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That made me laugh. She looked so cute holding that big cup.
A spoon dropped to the floor, and Sigmund bent to pick it up. The beret he’d been wearing slipped off his head. I was shocked to see his thick mane of hair gone, replaced by a short, cropped cut. Strange. I didn’t say anything, but I certainly wondered why he’d cut it.
Over the next hour, Sig made corn bread in the toaster oven and put out an array of toppings for the chili: sliced avocadoes, shredded cheese, sour cream, and jalapeño peppers.
I helped set the table as he carried the pot over, placing it on a trivet.
As we dug in, Lavinia sang Sig’s praises. “Such a handsome man who can cook is hard to find.”
“Are you hinting at something, Lavinia?” he asked.
She blushed. It was freaking adorable. “If I were forty years younger, perhaps.”
“Age is just a number.” Sig looked over at me. “Sort of like 2023 versus 2025.”
I dropped my spoon and glared at him.
“Too soon?” He smirked.
Then, amazingly, I burst out laughing until I cried. I didn’t know if my tears were happy or sad, but it felt good to let it all out after the day I’d had.
Sig had checked his phone a lot during dinner. I wondered if Leo was texting him, but I was afraid to ask.
He pointed to my empty cup. “You want another drink? You only had one.”
“No, I’d better not.”
“You might need one.”
“Why is that?”
“Because he’s on his way over.”
Shit. My stomach dipped. “Okay, yeah.”
“Thought so.”
Sig stood and poured the last of the frozen margarita into my cup.
“Go prepare yourself. I’ve got the cleanup covered.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’ve got nothing else to do.”
“Thank you, Sig. Truly.” It turned out this dinner had been exactly what I needed to calm down. Who would have known that at a time like this, Sigmund Benedictus would be my savior? Life is funny—when it’s not excruciatingly sad.
Ten minutes later, the doorbell rang. I let Lavinia answer, because after the scene I’d made earlier, there was no way I was going to rush to the door. Never again would I put myself in such a vulnerable position.
I lifted myself off the couch but didn’t move from my spot. I just listened.
“I know you,” came Lavinia’s voice from the doorway. “Oh my. You’re…Your Grace? What are you doing at my house? Have I done something wrong?”
It hadn’t occurred to me that she would freak out.
“No, madam. I’m sorry to alarm you. I’m here to see Felicity. And please, call me Leo.”
“She said her lost love’s name was Leo, but I never imagined.” She looked back at me for a moment. “You’re...oh my dear. It’s you. You’re the man who broke her heart.”
His eyes met mine, and suddenly the margaritas were no match for my emotions. So much for that plan. The look of pain on his face made me sad, not only for me, but for him. I knew it hurt Leo to know he’d hurt me. He hadn’t meant to. Neither of us had meant for this to happen.
Because Lavinia was still frozen in shock, she hadn’t invited him in.
Sig came to the rescue. “Lavinia, earlier you were telling me about that game you wanted to show me how to play. I’ve cleared the table. Why don’t you get the cards?”
“Oh...yes.” She snapped out of her stupor. “Let me get them.” She rushed away.
Once they exited the room, Leo stepped inside and walked toward me. Everything in me felt electrified. He looked at me for a few seconds before he reached out and pulled me into his arms. I could instantly feel his heartbeat.
I hadn’t expected him to touch me—earlier he had kept his distance. In the warmth of his arms, I let my guard down for a moment, allowing myself to experience the comfort of his embrace and his familiar smell, even if it was bittersweet. Still, I never wanted him to let go.
“I’m so sorry about today,” he whispered. “And I’m sorry it took me so long to get here.”
When he pulled away, I wondered if that had been the last time I’d ever feel him against me.
He looked down at my chest. “Look at you, here in England in your Hello Kitty shirt.”
“Well, Sig was kind enough to point out that I looked like a swamp monster in my drenched outfit from earlier.”
Leo forced a smile. “You mentioned you didn’t have a phone. I felt terrible when you walked away in the rain. I’m glad he was with you until I could get here.”
“You assumed I would flee?”
“Yeah, actually. And I wouldn’t have blamed you.”
“You were probably right. I might have.” I looked down. “What happened after I left you today?”
When he exhaled, the brief touch of his breath against my skin felt torturous.
“I explained everything to Darcie. Though the moment she saw you, she knew who you were.”
