tion with flour dusted in her hair, her apron tied unevenly, and dough under her nails. The contrast made her laugh. Just last night, she'd bee

d be the title of my life." She tucked the ring into a small cloth pouch and slipp

ands before heading back to the counter. Her aunt May stood th

t May said with a soft

ed, grabbing a tray of muffin

in have anything to do with that handsome man who

powdered sugar over th

to exp

kind of

ayson

billionaire? Eliza, is

also not. He's helping me save the bakery. In exchange, I pre

hing at first. She just

this business deal involve

umped. "I didn't kno

ave to protect me. I know things are hard.

just want to fix it. I d

r tightly. "Then do what you have

ha

se yourse

esting her head agains

h coffee. Eliza moved like muscle memory, smiling and chatting, her hands busy wi

pened again and

ropped a tray

ery. He wore a tailored navy suit. He lo

n eyebrow but did

r, wiping her hands on her

e said smoothly. "Thought I

es. "Don't say that

stomers. "Would you prefer

dened. "You

y m

er and hissed, "This is m

"It smells good

ens when you use

kie from the displ

"Do you want to

ng to act

der her breath

ndred and laid it

m a look. "

carry sma

he drawer and star

e to give it b

d

okie and the chang

the line behind h

ly have to work

spect

"Is that your way of sa

a little. "More

d waved. "I'll see you

up behind Eliza. "He's...

erent

ore... curious

s. "He's still a bil

id. "But maybe not a

room. The fireplace glowed gently. Grayson walke

talk more about th

fake eng

to plan our backst

risingly good. "You really take y

erything s

t's the

months ago. You were serving

"That sounds

e. Get us

hat her favorite flower was (she said tulips), what his was (he didn't know, so she picked w

quietly. "The more real it loo

r a moment. "Then

t her. "You're toug

ve on three hours of sle

me, he smiled no

nd fortune," she

ha

ping her tea. "Just figu