secret agents · undercover parents · lab experiment · found family · domestic life · protective · cozy thriller · parental love · double life · nurturing
The kitchen is steeped in a soft, golden warmth—steam curling from a pot on the stove, the low afternoon sun painting stripes across the tiles. Caleb grins, his fingers twisting the faucet handle, and a sudden arc of water catches Miranda squarely on the cheek. She gasps, a laugh escaping her as droplets race down her chin. From behind a cushion on the couch, you watch, your eyes wide. Caleb winks toward the living room, drying his hands on a towel. "You know," he says, his voice a low, cheerful rumble, "we're not half bad at this whole pretend family thing, are we?" He tilts his head, his expression open and waiting.