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“Thanks,” she said, her cheeks bright red.

I caught Mr. Ivey elbowing his wife with a knowing grin. She swatted his hand away and I bit down my own grin.

“How have you been doing, Mrs. Ivey?” I asked, trying to draw the attention away from my slip-up.

“Much better, dear,” she said kindly. “The doctors have been almost annoyingly present. And my treatment is going well.”

“And she’s able to eat my cooking again,” Mr. Ivey added, his chest puffing up proudly, and I shared a secret glance with Mrs. Ivey, biting down a smile.

“Have you at least been eating as well?” Frankie asked, her voice taking on a stern edge, as it often did when she talked to her dad about his wellbeing.

“Scouts honor,” he teased, holding up a hand. “I’ve been eating everything on my plate now that your mom is on the mend.”

Frankie’s eyes narrowed but she relented, nodding in satisfaction. “Good,” she breathed. “I don’t need to be worrying about your appetite, too.”

“How are things back at the store?” Mrs. Ivey asked, and Frankie and I exchanged glances.

“Better,” Frankie confessed. “I’m glad you asked.”

She turned to me and my brows crept up toward my hairline.

“Yes?”

“You’ve been bugging me about the investors coming to meet with us,” she began, steeling herself with a deep breath. “And I told you a little while ago that I was open to talking about it.”

“I remember,” I told her, my voice quiet. I remembered it in detail, particularly the pulse of excitement and sheer relief that shot through me when she’d told me.

Not because it meant I’d gotten my way.

But because it meant she was willing to trust me with something as precious to her as her family’s store.

“Well, I called Marina.” She smiled. “And we’re meeting with the investors next week on the first phase of franchising.”

I stared at her blankly for ten long seconds, her parents’ cheers muted by the rush in my ears.

Confirmation.

It was the confirmation I didn’t know I’d needed, the solid proof that shedidtrust me.

A startled gasp leaped off my tongue and I grinned. “So you’re stealing my assistant now?”

She broke into a fit of giggles, but all I could do was stare at her, at how much she’d changed.

No.

Not changed.

Trustedme enough to be herself.

As I was learning to do with her.

“I’ve just remembered something,” I said suddenly, my palms stinging, burning with the need to hold her.

“What’s going on?” she asked.

I jumped to my feet, hauling her with me, and sent profuse apologies and vague excuses to her parents as I dragged her out with me.

Frankie called out her farewell, and as soon as the door shut behind her, I whirled around and slanted my lips on hers. She let out a muffled squeak but melted into the kiss anyway, her hands gentle where they held my face.