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He pulls me into a hug that smells like citrus and expensive mousse. “You’re even prettier in person. Eddie didn’t do you justice. You’re like a golden retriever and a goddess had a baby.”

My cheeks flush. “Wow, uh. Thank you?”

Merlyn barks, offended that someone other than her is being adored, and trots up to sniff his boots.

“Oh,” Frankie gasps, crouching down. “And she’s perfect. What did we do to deserve her?”

Lexi crouches beside him, running a hand down Merlyn’s back. “This is already the best part of my week.”

Cherry claps her hands. “All right! Laney, grab your stuff. We’re stealing you. Spa time waits for no emotionally exhausted country princesses.”

“I haven’t even showered yet—”

“That’s what the spa is for,” Cherry says, heading toward the porch like she owns it. “Trust me, you’re not saying no. Eddie gave us full permission to drag you if we had to. He even told me where the snacks are in the kitchen, so don’t make me go full-blown pregnant hostage negotiator.”

I shake my head, smiling now despite myself. “You’re unbelievable.”

Frankie loops an arm through mine. “And fabulous. Let’s go, darling. Steam, tea, gossip. And you’re going to tell me everything about the night he kissed you for the first time.”

Cherry winks. “And I’ll give you the behind-the-scenes dirt on this one,” she says, jerking a thumb toward Frankie. “But that’s spa talk.”

I glance at Merlyn, who gives me a hopeful tail wag like she’s voting for this plan too.

I sigh, my chest already lighter than it’s felt all week. “All right. Spa it is. Okay,” I say, pausing on the porch, one foot still inside the house. “But what about Merlyn? I can’t just leave her here all day. She’ll chew through my laundry basket again or try to eat the couch.”

Cherry waves a hand like I’m being dramatic—which, okay, fair. “Handled. Get in the car.”

“Wait—what? Handled how?”

She sighs like I’m the slowest student in class. “Get. In. The. Car, Laney.”

“Cherry—”

“You’re bringing the dog.”

I blink. “What?”

She’s already popping open the back door of the sleek black Audi like we’re escaping the apocalypse. “I’m dropping her off with Jake. He’s got the day off, he loves dogs, and he needs a break from deep-diving YouTube content about brisket rubs before he invests in his own smoker line.”

I hesitate, glancing at Merlyn, who’s already bouncing around the driveway like she’s in on the plan. “Are you sure he won’t mind?”

Cherry gives me that grin—sharp and knowing. “Laney, Jake’s obsessed with me. He’d raise a baby alpaca if I told him it helped my nausea. He’ll worship the dog. He’ll probably get her a personalized water bowl before noon.”

Lexi slides into the front passenger seat and turns toward me, her voice warm and smooth. “It’s true. Jake is totally gone for her. He’s a dangerous-looking billionaire with abs that could slice fruit, but put Cherry in the room and he turns into a golden retriever.”

Frankie, glittering in the back seat and fanning himself with a rolled-up copy of GQ, lets out a dramatic sigh. “He’s so hot, though. Like ‘hostile takeover in a tailored Tom Ford suit while giving you bedroom eyes’ hot. I would absolutely let him financially ruin me.”

I laugh, shaking my head as I lift Merlyn into the back seat. “You all need help.”

Lexi smirks. “Frankie can’t talk—he practically needs CPR every time Hunter walks into a room.”

I slide in beside Merlyn. “Wait—Hunter?”

“My husband,” Lexi says, her voice somehow even calmer. “He’s the CEO of a Communications empire. Ridiculously tall, always in black, and makes other boardroom alphas look like interns.”

Frankie presses a hand to his chest. “He’s a walking thirst trap. When he picked up Theo in that charcoal cashmere and called Lexi ‘mama’, I almost ascended to another plane.”

Lexi blushes, rolling her eyes but clearly used to the attention. “Okay, okay. Yes. He’s a good man. And a terrifyingly good-looking one.”