She inspected the ratty fleece jogging suit she’d donned after work and her stockinged feet. Sighed. Much as she wanted an answer on the masterclass tonight, the thought of changing clothes again and leaving her cozy cottage held zero appeal. After putting in a full week and juggling both of her paying jobs the past two days, the spirit was willing—but the flesh was weak.

However, she could plead her case about the masterclass more effectively in person.

If a change of clothes and a short drive were what it took to get him to commit, so be it.

She marshaled her waning energy and tried for a cheery tone. “I appreciate the invitation. I’ll be finished with dinner in a few minutes, and as soon as I change, I can come over.”

Several silent seconds ticked by.

“You sound tired.”

Her eyebrows rose.

How had Jack picked up on her fatigue?

“I’m fine.”

More silence.

“Would you rather we bring the cake to you—assuming you’re in the mood for chocolate?”

Yes!

“I’m always in the mood for chocolate.”

“I’ll take that as an affirmative. Would half an hour work?”

“Are you certain you don’t mind driving over?”

“It’s not much of a trip. Everything is close in Hope Harbor.”

“In that case, let’s aim for twenty minutes. I’m almost finished with dinner, and you’ve whetted my appetite for cake.”

“Twenty minutes it is. See you then.”

As soon as the line went dead, Christi gobbled down the rest of her omelet, took care of her dishes, gathered up her notes, and pulled a folding chair from the closet to accommodate a third person at the small café table in the bay window. It would be tight—but manageable.

She also detoured to the master bath upstairs. Changing her clothes was too much of an effort, but touching up her mascara and lipstick? Putting on shoes? No problem.

The crunch of gravel on the drive announced the arrival of her guests as she came back down the stairs with three of the twenty minutes to spare. She continued to the door, peeking through the clear glass edge of one of the sea glass mosaic sidelights as Hannah bounded toward the porch while Jack retrieved the cake from the back seat.

As her young charge reached the steps, she opened the door. “This is a lovely surprise.”

“It was my idea to share the cake. Well, mine and the lady’s who baked it.” She continued into the living room, already at home in the cottage where she’d spent the past two evenings. “But he was the one who decided we should come here. And I’m glad. This is a happy house.”

Happy?