“I can’t,” Millie says immediately, her expression closing off. “His patch comes first. He’s made that clear. And I respect that. The club is his family, his future. I won’t mess that up for him.”
“But what if you’re part of that future too?” Queenie asks wisely.
Millie shakes her head. “It’s complicated. My dad provides the club with the gold. If things went wrong between us, it could mess up their business relationship. Will won’t risk that. And honestly, I don’t blame him.”
My heart aches for both of them—two people who clearly care about each other, held back by circumstances and honor.
“For what it’s worth…” I say softly, “… sometimes the complications are worth it. Sometimes taking the risk leads to something awesome.”
Millie gives me a sad smile. “Maybe. But Will has to want to take that risk too. And right now, he doesn’t.”
Before I can respond, the front door opens, and Nitro walks in, already loosening his tie. “Something smells amazing.”
“Millie’s cookies,” Queenie announces proudly. “Try one.”
He does, and his eyes widen. “Millie, these are incredible. You could sell these.”
“That’s the plan,” she says shyly. “Once I save up enough to open my bakery.”
“You’re still working on that?” Nitro asks, genuinely interested.
“Yeah. It’s slow going, but I’m getting there. Another year or two of saving, maybe. Or I might try to get a small business loan.”
Nitro and I exchange a glance. I know exactly what he’s thinking because I’m thinking it too. But before either of us can say anything, Millie’s phone buzzes.
“That’s Will,” she says, reading the text. “He’s outside.”
“Tell him to take it easy driving you home, you’re special cargo, my dear,” Queenie insists.
“I will. Thank you for today, Queenie. I had so much fun.”
“Anytime, sweetheart. You’re family.”
Millie’s eyes get a little misty at her words, and she hugs Queenie, then me, before heading out.
The moment the door closes, I turn to Nitro. “We should help her. With the bakery.”
“I was thinking the same thing.” He pulls me against him. “Small business loan through Blackwell? Or should we give her the money?”
“Loan,” I say firmly. “Millie’s proud. She’d never accept a handout. But a loan, with fair terms, from a legitimate business? That she will accept.”
“God, I love your brain.” He kisses the top of my head. “I’ll have Sarah draw up the paperwork this week.”
“Don’t tell her it’s from you specifically. Let it come from the company’s small business initiative.”
“We don’t have a small business initiative,” he says.
“We do now. Consider it my new pet project.”
His smile is warm and proud. “You’re going to change the world, Small Town.”
“One bakery at a time,” I agree.
We spend the evening with Queenie, the three of us eating at the little Italian place, then come home to watch old movies, and it’s absolutely perfect. Simple, domestic, and everything I never knew I wanted. When Queenie finally heads to bed around ten, Nitro pulls me onto his lap on the sofa.
“Happy?” he asks, his arms wrapped around my waist.
“Deliriously,” I admit. “You?”
