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“Miguel did some snooping for me. That’s all I’m gonna say.”

She looked into his eyes, saw them gleaming, proud of his work, but also happy he’d surprised her. And right then she knew she was in love with Ryan Cooper. Wholly. Fully. Completely.

She’d tried not to be. Tried to avoid him and protect her heart, but none of that had worked. How could she not love a man who was a good father and son, a man who was as infuriating as he was kind, a man who’d been hurt too much in life not to shy away from love again? How could she not love her childhood friend, her teenage sweetheart? The guy who’d been a constant in her life, even when she didn’t realize it?

“You and Miguel do a lot of conspiring, don’t you?”

He said nothing, simply stared at the joy in her eyes.

She hugged the frame to her chest. “It’s a pretty great midnight gift, Coop.”

“Is it that late?” he asked softly.

She nodded.

“Maybe I should’ve waited until tomorrow, but I wanted to give it to you before you left for New York.”

She blinked. “Oh, I guess you don’t know. I’m not leaving.”

His head snapped back. “You’re not?”

“No, not for a while anyway. I have contracted work here.”

“When did all this happen?” He seemed confused.

“Just a few days ago. I’ll be staying while Julie and Miguel are on their honeymoon. Watching Muffy and working.”

He nodded and smiled. “Okay.”

Okay? What did that mean? Was he happy or disappointed? Or was he already plotting ways to avoid her again?

“I’d better let you get some sleep.” Coop rose then and gave her a hand to help her up. Their faces inches apart, they stared at each other for a moment and then Taylor rose up on tiptoes and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

“Thanks again, Coop. It’s the best gift I’ve ever received.”

He nodded and walked away. She saw him smiling until he was swallowed up by the shadows.

Five minutes later, after stashing Coop’s gift in the closet, hidden behind her clothes so Julie wouldn’t find it, she heard Muffy scratching at Julie’s door.

Taylor took a peek and found Julie opening the door for the dog. “Time for bed, Muff,” she said.

“Julie?” she whispered. “You’re not asleep yet?”

“No, too much excitement, I guess.”

“Can we talk? Just for a minute?”

“Sure. Come in.”

The girls sat down on Julie’s bed.

“It’s late and I won’t take but a minute. But I promised you something and now I’m keeping that promise,” Taylor said.

“Gosh, what promise? You’ve already done so much for me.”

“Remember I said you’d be the first to know when I know about my feelings for Coop?”

“Are you telling me now you know for sure?”