The next morning Mari was up early—she’d hardly slept the night before. She’d already packed for both herself and Harper. The limo would arrive in a few hours, and she was determined to spend as much of that time with Hank as she could.

After getting ready she went downstairs, prepared to make a big breakfast for the three of them, but as she descended the stairs she could smell something wonderful cooking. Had Mrs. Stillman returned early?

Curious, she went into the kitchen and found Hank standing in front of the stove flipping a batch of French toast. And he was wearing an apron.

The surprise of seeing him in a completely unexpected role made her smile—something she desperately needed.

“Look at you,” she said as she approached him, stopping on the opposite side of the island.

He lifted his head, and when he saw her, he smiled. “Thought I’d send you and Harper off with a good breakfast.” He grinned. “Your flight’s too short for anything besides a couple of peanuts.”

The reminder that she was leaving dimmed her happiness, but she had to face reality. “It smells delicious.”

“I only burned one batch, so I’m doing pretty good.”

She laughed. “Yeah. One burned batch is acceptable.”

He scooped the golden-brown slices of bread out of the pan and placed them on a plate, then dipped more bread in the batter before dropping them into the pan with a sizzle.

“Maybe you should get Harper up,” he said. “I’d like to spend some time with her before you leave.”

Didn’t he want to spend time with her? More than a little disappointed, she plastered a smile onto her mouth. “Of course.”

He must have read the dismay in her eyes, because he set the spatula down and said, “Come here, Mari.”

Hurrying around to his side, when he opened his arms, she went right into them, and when he kissed her neck, his lips moving over her jaw and stopping on her mouth, love and desire tore through her. She wrapped her arms around his neck, not ready to say good-bye. Not ever wanting to say good-bye.

“It’ll all work out,” he murmured near her ear.

Why did he keep saying that? He had no idea if anything would work out, and it was starting to drive her crazy that he seemed so confident that it would. Still, she didn’t want to ruin the moment by starting an argument, so instead of responding to his words, she just held him tight.

The smell of burning bread hit them.

“Oops,” he said as he released her. “Make that two batches that I burned.”

She didn’t care, and she couldn’t quite bring herself to laugh. She couldn’t even crack a smile. “I’ll go get Harper,” she said instead, then she trudged out of the room and up the stairs.

* * *

Hank was trying to make the best of an impossible situation. Why did Mari have to be so downcast? It only made it harder for both of them.

Sighing despite his determination to not become melancholy, he flipped the batch of French toast, and when Harper bounded into the kitchen a few minutes later, her bright smile cheered him considerably.

“Good morning, Princess Pink Rose,” he said as he swept her into his arms.

“I’m going on an airplane today.”

“That’s right. You are.” He looked at Mari, who had followed Harper into the room. “You and Mari.”

Mari had a smile on her face, but he could tell it was forced.

“I get to see Mommy,” Harper said.

“That’s right. And I’m gonna miss you.”

She hugged him. “I miss you too.”

He snuggled her in his arms, then he looked at her. “Will you come back to see me?”

She held up her little finger. “I promise my pinky.”

He looked at Mari, whose smile seemed genuine now. “She’s giving you a pinky promise.”

Softly chuckling, Hank wrapped his pinky around Harper’s, then kissed her on the cheek before setting her down. “Are you ready for some French toast?”

“Yes.”

“Okay. Go sit at the table and I’ll bring it to you.”

She did as he asked, and Mari sat beside her.

Limping slightly, he carried the platter to the table, set it in the middle, then sat down. They ate in relative silence, and the morose mood didn’t go away as Mari helped him clean up while Harper watched a movie.

In an hour, they would be gone.

He tried not to think about it.

“Are you going to talk to London?” Mari asked as she placed a dirty dish in the dishwasher.

That was something he was dreading even more than them leaving because he knew London would be livid. Not a pleasant thing under the best of circumstances. But he would do it. “Yeah.”

Mari straightened and looked at him. “When?”

“I’ll call her tonight.”

Her forehead creased. “Tonight?”

“Yeah. I’m gonna tell her that we’re together, but that you still want to take care of Harper. That it’s in Harper’s best interest for her to leave things be.”

* * *

While Mari was beyond grateful that he was willing to talk to London, to try to fix things, when he laid it out like that, panic blossomed inside her. If he told London the truth, she would fire Mari for sure. She couldn’t let that happen. Harper needed her.

