“One for Tessa,” Tessa said.

“One for Tessa,” he agreed.

“Wait,” Tessa said on the way out. “Why are you being…nice?”

He dropped his voice even lower. “Because I like my balls and want to keep them?”

She snorted.

House three was very large and modern, in a new neighborhood with lots of kids.

“Brand spanking new,” Leo said. “Light, bright, airy, and completely updated. Kitchen leaves nothing to be desired, right?”

“Cookie-cutter,” Tessa said flatly. “And the rooms are so large they echo.”

He groaned. “Are you usually this hard to please?”

“That’s not what you said last night, sweetie,” she shot back.

Indira laughed, and Leo colored. Tessa couldn’t let him get away with that.

“You’re blushing,” she said on the way outside. “How cute.”

He shook his head. “Go ahead. Keep poking the bear.”

“Is that what you call your private parts?” she asked sweetly.

He glared. And didn’t laugh. At all. “Okay, don’t get mad,” she said. “I’ll…tone it down a little. How’s that?”

“I just don’t like being poked fun of in front of people. My reputation is important now, especially with the restaurant.”

“Well, I’m sorry. I don’t like being called hard to please.” Because it reminded her of Sam.

“Well, I suppose I can tone it down, too,” he said in a slightly grumbly voice.

Did they just…compromise?

She stopped on the walkway near the front door. “Also, Leo, this house is huge. Is that what you really want?”

“I can definitely afford it,” he said.

“I’m not talking about what you can afford.” She waved her hand over the front of the house. “I don’t see many things that make a house homey. If you just want a place where we won’t ever run into each other, this is it. But frankly, the size makes me uncomfortable.”

“I get it. The vibe is definitely not homey. It’s more…mansion-y.”

“That was uncharacteristically humble of you to admit that.”

He stood there assessing her. Like she was a puzzle he was trying to figure out but couldn’t. “Thank you.”

Indira caught up to them before Tessa could marvel at the fact that they were actually communicating with each other. “House number four is the last one, and it’s a beauty. It needs some TLC, and it’s not the biggest, but it’s cute as a dollhouse. It’s in the Blossom District.”

That made Tessa’s heart jump. She tried to tamp down her reaction, especially in front of Leo. Indira was talking about the old, charming section of town—the part of town she’d choose to live in, if she’d ever be able to save up enough for a house. And if she were going to stay. Which of course she wasn’t.