It had been a few days since Jon’s unexpected apology, and though Holly still carried the weight of Crystal’s shadow, the bakery had settled into a steady rhythm again. Orders for New Year’s were piling up, and the hum of ovens and chatter of friends filled the space with comfort.
Lee had been by her side through it all—helping with deliveries, fixing shelves, even staying late to mop floors when Holly was too tired to finish. So when he suggested taking her out to dinner, Holly’s first instinct was gratitude… followed quickly by guilt.
“You’ve been spending so much time here,” she said softly, brushing flour from her apron. “I don’t want to keep you from your family.”
Lee shook his head, his smile easy. “You’re not keeping me from anything. I want to take you out. Just us.”
But Holly’
