Page 111 of Wilde Abandon

Tears gathered in her eyes.“You believe in me that much.”

“Hundred percent.”

“I second that,” Dean called out.

“Third,” Max added.“This is a good investment for all of us.The money you’ll make on the bar will compensate for the restaurant, as they are notoriously known for small margins.”Max’s assessment actually made her feel better, because he was right, the bar profits would be considerable compared to the restaurant side of things.

“And I like the dessert idea,” Dean added.“We need a dessert chef.Someone who can make those fancy cupcakes and cookies and pie.”

“Are you hungry?”Fox asked.

“Now I’m starving.”Dean shrugged.“This place could be known for its down-home baked goods.Cobbler and shit.That’s a thing, right?You put ice cream on it.”

“Oh,” Max shouted.“You should make homemade ice cream.”

Melody laughed under her breath.“For you two, definitely cobbler and homemade ice cream.”

They both beamed at her, their smiles like hopeful, excited boys.

She turned to Fox.“So, we’re doing this?Together?”

He wrapped her in his arms and grinned down at her.“Another family business.”

And that was the perfect thing to say.

Because they were family.And even though she was leaving hers to start a new life, she’d gained a new one.

Chapter twenty-seven

Foxwalkeduptheporch steps and knocked on the door.The TV was on, though the sound was muffled through the door.After a half minute with no answer, he pounded the side of his fist on the wood again.

Nothing.

He pounded again and called out, “Tanya.Open up.It’s Fox.”

She had to be here.Her car was in the driveway.She hadn’t driven it in weeks.

Nervous butterflies fluttered in his tense belly.

He tried the knob and found it unlocked.Of course.Out here, neighbors were too far away to hear anything, let alone come knocking unannounced.Tanya didn’t have any close friends, so…

The second he stepped inside, he scanned the living room on the right, then past the dining room to the left and back to the kitchen.

Tanya was on the phone, her back to him.“It needs to be soon.We’re running out of time.”She held the phone in front of her and stabbed her finger into it to end the call, then turned to him.“Fox.What a surprise.”

Really?“You knew I was coming.”

“I only meant you’re early.”

“Like five minutes.”He raised a brow, noting the flush in her cheeks and the way she couldn’t quite look at him.“What was that all about?”

“What?”she asked, like she didn’t know he’d overheard the end of her conversation.

“You said on the phone that you’re running out of time.For what?Did the doctor say something about your condition?”

She shook her head, then caught herself.“Yes, actually.”The contradiction of her gesture with her words didn’t slide past him.“As you know, my health has been holding steady with the meds, and of course, the better nutrition, since you’ve been bringing such healthy foods to eat.”

He held up the bag of groceries he’d picked up for her.“I brought you more of the minestrone soup you like, plus some oranges, blackberries, strawberries, and blueberries.You can use the new blender I got you to make a smoothie if you’d rather drink them than eat them.”

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