THIRTY-ONE:
The restaurant buzzed with the Friday night crowd, plates clattering and laughter rolling from table to table. Lyra wiped her hands on her apron and stepped out of the kitchen just in time to see June balancing a tray of breadsticks with fierce concentration.
“Careful, baby,” Lyra called softly. “You’ve got this.”
June made it to the table without dropping anything and beamed when the customers clapped. Lyra’s heart swelled so big it hurt.
Dimitri appeared behind her, arms sliding around her waist. “She’s a natural. Just like her mom.”
Lyra leaned back into him. “And Theo’s already talking about expanding the menu. Kids have big ideas.”
“Like his dad,” Dimitri murmured, pressing a kiss to her neck. “Speaking of which… we need to talk. Back office. Five minutes.”
The tone
