“This is … I don’t even have the words, Levi. Thank you.”

“Don’t go selling it or anything.”

I gawked at him. “I wouldn’t!”

He chuckled and wrapped his arms around me, grunting when the simple act became infinitely more cumbersome thanks to the painting in my arms. “I was teasing. But you never know, I could be worth a fortune one day.”

“You’re worth a fortune to me now.” I hugged the painting to my chest. “I think I’d like to hang it up here for a while. So everyone can enjoy it. Can we go hang it?”

He agreed readily, and we found a spot on the wall where I could always see it when I was at the counter.

“It’s perfect,” I said, stepping away, satisfied with the tilt of the frame. “I love it.”

Turning to Levi, I looped my arms around his neck and met his lips. We held them together for a few seconds before I took the lead. Our kiss was fast and slow, chaste and passionate. Every kiss with him felt like the first time.

Our tongues hungrily said hello, exploring each other with languid, unhurried curiosity. I felt each of his inhales and exhales against my skin, and I matched mine to his until even our breath thrust in and out in synchrony. His hand cupped my cheek and I melted against him. I pressed my lips to his wrist, satisfied on a primal level to hear his sharp, undone inhale.

His thumb gently rubbed against my lower lip. I knew it was swollen and red from his kiss, and I knew he knew it, too, judging by the way his eyes clouded with desire, growing a darker, indigo blue.

“We should join them,” said Levi, his breath a little ragged. He brought my hand to his lips and kissed my palm.

“You go ahead,” I said. “I just need to go to the restroom first.”

When I came out a few minutes later, my eyes landed on his painting of Busy’s. Warmth bloomed in my chest. Even when Levi left, a piece of him would still be here. A pleasant shiver went down my spine. A second later, the warm, cocooned feeling of being in like was blotted out with a splash of ice water.

Because Penny was standing in the doorway, mouth pulled into a sullen frown, while Mrs. Wang waved from behind her.

“Babe!” Mrs. Wang bustled into the coffee shop, quickly enveloping me in a hug that smelled like honeysuckle and sunshine. “You look like a tomato, sweetie,” she said with a cluck of her tongue, studying my face. “Are you drinking enough water? It’s so hot out there.” She fanned my face with the flyer she was holding.