That happened to be true, but Summer was thinking hot wouldn’t necessarily feed the soul. And since when had she ever cared about feeding the soul—she had no idea.

When the meeting was over, Stella, Gregg, and the twins moved toward the door to get themselves downtown to the original Creative Interiors, but Camille stopped them. “I should mention, the fire marshals’ll be stopping by both shops today for any final questions they have for their report. Please cooperate with them fully.”

Chloe turned to Summer and raised a suggestive brow.

Summer ignored her but had two conflicting emotions barrel through her at the news she’d be seeing Joe today. Anticipation and trepidation.

But mostly anticipation.

Madeline scooted close and showed them Diana’s magazine, opened to the horoscope page. She pointed to Chloe’s, and read, “Your moons are lined up.”

“So full speed ahead,” Diana said to her older sister.

Chloe snagged the magazine and greedily soaked up her horoscope. “What does Summer’s say?”

“That she shouldn’t have gotten out of bed,” Diana read.

Summer sighed but she couldn’t work up any real irritation because she was still stuck on having to see Joe today. She needed more time to process the embarrassment of his rejection, and to distance herself from the fact that Chloe had been wrong—she wasn’t so irresistible after all.

Damn, he’d wanted her. She’d tasted that want, she’d felt it. And still, he’d walked away.

As she’d once done to him.

Well, damn it, she hoped they were even now.

She caught up with her mom behind the counter. “Where do you want me to work today?”

“Oh.” Camille looked around. In her long, flowing flowery sundress and natural makeup, she looked serene and elegant. Socks meowed at her feet and got scooped up, making him look quite pleased with himself. “You know you don’t have to,” Camille said.

“I want to.”

“You want to deal with beach cushions and pictures and lighthouses and grumpy toddlers and bossy shoppers, oh my?”

Teasing sarcasm. The gesture felt like a hug, and Summer grinned. “You know it.”

“It’s going to be too tame for you.”

Maybe she was ready for a little tame, ready to belong here. She reached for her mom’s hand and squeezed it with hers twice. In the old days that had been their code for “love you.” In keeping with the code, Camille would squeeze back three times, meaning “love you too.”

With a distracted smile, Camille squeezed back. One squeeze.

What the hell did that mean?

Camille hesitated and then said, “Honey, I’m grateful you’re here, but I just don’t think you should force yourself to stay. That’s all.”

“I’m not. I want to do this. I want to be with you.”

Camille looked down at their joined hands. “You haven’t always.”