Jill’s brow furrowed and she bit her lip as if contemplating the right thing to say. “I think I better go home. I should probably get some work done. Today…well, today was, um…”

Realization dawned on Reagan. Today had been a big step for Jill and she was probably feeling out of sorts. It wasn’t every day that she let someone in as much as she had with Reagan. “It was a lot?”

Jill let out a long sigh. “Yeah, it was. I’m sorry, I—”

Reagan covered Jill’s hand with hers. “You have nothing to apologize for. I totally get it. Just so you know, this week is going to be really busy with all the last-minute things I need to get done for the benefit, so I don’t know how available I’ll be.”

“It’s okay. If you’re ever in need of another working date, I’m in,” she replied with a wink.

“I might take you up on that.” Reagan leaned across the console for a kiss. Her eyelids fluttered open as she pulled away. “I’ll see you at the benefit.”

“Yes, you will.”

Reagan exited the car and walked up the stairs, giving a little wave once she was on her balcony.

As she unlocked her door, Jill called up from the street. “Hey, Reagan?”

She turned around and rested her arms on the railing. “What’s wrong?”

“Does the offer still stand?”

Reagan smiled. So she didn’t want to go home, after all. She wants to spend more time with me. The thought made her stomach do a little backflip. “Of course. Come on up.”

Jill shut her car door and hurried up the stairs. She wrapped her arms around Reagan’s waist with a smile. “So, what’s for lunch?”

Chapter Twenty-One

Reagan felt like a nervous ball of energy. She knew everything was ready for the evening, but she was still frazzled. Tonight meant everything to her. She just hoped all her efforts from the past several weeks would pay off. Almost a hundred people had RSVP’d and most of the invitees who couldn’t come sent donations along with their responses, so she should already consider the night a win.

Reagan entered the space they purchased for their fourth restaurant. The sale had closed at the end of September, and she and Gwen had been remodeling it ever since.