Page 82 of After You Returned

I scowl. How am I supposed to keep my distance from him and keep my heart safe when he’s being this sweet?

He drops a feather soft kiss onto my lips and my scowl disappears. “Let’s get you fed before you get cranky.”

“I don’t get cranky when I’m hungry.”

He tweaks my nose. “Sure, you don’t.”

We’re holding hands when we enterPirate’s Pastriesten minutes later. The line is long with people waiting to get their coffee and muffin fix. But it moves quickly, and soon enough it’s our turn.

“Yes!” Parker shouts when she sees us. “I knew you two would work things out.”

I narrow my eyes at her. “Knew we’d work things out or bet we would?”

I should have known. Smugglers love betting. Especially when the wager involves locals. Who’s getting married and when. Who’s pregnant. Will the baby be a boy or girl. The list goes on and on.

Parker shrugs. “Same thing.”

“Betting is fueled by gossip. I thought you hated gossip.”

“No one’s gossiping about you. We’re merely interested in how you are doing.”

“I prefer the old you before you fell in love with a billionaire.”

I’m lying. I didn’t enjoy watching Parker struggle one bit. No one understood why the bakery was in trouble. It wasalways crowded. No one realized Parker was trying to repair her relationship with her parents with money. I will forever be in Jeremy’s debt for loving Parker and convincing her that her parents don’t deserve her hard-earned money.

Parker’s smile stretches from ear to ear. “Jeremy is the best.”

I nod to Miles. “This guy isn’t too bad either.”

Miles throws an arm around my shoulders. “Isn’t too bad? Do I need to prove I’m pretty damn good again? You’ll be late for your first patient.”

I wish I could be late. But people take time out of their work days to visit a physical therapist. It would be unfair of me to be late and have them miss even more work time.

I elbow Miles. “Behave.”

Parker giggles. “I’ll take words I never expected to hear Hazel Harris speak for five-hundred dollars.”

I frown. “I behave.”

She snorts. “Sure, you do. And you’ve never tried to steal Viking before either.”

“I thought I found a loophole.”

Every summer, the residents of the island try to steal the live mascots. I decided to steal Viking – he’s the most tame and easiest to handle of the mascots – but I was told in no uncertain terminology by the mayor, I couldn’t steal the otter since I’m a resident of Smuggler’s Rest, which is the town Viking is the mascot for.

I peer around the counter. “Where is Smuggler’s Rest most famous resident, anyway? I want my otter cuddles.”

“He’s sleeping beneath the ovens.”

“I guess I’m visiting the kitchen.” I start to go around the counter but Miles shackles my wrist to stop me.

“You need to eat your muffin and drink your coffee. You have less than fifteen minutes before your first patient arrives.”

Parker gasps. “Does Miles sound concerned about you being on time, or am I having hallucinations?”

I giggle. “I’ve thought I was having hallucinations plenty of times recently.”

She groans. “Don’t tell me you’re harvesting mushrooms again.”