Page 36 of Falling for Mr. Grump, the Big City Billionaire

"Sure," I hear myself say. "Give me ten minutes to get ready?"

Skye's face lights up with a smile that makes my heart do backflips. "Great! I'll meet you downstairs."

As I close the door and lean against it, I can't help but smile. Breakfast with Skye. It's a terrible idea. It's going to make everything more complicated.

But I can't bring myself to care.

Nine minutes later, I'm downstairs, feeling oddly nervous. Skye's waiting by the front desk, chatting animatedly with the receptionist. When she sees me, her smile widens.

"Ready to have your mind blown by breakfast?" she asks, her eyes twinkling.

I roll my eyes, but I'm smiling too. "Let's not oversell it. They're just waffles."

Skye gasps in mock outrage. "Just waffles? Oh, Troy, you have no idea what you're in for."

As we walk out into the morning sun, I can't help but notice how easy this feels. The banter, the smiles, the way we fall into step beside each other. It's... nice. Really nice.

The cafe is a small, cozy place right on the beach. The smell of coffee and fresh-baked goods hits me as soon as we walk in, making my stomach growl.

"Skye!" the woman behind the counter calls out. "And you brought a friend! The usual for you, hon?"

Skye nods, then turns to me. "Trust me to order for you?"

I hesitate for a moment, then nod. "Why not? Surprise me."

As Skye places our order, I find a table by the window. The view of the beach is breathtaking, the early morning sun turning the water into a sheet of diamonds.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Skye asks, sliding into the seat across from me.

I turn to her, taking in her curious expression. "Just admiring the view," I say honestly.

She follows my gaze to the window, her face softening. "It never gets old, does it? No matter how many sunrises I see here, it always takes my breath away."

I nod, understanding completely. It's not just the physical beauty of this place. It's the peace, the sense of belonging. Things I've never really felt before.

Our food arrives, interrupting my thoughts. The waffles are piled high with fresh berries and whipped cream, looking more like a work of art than breakfast.

"Wow," I say, genuinely impressed. "This looks..."

"Amazing? Incredible? Life changing?" Skye supplies, grinning.

I roll my eyes. "I was going to say 'good', but sure, let's go with life changing."

As I take my first bite, I have to admit – if only to myself – that Skye might be right. These waffles are incredible. Light, fluffy, with just the right amount of sweetness.

"Okay," I say after swallowing. "I'll give you this one. These are pretty great."

Skye's triumphant smile is almost as sweet as the waffles. "Told you so. Seaside Cove might be small, but we know how to do breakfast right."

As we eat, we fall into easy conversation. Skye tells me about her plans for the food truck, her eyes lighting up as she describes new recipe ideas. I find myself sharing stories from my college days, making her laugh with tales of my less-than-stellar attempts at cooking.

It's nice. More than nice. It's comfortable and fun and...

And absolutely terrifying.

Because with every smile, every laugh, every shared moment, I'm falling harder. And I know, deep down, that this can't last. That eventually, the truth will come out.

But for now, in this moment, with the sun streaming through the window and Skye's laughter filling the air, I let myself forget about deals and deadlines and family expectations.

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