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No, I’d have to meet her where she was, be willing to take that leap for her.
And if bringing her into the family fold, even for a weekend, showed her that she was already a part of my life… then that was the least I could do.
I could still feel the tension in my shoulders, the residual anger from Marcus’s intrusion.
Knowing he’d been in her space, that he’d had the audacity to try and worm his way back into her life, made my blood simmer.
I trusted Tori to handle herself, but even steel had its limits. And she’d been through more than enough.
There was no way I’d allow him to rattle her, not after everything she’d built to stand on her own two feet again.
I stared out at the city lights again, but this time, they felt different.
Tori already on her way to becoming mine. I’d just have to make the next step count.
TORI
The door chimed as I crossed the threshold, balancing coffee cups and a bakery bag.
The comforting, familiar smell of espresso mixed with the sweet aroma of croissants filled the shop, and it made me smile.
Today, the whole place seemed wrapped in a cozy blanket of warmth and sweetness that eased some of the lingering tension in my shoulders.
“You’re here early,” Candy noted, a raised eyebrow accompanying her teasing smirk.
I set the coffee and croissants on the counter, fighting the heat in my cheeks. I knew what was coming.
“New stock coming in,” I replied.
Candy’s gaze darted to the bakery bag, her eyes widening in delighted realization.
“Oh, you didnotjust bring croissants fromthatplace in the city,” she said, glancing at the famous bakery logo. “This placehas lines out the door every morning! Let me guess, your boyfriend dropped these off?”
“His driver did,” I admitted, my cheeks feeling even warmer.
The word "boyfriend" still felt unfamiliar, strange, and somehow thrilling on my tongue.
But even as I said it, the memory of Cole’s thoughtfulness brightened my morning further.
The idea of him arranging for this little surprise felt unexpectedly intimate, and I wasn’t quite used to it.
Candy reached for the bag, biting into a croissant and rolling her eyes with a moan of appreciation.
“Oh, wow. I get it now. This is why people go nuts. Cole Valen, unexpectedly thoughtful and with great taste in pastries,” Candy said.
I chuckled. “There’s coffee for you, too. He sent enough for both of us,” I said.
Candy was still savoring her first bite, giving me a playful wink.
“Well, I’m just saying… you’re one lucky woman,” Candy said.
It was the word lucky that grounded me back to reality.
Lucky, I was sure, was the last thing I was when it came to romantic history.
The ghost of that thought lingered even as Candy moved behind the counter to set up for the day.
I watched her, grateful for her presence but ready to take a step back.