“Oh, that’s just the nicest thing I’ve ever heard.” Jillian needed help from Sonja to push her way into a standing position, but then flew at Charlotte to wrap her in a hug. Soon, Charlotte felt warm tears dripping down her neck. Jillian sniffed, wiping at her suddenly wet cheeks. “Yes, you can take as much of the shell as you need. Please remove the curse from Leonard. We love him, and we want him around for a long time.”

“Great! Thanks—”

“What are you all talking about?” Leonard was standing in Jillian’s open door, holding a bulk mail carton.

“Leonard!” Jillian sniffed. “Charlotte thinks maybe she can use my eggshell to remove the curse! You’d be so much safer! And freer! And just imagine the stress it would take off of you!”

Leonard shook his head, a wounded expression souring his normally handsome features. He turned to Charlotte. “I told you what could happen if I try anything to remove the curse. The time for Seamus to apologize is long past. This is just something my family has to live with.”

“What happens if you try to remove the curse?” Sonja asked.

“It gets three times worse,” Leonard growled, putting his hands on Jillian’s desk. But his palms were sweaty and his hands slipped on the slick surface, throwing his weight off balance and sending him sprawling across the carpet.

“We did not know that,” Jillian said, suddenly very calm and contrite.

“I never asked you to remove anything, Charlotte,” he insisted as Sonja helped him to his feet. “And frankly, it’s a little insulting that you think you have to ‘fix me.’”

Bold words from a man previously sprawled across the carpet.

“I’m not trying to fix you, I’m just trying to remove an element that you didn’t ask for that makes your life more difficult! OK, that does sound a lot like fixing,” Charlotte said.

“I think we should excuse ourselves,” Sonja said, curving her hand under Jillian’s elbow and helping her waddle out of the room faster. “You two, just work this out in here.”

She closed the door, leaving Charlotte to face the music. Or at least, a hurt and disappointed Leonard, which was a lot worse. And heaven help her, if Leonard was attractive in his normal state, seeing him all fired up like this? His eyes got brighter, more intense. The red cheeks and tousled hair gave him a sort of tragic hero aesthetic. She was suddenly very aware of just how much strength he had in that tall frame of his, given the size of that bulk mail carton. The man had hidden, hotter depths. If she could just crawl into his lap and explain things—

No. She should not be having these thoughts right now, while he was all agitated and angry with her in her boss’ office. Right, she was in her boss’ office. That helped.