Page 92 of Merry Fake Bride

She squints slightly at the snow falling around us and smiles. “Hi.”

“How are you feeling?”

“Tired. It was a good day. A really good day. I think we made enough to cover a few outstanding bills, and the rest will go toward what we raised for the local school.”

“You were raising for the school?” I fail to keep the surprise out of my voice.

“Yeah. Did you think we were just doing this for us?”

I grimace and look at the slush-covered street now empty of all the stalls. “Kinda, yeah.”

“Wow. Ever the businessman,” Devon teases. “We were raising money for the school because the roof is busted. Each year, we usually do this for the school, but a few years ago, we did it to try and save the local library.”

“Did you?”

She shakes her head. “Unfortunately, no. But!” Her smile widens. “Today was great. What about you?” She nudges her elbow into me. “How did you find it?”

“Tiring, but in a way I haven’t felt in years. It was really fun. Humbling too.”

“How so?”

I grimace slightly. “Meeting the people Silver Canopy affects is almost painful. I recognized some names from documents I’ve read. It makes everything much more real.”

“Is that regret I hear?”

“A little.” I sip my coffee. “But I’m working on it.”

“Mmhmm. Speaking of, I have a meeting next week about the land deal. Is that uhm… is that something you need to attend?”

“I’d like to.” Our eyes meet, and I detect a hint of hope in them which appeals to the selfish need deep inside me to be near her.

“But it’s probably not a good idea. It would highlight a conflict of interest I’m trying to avoid.”

“Oh. Of course, that makes sense.”

Is that… disappointment in her eyes? Maybe I’m imagining it.

“Kairo!” Lindsey suddenly appears in the doorway to the bakery. “You were fantastic today!”

“Thank you very much.”

“So I’ll see you this weekend for Hank’s birthday, right?”

A birthday?

My attention darts to Devon, who watches me with pink spreading across her cheeks.

“You’re invited, it seems,” she says softly. “Are you going to come?”

My heart skips a beat.

“I’d be delighted.”

24

DEVON

A tense silence hangs in the air around me.