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Her eyes avoiding mine in the mirror. "Nothing," she says unconvincingly.
I squeeze her a little tighter, pressing a soft kiss to her neck. "Don't lie to me, baby."
Grace sighs, her shoulders slumping.
"This weekend has been amazing. It's been like our own little bubble. And tomorrow, I have to go back to Philly." Her voice cracks at the end, and it's obvious she doesn't want our time together to be over yet.
My heart clenches at the thought of her leaving. I want to tell her that she's not going back to Philly, that I won't let her go. There's still so much uncertainty, so many unanswered questions. We can't keep this a secret forever. My boss will find out sooner or later, and who knows how he'll react.
But there is one thing I know for sure. Grace is mine and I'm not giving her up. And if that means I have to fight about it with Rich, so be it.
But I don't want to scare her off. Instead, I attempt to lift her spirits with the element of surprise.
"I have something for you."
"Really? What is it?" Her eyes light up with curiosity, the frown momentarily forgotten.
"Ah, that would spoil the surprise," I tease, eliciting a small smile from her. "But I'll show you after the grand opening of Sunnyside Pizza is over, alright?"
"Alright," she agrees, her smile growing wider.
We finish getting ready, my thoughts occupied by the surprise I have planned for her. I hope it will be enough to convince her that we belong together, and that she doesn't need to return to Philly. The anticipation buzzes between us, filling the air with electricity.
As we leave the room, hand in hand, I can't help but feel a mixture of excitement and apprehension about what's to come. Whatever happens next, I know one thing for certain: I'll do whatever it takes to keep her with me.
Chapter Six
GRACE
The parking lotis packed when we arrive at the grand opening of Sunnyside Pizza. It's an impressive turnout for such a small town.
We decide to park in the back of the lot close to the trees for some much needed shade. As Duke's truck rolls to a stop in the parking spot, I'm relieved that he looks less tense than he did earlier. He turns off the ignition and looks over at me with a smile.
"So, how do these things usually go?" he asks. "Does Mimi get recognized by adoring fans?"
I laugh lightly, patting Mimi's head before answering. "Well, I like to let Mimi explore a bit while I capture the ambiance with my camera. Then, we mingle, sample the food, and write about our experience."
He chuckles, running his hand through his dark hair. "Sounds good to me," he says, "as long as your adoring fans keep their distance."
I playfully swat his arm, leaning in to steal a kiss. "Don't worry, handsome," I whisper, my lips grazing his, "I only have eyes for you."
Duke growls and kisses me back. "Good." Then he opens the door and we step out into the warm air.
The lively hum of a crowd greets me as I walk up to the entrance of the restaurant. Mimi, is by my side, her tail wagging in time with the music playing from the speakers. Duke, meanwhile, trails behind us, his eyes scanning the crowd.
As we approach the front entrance, a pretty woman with blonde hair and a radiant pregnancy glow waves me over. Her eyes sparkle with a friendly warmth that instantly puts me at ease.
“I’m Penny Walker,” she says, extending a hand. “I own this place.”
“It’s lovely to meet you, Penny,” I reply, smiling as I shake her hand.
She then gestures to the tall man standing next to her. He has a firm handshake and a steady gaze that's both professional and friendly. “And this is our general manager, Shawn Thomas.”
“It’s nice to finally put a face to the name,” I say, thinking of all the emails we've exchanged over the past few weeks. Duke stiffens beside me as I release Shawn's hand, but I barely notice it.
Penny beams at me, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “I’m such a fan of your blog, Mimi’s Plate,” she admits. “I can’t wait to read your thoughts on our pizza.”
“I can’t wait to try it,” I assure her.