Maybe if they kept quiet, it would all blow over. Besides, Mari would be in LA and Hank would be in Sacramento. They weren’t going to be together any longer, were they? Really, there was nothing to tell. This incredible thing she had with him? It was about to fall completely apart. In all reality, once she was in LA, under London’s roof, she wouldn’t be able to continue with him. How could she? Right under London’s nose? That would be insane.

There was no hiding from it. Their relationship was about to crash and burn.

She wanted to be brave about this, but as she looked at Hank, at those amazing eyes, at those lips that had set her on fire numerous times, it felt as if her heart was shattering. And there was nothing she could do to stop it.

“No,” she said, her voice just above a whisper. “Don’t call her.”

Hank’s eyebrows shot up. “I thought that’s what you wanted.”

“It’s just…there’s no point. I mean, we’re not going to be together anymore.”

* * *

Is that really how she saw it? Hank was surprised. And a little hurt. Was she ready to end things already? Did she want to make a clean break?

Maybe she had the right idea. Maybe that would be the best way to handle this impossible situation.

But he’d fallen in love with her. He’d told her as much the day before. And she’d said she loved him. Did that mean nothing to her? He didn’t believe that.

Could it be that this time at his house had just been an interlude—for both of them? Had it been like their own little paradise, cut off from the world with only each other to focus on? And now that reality was about to intrude, perhaps their love for each other wouldn’t stand up to it?

Yes, making a clean break would be best.

“You’re right,” he said. “We should let it lie.”

* * *

So it was over. No trying to change her mind, no hint of regret. Nothing. She looked away, devastated.

She should have heeded London’s warning, and now she would have to live with her heartbreak.

Regret, painful as acid, washed over her, and she finished loading the dishwasher in silence, but she could feel Hank’s eyes on her.

The limo arrived a short time later.

“It’s time to go,” Mari called out to Harper, who slid off the couch and walked toward her, dragging her Snow White backpack behind her. Swallowing the tears that clogged her throat, Mari smiled. “Come tell your daddy good-bye.”

Hank scooped Harper into his arms and held her tight as he swayed back and forth. “I love you, Princess Pink Rose.”

“I love you, Daddy.”

He kissed her cheek. “I’ll see you soon, okay?”

She nodded and he set her down.

Not sure what to do—Mari wasn’t about to throw herself at Hank in front of Harper—she ushered Harper out the door and toward the limo. While she secured Harper’s carseat, Hank and the limo driver loaded their luggage.

“Climb on in,” she said to Harper, and once Harper was inside, Mari closed the door and turned to Hank.

Hank told the driver he would help Mari get in, and the driver got behind the wheel.

Mari couldn’t stand it a moment longer. The damn burst and tears filled her eyes, sliding down her face. Hank pulled her into his arms and she sank against him, her heart disintegrating into a million pieces.

“It’s gonna be okay,” he murmured in her ear. “You’ll be back soon and we’ll figure things out.”

Soon wasn’t soon enough. He held her while she cried, then when her tears slowed, he cupped her face with his hands and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips.

“I love you, Marigold. Don’t forget that.”

Those words meant everything to her and she smiled through her tears. “I love you too.”

Using his thumbs, he wiped the tears from her cheeks, then he walked her to the other side of the limo and opened the door. After a final kiss, he helped her inside, bending down to tell Harper good-bye one more time.

Mari sniffed away her tears—she couldn’t have Harper seeing her so upset—then she smiled as Hank closed the door and the limo pulled away from the curb.

Minutes later, Harper burst into tears. “I miss my daddy.”

Wanting to burst into tears herself, Mari took several deep breaths to get her emotions under control, then she smiled at Harper. “I know. But we’ll be back here before you know it. And today you get to see your mommy!”

That seemed to cheer Harper, although it didn’t do a thing for Mari.

* * *

Hank didn’t allow himself time to miss Mari or Harper. Instead, he headed to the team facility to get his hamstring worked on. But as he drove, he couldn’t help but think about Mari, about her sobs. He’d been wrong to think she wanted a clean break. Clearly, she didn’t want that at all. Yet she wasn’t prepared to abandon Harper. That just made him love her all the more.

He had no idea what he was going to do.