Cecilia, present day

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“I don’t have to come with you,” Colin said as they walked hand in hand down the street. “I can leave you to your friend and keep myself busy for a couple of hours.”

CeCe stopped and rose onto tiptoe, giving Colin a heated kiss. The man was on fire, he’d made her come with his fingers then his mouth in the shower, all before he’d bent her over the vanity and given them each a release that had made them see stars.

“You don’t have to hang out,” she said, pulling back. “But I definitely want you there.”

One side of his mouth tipped up. “Okay.”

With just that, he took her hand again and they strode forward to the restaurant.

A simple request, a simple acquiescence.

Effortless.

He was just so easy to be with.

A happy sigh had him glancing down with a raised brow and she just blurted it out, no fear this time. “I love you.”

His hand twitched in hers. “I love you,” he said and pressed a kiss to the spot behind her ear. “You’re the other half of my heart,” he murmured.

Her own heart twitched and she bit her lip. “Romantic,” she teased.

“Apparently.” He tucked her against his side.

She tilted her head to glance up at him. “Besides me wanting to monopolize all your time, I’m sure Heather is dying for gossip to send to the ravenous crew at home after I told her I was seeing someone.”

“Yeah?” He glanced up at a street sign and pointed ahead. “The restaurant should be just ahead. What did you tell her about me?”

She smirked. “That you were trouble.”

He snorted. “Women.”

“Men.” But she snuggled closer as she said it, loving the feel of his arms around her. “Thank you for chasing me down, Colin. I didn’t think it was possible to feel this happy again.”

The arm that was around her shoulders twitched and he whispered, “I want to take you back to the flat and strip you naked all over again for saying that.”

Cecilia turned her head to press a kiss to his biceps. “I want that too. But first, food.” They’d reached the restaurant and Colin held open the door for her. “Oh look! There’s Heather. I can’t believe she beat us here.” She waved, lacing her hand through his, and waded her way through the crowded space, feeling Colin falter for a moment before his steps picked up behind her. “Hi,” she said when she’d reached the table and hugged Heather, who returned the gesture almost woodenly. CeCe pulled back. “You okay?”

But Heather wasn’t looking at her. She was looking over Cecilia’s shoulder. “McGregor?” she asked. “I thought we weren’t meeting until later in the week?”

Cecilia glanced up at Colin. His face was as surprised as Heather’s. “That was the plan,” he said.

They both looked at her.

“Um. I guess our Heathers are the same?”

“Hmm,” Heather said, shaking her head. “Well, sit down. How did this happen? Do I need a drink?”

“I’ve known Colin since I graduated from high school,” Cecilia said, picking up a menu as Colin settled in next to her.

“What is it with all my employees fraternizing?” Heather grumbled.

Cecilia shook her head at the same time that Colin raised a brow. “Employee?” he asked.

“Fine,” Heather said, holding up a hand. “Don’t go all alpha male on me. Business partner. But first there were Abby and Jordan and now you”—she pointed at CeCe—“and McGregor. Abby just told me you accepted her offer and you”—she continued her pointing streak, this time singling out Colin—“the ink on our contract is barely dry. How could this happen?”

“I love her,” Colin said with a shrug. “Always have. Always will.”

CeCe’s heart gave a little aw and Heather’s mouth clamped shut at the words. “Damn,” she said after a moment. “You’ve got a live one.”

“I know,” Cecilia said.

“You also know the girls are going to want every single detail.”

A sigh, but CeCe was secretly thrilled that Heather seemed to approve. “I know. I’m expecting it’ll take several FaceTimes to satisfy everyone’s curiosity.”

“More than that.” Heather chuckled and nodded her head at Colin. “Just look at him.”

Col frowned, glancing down at himself in a confused way that made CeCe smile. “You’re gorgeous,” she murmured into his ear. “And perfect for me in every way.”

He squeezed her thigh, murmured back, “What was that about me being a romantic?”

They stared at each other, eyes saying all the things their mouths couldn’t in a crowded restaurant . . . at least until a click startled them out of their reverie.

“Sorry,” Heather said. “I had to. You guys are just—” She shook her head and Cecilia felt her phone ping on the group text she and the girls shared.

“Really?” She sighed. “There will be no end to it now.”

Heather laughed. “Not for me.” A grin. “I have to get off to a business meeting in a few anyway.” She waved at the waitress. “This asshole from Savant Technologies is trying to undercut one of my deals. He thinks he’s so flipping”—she rolled her eyes—“amazing and manly and that just because he possesses a Y-chromosome, he knows how to run a company better than me. Idiot.” She asked the waitress for a drink then paused her diatribe as Colin and Cecilia ordered after quick glances at the menu. “I swear if he thinks that he can get the best of me, he’s got another thing coming. Ugh. Sorry.” She waved a hand and pivoted subjects so quickly that CeCe felt her head spin for a moment. But that was always the way with Heather. “I want to hear all about Finland. Was it amazing?”

“So amazing,” Cecilia said, placing her palm over Colin’s where it still rested on her thigh and then proceeding to chat away with Heather.

Aside from a few words here or there, Colin let them have their fun and Cecilia did manage to shut up long enough about the aurora borealis to let him and Heather touch base on a few business details that had come up since he’d left San Francisco.

But then Heather was checking her phone and cursing, yanking her wallet from her purse.

They both waved her off, promising another get together in the near future and watching with wide eyes as she bustled out the door, fury in every line of her body. The crowd parted before her like the Red Sea and a man scrambled to open the door, looking blindsided when Heather unleashed a smile in his direction.

“The man who’s trying to undercut her is a bloody idiot,” Colin said.

“Agreed.” The door closed and she turned back to her man, the one that was lifting her up instead of cutting her down. “So your Heather is my Heather?” she asked.

His thumb came up, touching the corner of her mouth. “Apparently.”

“Small world,” she said.

“Very small.” He smoothed back a lock of her hair, tucking it behind her ear. “But mine is so much bigger with you in it.”