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“Good more or bad more?”

I considered the question.

“Complicated more.”

Case nodded, accepting that answer without asking me to turn Gavin’s case into bar conversation.

His attention shifted over my shoulder, and amusement returned.

“Your mountain man has spent the last hour pretending not to watch you.”

I looked at Rex, who was helping stack empty glass racks near the rear station.

“He’s not my mountain man.”

Case’s eyebrows rose.

I took a drink of cider before he could say anything.

The apple and spice were warm rather than overly sweet, with enough cinnamon to smell like Halloween without tasting like a candle.

When I lowered the mug, Case was smiling.

“I didn’t say another word.”

“You didn’t need to.”

“That’s one of my gifts.”

A customer approached, ending the conversation before it could become another topic I was not ready to define.

The owner found me shortly after ten with the revised prep plan approved and a question about whether I could come in for a few hours the next morning.

I said yes before overthinking it.

He looked relieved. “I know you’ve got another job now, so tell me if I’m asking too much.”

“You’re not. Rex knows where I am.”

The words slipped out naturally, and I noticed the distinction only after the owner had thanked me and walked away. I’d said Rex knew where I was, not my boss or North Fork, and something about that warmed me all the way down.

When I went to find him, he was standing near the front windows watching the rain rather than his phone.

“Ready?” Rex asked.

“Yes. The Halloween food quantities should survive actual guests now.”

His mouth shifted. “I’ve learned to respect restaurant emergencies.”

His hand came to the small of my back as we stepped through the door.

The touch was familiar after only two days.

That should probably have concerned me more than it did.

Outside, the rain had finally stopped. The temperature had dropped with it, leaving the air cold enough to make my breath visible as we crossed toward the truck. Water shone black on the street, carrying reflections from pumpkin lights, neon beer signs, and the warm Lantern House windows behind us.

Rex opened my door.