She blew on her tea before taking a sip. “You can’t live scared, Finley.” In which case, why not go on more dates with Derek? He acted like a gentleman. He seemed to think she’d hung the moon. He did not send bolts of desire through her veins. In other words, he was exactly what she needed.

So she’d go out again with Derek. But what should she do about Luke?

Their responsibilities at Furry Tails bound them together for eight hours a day, five days a week. The treasure hunt bound them together for additional hours outside of work. She couldn’t avoid him, nor could she give him the cold shoulder. She was an adult woman, and so she’d deal with him like an adult woman. With straightforward grace.

Even though she was still—still!—angry.

Luke spent Valentine’s night stewing over Finley and sleeping little.

He showed up for work the next morning with no idea what to expect from her. She’d proven that she preferred to talk through conflicts. But it could be he’d pushed her over a line this time and now she’d freeze him out.

Before he’d taken a seat at his computer, the door to her office opened and she filled the doorway. Bell bottoms, black top, and a hat he hadn’t seen before. Made out of black, white, and red wool plaid, the hat looked like a beret, except it had a very short brim at the front. Beneath that brim, her eyes were incredibly blue, like a candle glowing through sapphires. “Can we talk?” she asked.

He nodded, entered her office, and closed the door behind him.

They took the same chairs they usually occupied in this small room. This time, though, something new spiked the air. Hostility?

“Emotions were running high last night.” She crossed her legs. “I said and did things I regret. Same for you?”

“Yes.”

He struggled to read her mood. She was saying the usual Finley things but not in the usual Finley way, because hurt lay beneath every word. She wasn’t freezing him out, but he had pushed her over a line.

“In the past, you tried to explain why it wouldn’t be wise for us to follow through on physical attraction. At this point, I see the wisdom of that, too.”

“Good.” He felt anything but good.

“I think you were right, too, about the fact that God may not have intended for me to go without romantic relationships for the rest of my life. I’m going to attempt to open myself up to romance.”

“Hmm?”

“I’m going to go out with Derek again.”

He imagined connecting a right hook to Derek’s smug, smiling face. “Great.”

“I know. It’s progress!”

They stared at each other like two generals across a battlefield. Buzzing dominated his thoughts. He couldn’t swallow because regret cinched his throat.