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Opal

“Is everything all right?”I ask William as soon as he walks back into the bar. “Can you lock the door, please?”

His gaze wanders slowly over my face. “Everything’s good, and you bet.”

He turns quickly to snap one of the three locks on the door in place. Although I plan on installing a security system, I haven’t gotten to that yet, so I did the next best thing. I put a red sticker on the corner of the glass in the door that looks like an alarm company placed it there. The sticker was courtesy of Posey. She told me her brother used the same stickers as a theft deterrent when he initially opened Franzini’s. Hopefully, it’ll be as effective for me as it was for him.

“Chuck’s okay?” I ask, hoping to gain some insight into what they discussed.

He steps closer to me. “Chuck’s great. He needed a little advice.”

I’m tempted to push for more, but I don’t. If Chuck wanted me to know, he would have talked to William in front of me. The fact that he didn’t is enough to tell me that their discussion is none of my business.

His gaze shifts to the special edition Turquoise Crown sitting on the table. “I know those games sell for a tidy sum online, but to some of us, they’re priceless. Please tell me it’ll be kept under lock and key.”

“That’s up to you.” I smile.

His brows pinch together. “Up to me?”

I push the corner of the game’s case to slide it closer to where William is. “It’s for you. Hildy even signed it.”

His breath audibly hitches. “What? Are you serious, Opal?”

“I know I messed up your suit jacket.” With a light laugh, I shake my head. “I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s in a dumpster somewhere in the city. I wanted to make up for that.”

He pats the left side of his chest. “I’m actually wearing it.This is it.”

Stunned, I step closer to get a better look and smell of it. I have no idea who his dry cleaner is, but they performed an impossible feat. My hand jumps to his forearm and the spot where the stain was. “This can’t be the same jacket.”

“It is.” He drops his hand to cover mine. “You didn’t have to get me that game. That’s too generous.”

I look up and into his dark brown eyes. I’d say I could get lost in them, but everything about him is mesmerizing. “I want you to have it.”

He studies my face, his gaze sliding from my eyes to my lips and then back again. “You’re sure?”

I turn slightly to face him directly because I will not turn down a kiss of gratitude from this man, even if it’s a chaste one on the cheek.

He doesn’t go that route, but he does make a move.

Before I realize what’s happening, I’m in his strong arms, wrapped in a tender embrace.

It’s over almost as soon as it starts when he steps back suddenly. “Thank you for the game. I’ll be putting it under lock and key.”

A tiny laugh escapes me. “You’re not going to play it even once?”

“I’d consider it with you.”

My laughter fades because I’d love to engage in a game of anything with him.Is strip Turquoise Crown a thing?

I drop my hands to my hips. “Is that a challenge?”

He crosses his arms over his chest. “It is. What do you say? Are you up for it?”

“Name the time and place.”

He glances around. Part of me wants him to offer an invitation to his home, but I’m still not sure if he’s interested in me on a personal level or if he keeps popping into my life because he’s thatBIGof a board game fan.

“How about here? Tomorrow night.” He scratches his chin. “I’ll bring some food.”