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“When I say everything is good, I mean it. But if you’ re worried, the dark-chocolate variety box is a safe backup.”

“Got it.” He looks at the phone, then back to me. “Should I include anything else?”

I shake my head. “Not yet. Let the truffles do the heavy lifting.”

He sets his phone down and takes a bite of the second dessert. “This one is decent, but it just tastes like the regular tiramisu.”

Suddenly, his phone starts vibrating against the table. He glances at the screen and grimaces, squeezing his eyes shut for a second. “Even on a Sunday, there’s no peace,” he mutters.

I take that as my cue to give him some space. As I gather the plates, he slides his finger across the screen. “Hello, Mr. Harris. What can I do for you?”

Back in the kitchen, I set the plates in the sink. Lina looks at me expectantly, her eyebrows practically reaching her hairline. “Well?”

“He went for the raspberries.”

“Brava. That’s the winner.”

“Hey, Katie,” Randy says, poking his head into the kitchen. Lina and I both stop and face him. He looks a bit windswept, his apron slightly askew. “Theo had to dart out. He’s heading to the airport. He couldn’t wait for the bill, but he said you could just charge the dinner to the corporate account.”

Lina presses her lips together, her eyes flashing with protective fire. “If I ever meet this Mr. Harris in person, I will be giving him a piece of my mind. I’m sick and tired of how he treats Theo like his personal errand boy. You should hear what Leon has to say about the man. He’s a terrible, terrible human.”

“You’ve been talking to Leon a lot lately,” I tease, trying to lighten the mood.

“We’re just friends,” Lina says, suddenly becoming very interested in wiping down an already clean counter.

Randy and I lock eyes, both of us biting back a laugh.

Lina and Leon, one of the senior engineers from Theo’s office, have been dancing around each other for the better part of a year. Maybe I should offer them a little push too. It worked with Theo and Kaori. Hmm.

“Sure, Lina. Just friends,” Randy says, deadpan. He turns his attention to me. “Anyway, I gave your email to Theo. He said he’d forward you the tickets and details for the tour tomorrow from the airport. Hope that makes sense to you.”

“It does,” I say. Even in the middle of a frantic dash to the airport, Theo is still looking out for me. I’m lucky to have a friend like that, and hope I’ll be able to return the favor to him when the time is right.

I can’t wait to see Max’s reaction.

Seven

Icover a yawn with my hand as I double check the locks on the back door of Mamma Lina’s. My watch buzzes with a text.

Max

Just checking, but are we still on for today? I hadn’t heard back from you and wanted to make sure.

Dang it. Of all the things to forget, not remembering to confirm the date with him has to rank somewhere between forgetting someone’s birthday and accidentally liking somebody’s three-year-old Photogram post.

I tap Reply and hit the microphone icon, speaking quickly into it while juggling my purse and keys. “Yes! I’m so sorry. Time got away from me. I have big plans for you. Can I pick you up at nine? I promise I’ll be on time today.”

I click Send without looking.

As exhausted as I was after my shift at Lina’s last night, I still drove straight to the gym for a late-night lifting session. Missing a training block this close to Coral Bay wasn’t an option.

By the time I finished my ankle exercises, stretched, and showered, it was nearly midnight. When my alarm went off at four this morning, I spent a solid thirty seconds staring at the ceiling, reconsidering every decision that had led me here—including not bribing Randy to cover my shift.

Why didn’t I listen to Lina? Mamma always knows best.

My watch chimes with a reply almost immediately.

Max