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Then five after

And ten after

Finally, she locked the front door, flipped her sign, and headed to the back to shut off the lights All the while, she told herself she was happy he’d listened to her Thrilled It made her life so much easier

Twenty e rooo upstairs She was not disappointed in the least that he hadn’t showed She wasn’t angry either—she was relieved

Except, suddenly there he was, co lot, carry-out bags in each hand She pulled up short, her heart lodged high in her throat as excite shot of adrenalin

Loyal smiled when he saw her “Hi”

She still wasn’t used to sh his dark stubble, and the way his eyes crinkled as if he was genuinely happy to see her aze took stock of her black pencil skirt and foraze telegraphed to her body and spiraled down to settle low in her belly

He wore business casual, as usual Sliht blue shirt tucked, pants belted, with a dark brown vest His usually styled hair was h it a ti other than deliciously sexy

“I didn’t think you were co for indifference

“Yeah Sorry I’m late Josephine’s as in his hands “You want to take this upstairs, or sit at one of your shop tables?”

If she took hiht to the bedroom She absolutely could not do that Not after her conversation with Asher In fact, if she had any s to meet his brother and Honor at the pub

Instead, she stepped back and held the door open for him to enter the shop

She’d have to ht

As he passed by, the delicious smell of Italian spices alne she loved so much Almost She took a discrete inhale and savored all the aromas in the air

Loyal glanced right, into her dark office-storage area, then paused for a longer look to the left through the hanging beads leading into her reading room Like in the store, she kept a Hiloas bright enough to ainst the far wall