Page 10 of You Had Me At Valentine

I shoot him a look as I slide into the chair. “You didn’t seem too excited about it earlier.”

“You graciously gave me time to reconsider my position.”

Code for my father calling him, probably. I can only imagine how that conversation went. Something along the lines ofkeep an eye on her and report back if she tries anything crazy.

Little does he know that I want him right by my side. Even as awkward as that’s going to be when I’m actively trying to make sure he knows I’m over him when I’m not.

It’s a small price to pay. I have an inn to save and I don’t think for a second I can do it if Bryron and I are at cross purposes. “You’ll help plan it? Even if it means I make inroads toward canceling the sale?”

He shrugs. “The inn is already an asset in your father’s trust, so it’s less work for me if it doesn’t change hands. Besides, a successful community party will only attract the attention of a buyer, not dissuade.”

I didn’t think of that. Frowning, I size him up. “You can’t possibly be signing up to help me out of your own free will. What’s in this for you?”

“Spending time in your lovely company, obviously.” Then he winks at me.

Okay, it’s on. “We’ll see how you feel about that in two weeks.”

“I’m game for anything you can throw at me.” He turns one arm over as if showing off the sparkly bits. “Including glitter.”

Four

Byron

One of the benefits of being a lawyer is that I’ve learned to multitask with the best of them. At the moment, I’m updating the inn’s property listing on my laptop, makingValentine’s party notes on my phone, and trying not to watch Lyra as she goes through old photos of the previous Valentine’s Day parties her grandmother hosted.

It’s hard to peel my gaze from her face, though. She gets this misty smile when she runs across pictures where her grandmother is actually in the frame.

She used to look at me like that. As if I mattered.

I’m the worst lawyer stereotype in the world because I did actually forget how much I liked being the center of Lyra’s world, as opposed to the center of a trust asset dispute.

She glances up, catching me in the act of not working on my own half of the project.

“Can you add white chocolate chips to the list?” she asks.

Is that a thing? “For?”

“Heart-shaped scones. Justine Douglas is coming by to help recreate Gran’s recipe.” Her smile brightens. “I found the original in that box of Valentines.”

My gut clenches involuntarily. I hate that box. Since she hasn’t mentioned anything about one of the envelopes being addressed to her, I can only assume I’m in the clear.

For now.

It’s only a matter of time before she runs across my valentine though. And I have no idea how to handle it when she does. Better scenario: find it first. And destroy it.

The bell over the front door chimes. Tabitha Douglas breezes in, already unwinding her scarf. “My aunt is right behind me.”

“Perfect timing.” Lyra jumps up and hugs her friend. “I need your help convincing Byron that pink and red candy hearts won’t clash with the inn’s historic aesthetic.”

“They absolutely will,” I say, though I don’t mention I already added them to the list.

No one has to know that I still secretly want to give Lyra everything she wishes for. Anything she asks of me. As long as it’s in my power to give.

Candy hearts, paper hearts, real hearts.

Talk about a pipe dream.

Lyra’s eyes narrow playfully. “Are you questioning my decorating skills?”

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