Ash broke for air first and smiled at her with the most tender look. “God, I missed you.”

“Of course you did,” she said playfully. “Beautiful beaches in Mexico and the jet-setting life have nothing on me.”

He gave her a serious look. “You’re right. They don’t.”

“No beach bunnies turned your head?” she teased.

“Of course not. Don’t you get it?” He touched his forehead to hers, his voice soft. “You’ve never had any real competition. It’s always been you, KC. Always.”

She closed her eyes. The buoyant joy that filled her made her feel like she’d float to the ceiling. “We can figure this out, right?” she asked, hope making her voice crack. “I can travel with you sometimes. Do the long-distance thing if we have to. I’m awesome at phone sex.”

Ash laughed and lifted his head. “Have you lost your damn mind? The girl I’ve loved my whole life just told me I’m her soul mate. You think I’m setting up shop in some villa in Mexico?”

She frowned and shook her head. “I’m not making you give up anything for me. That’s not what I’m asking for.”

He carried her over to the counter and sat her atop it. “Hush, gorgeous.”

“Ash.” He leaned down to kiss her again, but she put a hand to his chest. “We need to discuss this. And we can’t make out right now. The new guy is going to be here any second. This isn’t exactly the kind of welcome party he’s expecting.”

“Oh, the new guy will love this.” He kissed her again, his hand sliding along her thigh.

“Ash,” she said on a laugh. “I’m serious.”

“So am I.” He braced his hands on either side of her and put his mouth next to her ear. “Hey, KC, I’ve got a secret.”

“A secret?”

“Yes.” He kissed the spot behind her ear. “Meet the new guy. He’s about to christen his new store by showing the girl he loves just how much he missed her.”

She stiffened and dipped her head to catch his eye. “Hold up. What?”

Ash gave her a smug look of satisfaction. “Surprise.”

Her brain couldn’t put the pieces together. They didn’t make sense. “You? But Grace said there’s a Bob Jones.”

He laughed. “Bob Jones? Wow, she came up with a real original alias there. Is his business partner John Smith?”

Goose bumps broke out over her skin. “Ash.”

He tipped his head to the side, indicating the store around them. “It’s all mine, KC.”

Her lips closed, opened again. “How? You didn’t even know what I wanted to say to you. How could you know?”

“I didn’t. I had hope when you texted me, but I didn’t know how you felt. Maybe you just wanted to tell me not to give you the money and send me on my way.” He pushed her hair behind her ears and gave her a tender look. “But I realized soon after I left that even if things weren’t going to work out with us, I couldn’t go back to how I was living. I love seeing new places and exploring, and I still want to write. I have a contract for a new book series I’m excited about.