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“Wow, he really is a man of few words.”

“Yes, he is.”

“Did he say anything about me loving you?”

“No. But you said you did last night.”

“I did, didn’t I?” He smiled, and she smiled back. “I can’t imagine never wanting to kiss you, Katie Bennett.”

Katherine laughed. “Why do you always call me that?”

“Just selfish, I guess.” Matthew shrugged. “I like to believe that you’ve always been mine.”

Satisfied, she kissed him until another alarm started to buzz.

“More insurance?”

“Yeah,” she sighed, extracting herself from his arms.

“Mind if I snooze for a bit?” He yawned. “I don’t report for duty quite as early as you do.”

“Not at all,” Katherine said. “Stay as long as you like. You’ve got keys now. Just lock up when you go.”

Matthew shut his eyes and snuggled deep into the covers. “Have a good day at the office, dear.”

“You too, sweetie pie.”

Chapter 19

The Copperwall was brimming with customers that morning, and it wasn’t long before Beth Ann was in the kitchen informing Katherine that they had a line of people waiting outside.

“Why?” Katherine asked, then rushed over to the calendar on the wall. “I thought the BOGO cinnamon roll special was next week.”

“It is.” Beth Ann followed her. “But we’ve still got a packed house and about twenty more customers waiting outside.”

“To be seated?”

“Yeah.”

“What’s going on?” Katherine asked, looking at Zach.

“I don’t know.” He shrugged. “Is it a holiday?”

“No,” Katherine said, then went out front to see for herself.

“Whoa,” she said as she looked around, not sure what to make of the busy diner. There had never been a turnout like it before. Not even when she first opened The Copperwall.

“Oh, Katherine dear, youarehere!” Florence exhaled in relief, waving her over as her tablemates added how pleased they were to see her. “We were so worried when we didn’t see you atbreakfast yesterday. Then, when the place was closed early, we didn’t know what to think.”

“You’re never closed on spaghetti-and-meatball Monday,” one of the other ladies added.

“Sorry about that. It couldn’t be avoided.”

“Were you sick?”

“Did you run out of meatballs?”

“Did Grace Chen quit?”