Page 77

I’ve been slowly working through those by donating the items I’ll never use or wear again or finding a place to put them in my living space.

The box I found this morning was filled with something that instantly made me smile. One of the items is putting a smile on Malvie’s face, too. It’s a T-shirt bearing her favorite NHL team’s logo. The dark blue New York Falcon’s shirt is a perfect fit for me.

The gray T-shirt with the Harvard logo I found in the box will undoubtedly make William chuckle. I can’t wait to wear it for him.

“Does the shirt mean what I think it means?” Malvie asks with excitement in her voice. “Please tell me it does.”

“It doesn’t,” I say without reservation because there’s no way in hell she’s this pumped up because I found an old T-shirt in my closet. “Whatever you think it means, it doesn’t. I found this in my closet. It’s another addition to my wardrobe courtesy of the woman who lived in my apartment before me.”

“Dammit.” She stomps her shoe against the concrete of the sidewalk. “I thought it meant you were dating a player.”

“A hockey player?” I ask as if I need clarification, which I don’t.

“Um, yeah.” Her eyes widen. “You got mystery roses, and you look like you’ve been having a lot of fun. Big fun.”

That’s enough of a clue to tell me she’s had at least one conversation with Aunt Hildy about me. “When did you see Aunt Hildy?”

She rakes a hand through her hair. “Last night. She asked me to prepare a special dinner for her and a friend. I thought it was for her and a date, but I was wrong. I was so wrong.”

“Who was she having dinner with?” I ask, curiosity driving the question out of me.

“The man who changed my life an hour ago.”

That’s not nearly enough information for me since she’s on the verge of tears. They’re happy tears, judging by the fact that the smile on her face is as bright as the sun. “Tell me what’s going on.”

She motions toward the bar’s door. “Let’s get inside. I’ll pour the champagne so we can toast to the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

I don’t respond because I’m at a loss for words. Connecting the dots between her making dinner for Hildy and a mystery man and it resulting in the best thing ever is a far stretch.

“If you tell me who you’re having big fun with, we can toast to him, too,” she says from behind me before she lets out a laugh.

I shoot a glance at her over my shoulder just as I tug my keys out of my bag. “We’re celebrating you today. Get inside and spill the beans. I want to know everything.”

* * *

“Didyou not get enough of me last night?” I ask William when I spot him entering the café around the corner from Turquoise Crown.

I’m here to grab a large coffee. The few sips of champagne I had earlier with Malvie, combined with my lack of sleep last night, have left me exhausted. I can’t complain though. One of my favorite people in the world is seeing her dream come true, and the time I spent in William’s bed last night may have stolen all of my energy today, but I’m more satisfied than I’ve ever been before.

A strong dose of caffeine is just the boost I need right now.

William steps closer to me so he can answer my question in the best possible way. It’s with a kiss. This one is filled with need, and when he pulls back slightly to nip my bottom lip with his teeth, it sets me on fire.

“What do you think?” he growls as he steps back.

“I think you want more.”

“Of you?” he questions with a glimmer in his eye. “Always, Opal. I will always want more of you.”

Always and casual do not go hand-in-hand, and since I’m still determined to protect my heart at all costs, I glance down.

“Can I take you to dinner tonight?” he asks, luring my gaze back to his face.

“I have a lot of work to do,” I say honestly. “Myra and Bristol are coming in tonight to go over our launch strategy. It’s getting down to the wire.”

“A meeting with your co-managers is important since your grand opening is almost here.”

I’mimpressed that he remembers them, given that he only met them briefly at the soft launch. Since then, they’ve been stopping in whenever they have time to help with setup. I left them in charge of setting their schedules, so tonight, they’ll fill me in on when I can expect them at the bar once we open. I also need to discuss finding another employee with them since Malvie had to bail on me for the best reason ever.