One of his eyebrows raised, and he feigned shock. “I meant kickboxing. Where’s your mind right now, Mrs. Schultz?”

Her cheeks felt as if they were on fire. “I was … never mind.”

“You’re very cute when you’re flustered.”

“I’m not flustered.”

He reached up with his free hand and brushed the tips of his fingers against her pink cheek. “I beg to differ.”

She groaned and pulled her hand from his as they arrived at the car, circling to her side to wait for him to unlock the doors. How had her simple questions turned around on her so quickly?

The drive back to the Schultz home was quiet, and Merritt didn’t like it. “Do you follow any specific diets when you’re working out?”

He glanced over at her. “Not really. I try to steer clear of sugar and eat plenty of protein and veggies. But I always allow myself some cheat days. How else would I enjoy Granny’s truffles?”

She smiled.

“I miss Granny. I think she would’ve liked you.”

“When did she pass away?”

“A couple years ago. She lived a good long life, over a hundred years.”

“Oh, wow.”

“I can still remember her teaching me how to make truffles. Even now, when I make them, I can hear her saying, ‘Take your time, Augustus. Don’t rush perfection.’” He smiled. “She was the best.”

“She sounds very special. I wish I had met her.”

“I wish you had too.”

Her heart fluttered at the sincere look in his eyes, but she ignored it. “So, besides the truffles, what’s your favorite indulgence?”

He raised his eyebrows up and down. “Do you really want me to answer that?”

“Food, Gus! I’m talking about food.” This man was impossible.

Gus wore a crooked smile. “Maybe I was thinking about cheesecake.”

“Yeah, if that cheesecake was being fed to you by a beautiful woman.”

His laughter filled the car, and she liked the sound more than she wanted to admit.

“Have you ever been in love?” Merritt asked.

“No. You?”

“I thought I loved my college boyfriend, but when we broke up, I wasn’t all that sad about it, so I know that’s not what I was feeling.” She shrugged. “Do you want to fall in love?”

“I’d like to find what my parents have, what Bash and Genevieve found. I’d like someone to share my life with. So, yeah, someday I want that.” He looked over at her.

“Me too.”

They were quiet for the last few minutes of the drive and pulled in just after another car. Gus parked and walked around to open Merritt’s door as Skylar and a man got out of the car in front of theirs.

“Hey, newlyweds,” the man said.

“Franky,” Gus greeted him. “How are you, man?”