I knew Gia has been having lunch with my ma since I went to rehab because the minute I see my ma she gushes about her like a proud parent and asks me when we are getting back together.

Ma loves Gia like her own daughter.

“I got your letters from rehab, they were sweet.” Gia looks down at the white tiles and back at me. “Did you really mean what you said?”

I nod, then her eyes grow glassy before she smiles.

“Ask her out for coffee already,” the woman sticking cupcakes into the oven says. “I’m sick of her moping and checking her phone every five minutes to see if you called or texted.”

She must be Paris, the one I spoke to on the phone about buying the store for Gia.

“You could have reached out to me. I would have never ignored you.” I lean against the white counter.

“She’s exaggerating,” Gia whispers as she twirls a loose strand around her fingers. “I was scared you would reject me because I broke things off with you.”

I smile inwardly at her answer. “What time do you get off? I’ll take you home after your shift is over so we can talk.”

I’m not giving her an option to say no.

“I get off at seven.”

* * *

Gia

He shows up at seven on the dot and sits at a round white table as he watches me make cupcakes and take customers’ orders. I get off at eight, but honestly, I didn’t expect him to show on time. If you’re going to plan anything with Gunner, you have to lie to him about the time because he’ll show up late. When we used to go on dates, especially when we’d go to the movies, I’d tell him to show up an hour earlier than the actual time.

After I lock the door to my new business, I slide in the passenger seat of his Audi. Leather and cinnamon invade my nostrils but not the scent of whiskey. I missed him so much I want to cry. He looks sexier; my ovaries are on fire and my nipples are already hard against the fabric. He doesn’t have bags under his eyes and something about his demeanor is different—he isn’t angry, but cool as a peppermint candy. He actually combed his auburn hair to the side and the beard he grew in rehab is neat. Nervousness and excitement dance in the pit of my stomach and my heart is jumping for joy. My heart and I have our moments and we’re getting along, but she gets too out of control when Wolf is around.