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And I do. No one could.

"That's not what I mean. I want to understand what mattered to her, yes. But..." I glance between them. "I need something that's mine too. Something useful."

Emma's smile is warm.

"Then come tomorrow. See what you think."

"I'd like that."

The bell above the door rings. I look over. Martinez. Of course.

He's wearing jeans, work boots, and a dark green T-shirt beneath an open flannel shirt. His eyes sweep the shop. Then find mine. They pause. Only for a second.

"Morning."

"Hey, Javier," Emma says.

Betty reaches automatically for a stack of cups.

"Crew coffee?"

"Eight."

He steps up to the counter. I lift my latte.

"Martinez."

"Hart."

The single word does something strange to my stomach. I've been Madison all morning. Betty's Maddy, Emma's Madison, my own name in my own head. And now, just like that, I'm Hart. Nothing dramatic. Just enough to notice. Just enough to annoy me.

Betty starts filling cups. Emma turns toward him.

"I'll be out tomorrow morning. I need to check Atlas and two of the other dogs."

"Nine?"

"About that."

She glances at me.

"Madison's coming with me."

Javier looks at me. And something changes. A fractional lift of his eyebrows. A brief flash in his eyes. Gone almost before I catch it. Then his expression settles back into that irritating calm.

"Hart's coming to the farm."

I raise an eyebrow.

"That a problem?"

"No."

His answer comes quickly. Maybe too quickly.

"Good."

His mouth almost moves. There we are.