Three of More T

-

ee: Offer o

Count

he'd moved on. Maybe some other property had caught his attention. Maybe he'd realized she wasn't

t as the shop's usual weekend crow

y other customer-well, except that no customer she'd ever

he asked, not looking up from the dis

e pockets of his dark navy

es. "I already ga

t heard thi

need a better number. I need you to u

ing partnership. Support. I'd help you relocate. Bigger space, more

out of it?" she ask

the chance to work with someone wh

ere was something other than frustration in

ly how these offe

he one making them

y the soft background hum of the ceiling fan and the

place is to me. You can't buy it, or build a bigger

urprising her. "I don't un

ow fur

ued. "I'm offering it because I respect what you've

he corner of her mouth twi

led. "

illed across the display tables, the soft murmur of two teens f

who could bulldoze the entire block with a sig

aying yes,

. "I expe

ing no either,"

lifted just a fr

eeding the barrier to keep hersel

ard the door. "I'll send you

tle light billion-

threshold, hand o

ea

ner with someone

s. "Is that an invit

deepened

again, the bell j

ust the offer that left her off-balance. It was him. The quiet charm underneath the suits and cer

e was dangerous or s

Ashton Vale wasn't done wit

Lila wasn't entirely s