“Sorry about that, Akira. It really wasn’t fair of me to wear such a sexy backpack around you.”

“Can you please assure me that you’re not interested in me romantically? That should put a stop to this immediately.”

“I would if I could.” He propped a shoulder against the rough-textured wall. In the quiet, their teasing drained away and the atmosphere turned serious. He gathered his courage. “The truth is, I am interested in you. Very.”

Her eyes widened. “I, too, am interested in you. Very.”

His mouth curved into a smile. He was surprised by how good it felt to hear her admit that. “Really?”

“Really. I’m worried, though. I don’t think I’m the kind of girl who can hold your attention.”

“You’re wrong.”

Her expression informed him that she wasn’t sure if she could believe him. Her former boyfriends had cut down her self-image, which made him crazy.

“You’re amazing,” he told her. “Those other guys couldn’t see it, so they were either stupid or visually impaired. I’m neither of those things. You have my full attention, and I see exactly how amazing you are.”

“Thank you.” She made a wobbly sound of uncertainty. She shook out her arms like a basketball player trying to release stress before shooting a free throw. “I’m worried,” she said again.

“Nobody’s rushing you, and nothing has to change between us today. We have time.”

“Is this when you announce that you’re actually a prince in disguise?”

“No,” he answered on a chuckle.

“An angel?”

He shook his head.

“A knight who touched a sacred stone and time-traveled forward to this year?”

“I’m nothing fancy. I’m just a guy who likes teaching and baseball.”

“Do you know that guys like you are as rare as wholesome food choices at a five-year-old’s birthday party?”

“Guys like me aren’t that rare—”

“Yes. You are.”

“Your perspective is skewed because you’ve been unlucky lately in the boyfriend department.”

“Lately? I’ve been nothing but unlucky in the boyfriend department. I’d forsaken my tendency to fall for guys at first sight. And then I saw you. And every single time I’ve seen your face since that first day, I’ve been trying not to fall.” She resettled the angle of her smart watch. “Without success.”

The bakers must have brought out the cake because the sound of the kids’ excitement reached them.

“Did you actually just say that you’re romantically interested in me?” she asked. “And you weren’t joking?”

Anticipation flowed between them.

“I actually said that. And I wasn’t joking.”

Luke returned to his desk as usual on Monday. Despite Trish telling him that Finley would be out of the office all morning for back-to-back meetings with donors, he kept glancing toward the workroom door. He was so busy listening for her, he couldn’t concentrate.