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I narrow my eyes playfully as I dump a mountain of syrup on top of my pancakes.
“I have a surprise for you.”
I press my lips together to suppress a grin as I swallow my mouthful of bacon, feeding him his words. “You don’t say!”
“I can guarantee you’ll like it.”
I moan in bliss when I take my first bite of fluffy, syrupy pancakes, but just then, the elevator dings, and Alex rises with a grin. “Ah, right on time. He’s nothing if not punctual.”
My forehead puckers. “Who?”
A tall man with a shock of ginger hair, who looks strangely familiar, rounds the corner of the kitchen, smiling hesitantly as he extends his hand. “Bailey Malone.”
I take the offered hand with a small smile. “Reyna Marq—”
Alex cuts me off when he clears his throat pointedly, and I chuckle softly as I rephrase my answer. “Pleased to meet you, Bailey. I’m ReynaDeMarco.”
Bailey smiles warmly, and the familiarity deepens, though I can’t understand why.
“Bailey is Darcy’s son, Rey.”
My face brightens with a wide smile, finally catching on. “Iabsolutelysee the resemblance.”
He blushes bright red all the way from the starched collar of his white shirt to the tips of his ears before clearing his throat and finding his stride.
“Ahem, so today, I will be your companion for the tour, and then we—”
“Tour? What tour?” I spin questioning eyes toward my grinning husband.
“Surprise, Sunshine!” He rounds the island to cluck me under the chin, his eyes dancing in contagious delight. “Today, you’re checking out properties for that dance studio I owe you.”
* * *
“That last place wasperfect.”
One thing I’ve learned about Alex’s assistant today is that he’s very quick to smile, and he shoots me a bright one now as he nods excessively.
“Agreed. It was absolutely ideal. That floor space.Thatview!” He shakes his head in wonderment. “Your face was priceless! Would you like me to put in a bid?”
“Hell no!” My brows almost hit my hairline. “I mean, I should talk to Alex first. It’s a lot of money—”
Bailey cuts me off softly. “Mr. DeMarco wasveryspecific that there’s to be no budget when it comes to what you want.”
I shake my head as the town car rolls to a gentle stop. “There’s really no rush. It can wait until after I’ve spoken to him.”
Bailey regards me with knowing eyes, despite the tender age of our tentative friendship.
“If you’resure. The owner did mention several other interested parties…”
My mind is so utterly conflicted, and although I don’t doubt that what Bailey said about a limitless budget is true—and very in character for Alex—I simplycan’tcommit to something as monumental before going over everything.
I shake my head, firm in my decision. “No, thank you. I’d prefer to wait.”
Ford—who Alex had insisted I bring with me today, ever mindful of my safety, despite the agreement with Everly and Keller—opens the rear passenger side door, and when Bailey slides out, I realize with a start that we are outside Molly Malones.
Bailey looks at me, red-faced and slightly sheepish. “I told Mom I was shadowing you today, and she made me swear to bring you by. I should have mentioned—”
“Not at all.”
