The most beautiful woman I had ever seen walked straight up to my table, placed ten crisp hundred-dollar bills beside my untouched coffee, and said,

Nora’s breath caught in her throat. She stared at me as I turned the car down Broad Street, pulling up to the curb directly in front of the historic commercial property.

The building was magnificent—three stories of classic Charleston brick, large arched display windows, and an elegant black wrought-iron entrance.

"What are we doing here?" Nora whispered, her heart hammering against her ribs.

"Showing you your new bakery," I said.

I turned off the engine, reached into my suit pocket, and pulled out a heavy brass key set. I handed them to her.

Nora looked down at the keys resting in her palm, tears welling in her eyes. "Evan... I can't accept this. This is too much."

"It's a business lease, Nora," I said, turning in my seat to look at her. "You are going to pay rent. You are going to run a successful business. And I am going to be your landlord. But more than that... I want to be the man who stands by you while you build your empire."

Nora looked from the keys to my eyes. The fear, the doubt, the anxiety that had defined her morning had completely vanished, replaced by an overwhelming, radiant warmth.

"You really mean it," she breathed out.

"I don't make promises I can't keep," I said softly. "Remember?"

Nora let out a soft, beautiful laugh. She dropped the keys onto the console, reached across the seat, and wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling me close. I wrapped my arms around her waist, burying my face in her soft, scented hair, holding her tight against my chest.

When she pulled back slightly, her face was inches from mine. Her dark eyes searched my face, dropping to my lips.

"Evan?" she whispered.

"Yeah?"

"Remember the question you asked me at the café this morning?"

I smiled faintly. "Which one?"

"About whether you get to kiss your girlfriend."

"I remember."

Nora’s lips parted into a breathtaking smile. "Your girlfriend says yes."

I leaned in and kissed her. It wasn't a fake kiss for an audience. It was slow, deep, and electric, filling the quiet car with a heat that made the rest of the world vanish entirely. When I finally pulled back, Nora was breathless, her cheeks flushed rosy pink, resting her forehead against mine.