Maura laughed. “Hardly. She’s trying to get a management position at the college. Having a successful festival will look good on her résumé.”

He took another bite of his burger and thought about that. “Which means she needs the damn corn maze.”

“Without it,” Bridget said, “her mother and her boss will be able to say they were right about her leadership skills. That’s why she’s been pulling all-nighters to give you a free billing system.”

“That’s not my fault...”

Maura’s eyes narrowed. “She has a full-time job. And a son. And the festival. She’s squeezing in your work on top of all that.”

“Okay, ladies.” Mike McKinnon walked up behind his cousin Bridget, giving Zayne a sympathetic nod. “Quit ganging up on the guy. I think you’ve made your point.”

The conversation rattled around his head all the way home. She’d been working to get a new job. A raise. To make a better life for the son she clearly adored. And he’d been a jerk about it.

He pulled the truck into the driveway and saw the lights on in the shop. He looked at the dash—it was after ten o’clock. She’d probably forgotten to turn them... Wait. Her car was still parked by the door. She’d said she only needed forty-five minutes, and that was over three hours ago. He parked next to her car and went inside.

Duke sat up when Zayne came in. The dog was right next to the office chair where Andrea was slumped forward—her head on her arms, eyes closed, sound asleep. Zayne knelt at her side, calling her name and stroking her shoulder, brushing her hair back. It felt like satin through his fingers. He was beginning to fear she was unconscious when she finally let out a soft moan and moved, her eyes fluttering open. Her eyelashes were a mile long, framing her caramel-colored eyes.

“Oh...” she sighed, blinking and trying to straighten. “I fell asleep. Sorry. I’ll go home...”

“You’re not going anywhere like this. You’re barely functioning.”

Being this close to her, he could see the grayish pallor beneath her freckles. Her gaze was unfocused. She pushed herself upright and went to stand.

“I’m fine. I’ll just go home...” Her legs refused to hold her, and he swept her up in his arms to keep her from hitting the floor.

“I’ve got you, girl. When did you eat last?” He looked around the desk. “Have you had anything to drink?”

She curled up against him. Something very weird happened inside his chest when she did that. She mumbled something, then he heard “...not drunk...”