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“They’re really good people.”

“They’d have to be. They raised you.”

Allison scanned the store, which was now empty. “Level with me. Why did you come by?”

“I have a gift certificate I wanted to spend.” That wasn’t the truth.She could gloss over most anything with other people, but Allison affected her differently, made her want to shoot straight. “Okay, here’s the deal.”

Allison rubbed her hands together in anticipation.

“I was thinking about you and our earlier conversation. It made me want to see you.” She met those blue eyes when she said the last part and held eye contact. Allison didn’t pull her gaze away. Instead, she seemed thoughtful.

“I’m done here in an hour and a half. I usually grab some dinner and take it home with me. But maybe we could—”

“Grab it together. Dinner.”

“Yeah.”

“Why don’t I cook?” Megan asked. The idea of something a little more relaxing and casual appealed to her, and the last time they’d been in her kitchen had been a difficult conversation. Maybe they could reclaim the space on happier terms.

“No, no. I don’t want to put you out and make you go to work.”

Megan eased a strand of her dark hair behind her ear. “I’d like to, actually. How do you feel about sweet-and-sour chicken and veggies? I’m a wiz with a wok.”

“I’d kill for it right now, but I don’t want to show off how excited it makes me. Oh, damn. I think I blew that with the blurt.” She frowned and then smiled.

“Oh no.” Megan laughed. “Gotta work on that poker face.”

“I’m afraid that ship has sailed. I’m about as mysterious as a beige bath towel.”

“I like the way you own it, though.”

They shared a smile, and Megan lifted her bagged purchases and gestured behind her. “I better get out of here and start cooking.”

“I was wondering why you hadn’tdashedaway.”

“Oh, you’re still marketing. Look at you.”

Ally folded her arms and grinned proudly. “Always.”

“See you at seven thirty? And don’t bring anything. I have wine.”

“Perfect.”

They shared another lingering look, and Megan headed out, once again amazed at herself for completely changing trajectories. This was the second time today she’d attempted to steal more time with Allison,and she was the opposite of a needy person. Well, at least she used to be.

“Hello, new weird version of myself,” she muttered as she slid behind the wheel of her black Audi S5. It felt like she was about to embark upon something important with each new step she took. The only question was would it change her life or destroy it? If only she had some sort of reassurance, then this would all feel a little less terrifying, like walking across a frozen lake, waiting for the ice to crack beneath her feet. She closed her eyes before firing up her ignition. “Just don’t fall,” she said as she sped out of the parking lot.

* * *

Allison closed up the shop and locked the door behind her. They’d tried keeping the store open in the evening hours, but it never pulled much traffic. Mornings were really more their time of day anyway.

She turned around to face the now darkened sky with a zap of extra-excited energy paired with a side of total terror. How could both things exist in one person? She closed her eyes and offered herself a small out-loud pep talk right there on the sidewalk.

“Allison Hale of Dallas. You’re going to be fine. You’ll have dinner. You’ll take it moment by moment and see if there’s a…spark. No pressure.”

She walked to her car, internally arguing with herself because of course there would still be a spark. They sparked the hell out of their coffee date and continued sparking along at the Nutcase, where she practically drooled all over Megan, who’d never looked so good as she did on a casual afternoon out shopping. Her fingertips had gone numb as she’d watched Megan slowly enjoy that Dash Bar, then remembered her mouth and the way it felt pressed to hers. The rest of her body joined her fingertips, and her cheeks got very, very hot. Sparks were not in question.

Sitting in the driver’s seat, she wrestled her phone from her pocket, not even giving it much thought. Lacey picked up after only two rings.