo, and Thiago appeared in the doorway, each of them wearing expressions that ranged from curious to amused.
“What’s going on in here?” Thiago asked, leaning casually against the doorframe. His sharp eyes darted to Sofia, then to the bowl of batter. “Are you letting her eat all the chocolate chips, Jade?”
Sofia turned around, a wide grin on her face. “No! We’re making cookies!”
Enzo raised an eyebrow, stepping into the kitchen. “Cookies, huh? Smells like a bakery in here.”
Jade rolled her eyes, wiping her hands on her apron. “It’s not like either of you were going to cook anything. I figured we could do something fun instead.”
Milan crossed his arms, his gaze moving between Sofia and Jade. “And how much of this ‘fun’ involved Sofia sneaking bites of raw batter?”
Sofia giggled, holding up her hands defensively. “Only a little! Jade said it’s okay as long as I don’t eat too much.”
“See? Supervised snacking,” Jade said, smirking at Milan. “Relax, boss.”
Thiago chuckled, moving closer to the counter. He picked up a piece of dough and popped it into his mouth. “Mmm, not bad. You might actually have a future in baking, Jade.”
“Wow, thanks for the glowing review,” Jade said dryly, smacking his hand lightly when he reached for another piece. “Hands off. They’re for Sofia.”
Enzo leaned over to inspect the tray, a playful grin on his face. “Don’t I get any?”
“Maybe,” Jade teased, nudging him out of the way. “If you behave.”
Sofia laughed, clearly enjoying the banter. “Jade said I get to decorate them with sprinkles!”
Thiago’s eyes lit up with mock excitement. “Sprinkles? Now this is serious business.”
Milan, who had been quiet until now, stepped closer to the counter. “You’re lucky I’m not a fan of sweets,” he said, his voice calm but tinged with amusement. “Otherwise, I’d have to take quality control into my own hands.”
“Sure you would,” Jade replied, giving him a knowing look.
Sofia tugged on Milan’s sleeve, looking up at him with wide eyes. “Papa, can you help me put the sprinkles on when they’re done?”
Milan hesitated, his usual composed demeanor softening. “I suppose I could assist,” he said, his tone unusually gentle.
“Yay!” Sofia cheered, clapping her hands.
Enzo leaned against the counter, watching the exchange with a smirk. “Well, look at that. The great Milan helping with sprinkles. This I have to see.”
Milan shot him a pointed look. “Don’t push your luck, Enzo.”
As the cookies baked, the kitchen became a flurry of activity. Sofia insisted on setting up the “sprinkle station,” carefully arranging bowls of colorful toppings while Jade prepped a cooling rack.
Enzo and Thiago lingered near the counter, sneaking bits of dough and cracking jokes.
“You’re really getting into this domestic thing, huh, Jade?” Thiago teased, watching as she pulled the tray of cookies from the oven.
Jade smirked, placing the tray on the counter. “What can I say? I’m multi-talented.”
Enzo leaned closer, his dark eyes glinting with mischief. “Careful, or we might make this a regular thing. Imagine—cookies every week.”
“Not a chance,” Jade shot back, laughing. “This is a one-time deal.”
Sofia, meanwhile, had already started decorating, her concentration adorable as she carefully placed sprinkles on each cookie.
“Papa, you’re too slow,” Sofia complained, glancing at Milan, who was meticulously adding sprinkles to his cookie.
“It’s called precision, Sofia,” Milan replied, his tone serious.
Thiago burst out laughing. “Precision? It’s a cookie, Milan, not a business deal.”
“Details matter,” Milan said, not missing a beat.
Jade shook her head, unable to hide her amusement. “Okay, Mr. Perfectionist, maybe let Sofia take the lead on this one.”