Jojo left me alone, and I leaned back, taking in a deep breath. The surface of my desk was still as empty as it had been on my first day, but for the three photographs I had framed. I picked up the metal five-by-seven, looking over the hideously cropped retake of a picture of Finley hanging on the wall of the chateau. It was ironic that that very picture had landed me the photography job in the first place, and just eighteen months later, it looked so amateur I had to lay it flat on its face several times a day.

The front door chimed, and Jojo greeted whoever approached her front desk. I could tell by the familiarity and condescension in her voice that it was Tyler.

“Ellie?” Jojo’s voice squeaked over the intercom.

I pressed a button. “Yes?”

Tyler was in the background, complaining that Jojo should just let him come back to my office.

“Tyler Maddox is here to see you. Shall I allow him back, or would you like me to suggest he return to the sea of venereal disease where he came from?”

I spit out a laugh. “Send him back.”

She sighed loudly. “Fine.”

Tyler appeared, holding two fountain drinks. “Sprite for you,” he said, sitting it on my desk. “Cherry Coke for me.”

“Thank you,” I said, wrapping my lips around the straw. “So, Chief called today.”

“Did he?” Tyler asking, feigning surprise. He sat on the love seat in the exact spot Jojo had been, bouncing a few times.

“How did you talk him into it?”

“Now how in the hell am I going to talk Chief into bringing you back after what you pulled in Colorado Springs?”

“Don’t lie.”

“You’re right. We all talked him into it.”

“Who’s we?”

“The guys. They miss you. Puddin’ laments your grilled cheese at least twice a day.”

“I said yes.”

His eyebrows shot up. “You did?”

I nodded, and he popped out of the love seat, leaning over my desk and grabbing my cheeks to plant a kiss on my lips.

“Wow, I should say yes more often.”

“I agree. Remember what happened the night of the last time you said yes?”

“Yes, I do.”

He smirked. “You said yes a lot that night.”

“Shut it. What are you doing tonight?”

“Besides you?” he asked.

“Hilarious. Any plans?”

He chuckled, itching the side of his nose. “No, baby. You’re the only plans I have.”

“Good, because we’ve been invited to dinner at the chateau.”

“What’s that?”

“My parents’ vacation home.”

He blanched. “Say what?”

“My parents would like to meet you.”

He blinked, his entire body frozen in the position it was in when I broke the news. “Oh.”

“Oh?”

“I just thought … you know … we weren’t going to any parties.”

“Not a party. Dinner. And they’re serving sparkling water. Finley will be there.”