Page 107 of Meet Cute or Your Money Back

“Really,” he says, voice low and certain. “I love you, Allie.”

“I love you, too.” We lean in to kiss, but our moment is quickly interrupted by exaggerated gagging noises coming from across the table.

I bite my lip to stop from giggling as I glance to the left where Duke is giving us a Shakespearean performance of gagging disgust.

“Hey, buddy,” Thatcher laughs, pulling out ten dollarsfrom his wallet. “Why don’t you get yourself a treat, partner?”

The gagging immediately stops and Duke’s eyes light up as he hops out of his seat. “Okay!” The sugar from the hot chocolate hasn’t just gone to Duke’s head—it’s seeped into his bones, charging him like a battery on a brand-new toy. He bounces across the coffee shop, taking off toward where Melanie is back behind the counter tidying up.

“Can I please have a cookie?” he orders in a voice that echoes above the low murmur of grown-up conversation. He clutches the counter, rocking back and forth, unable to contain his excitement.

“After this cookie, he won’t sit still for a week,” I joke.

“Yeah, it seemed like a good idea at the time to give us a moment of privacy to talk, but I’m realizing now this might have been an error in judgment.”

“Nah. He’ll be all right.” I wave off Thatcher’s concern. “Kids should experience a true sugar crash now and then to really help them appreciate it, you know?”

“If you say so,” Thatcher laughs. Then, pausing, he leans down and reaches into his bag, pulling out a folder. “There’s something I’ve been meaning to give you.” He slides the folder over to me.

“What’s this?”

“Your next story,” he says. “Your first as a big-time investigative reporter.”

I slowly open the folder and immediately see images of Drakon and his operations. Details of Thatcher’s matchmaking business. “This isn’t justastory. It’syourstory.”

“That’s right,” he says. “I’m giving theSunthe exclusive on our story. The first official interview. As long as you’re the one writingit.”

“Are you sure?” I whisper, needing to hear him say it again.

“Never been more sure of anything,” he says. “Besides, we’re out of danger now. And Griffin is taking over as the matchmaker out in the field. So it’s perfectly safe for me to give interviews.”

I look down at the files, a lump forming in my throat. There’s one question still tugging at me, a question that has kept me up at night and filled my thoughts despite everything else. I try to push it away, but the fear of not knowing bubbles over.

I take a deep breath, my hands shaking slightly on the edge of the folder. “Thatcher, can I ask you something?”

His eyes meet mine, searching and patient, and I feel that familiar mix of hope and uncertainty drumming inside me.

“Are you sure you’re ready to do this? Us, I mean.” My voice is soft, vulnerable in a way that I haven’t allowed myself to be with any man in the past. But Thatcher’s different. He’s always been different.

“Are you really ready to move on from everything that happened? I would never expect you to be over Jenna…” I hesitate, but only for a moment. “She’s going to be part of our life together because she was such a strong piece of your story. And Duke’s mother. But…I need to know if you’re ready to move on. Because if you’re not, if you’re not ready yet, it’s okay. I can wait.” I drop the folder and lean forward to take his hand in mine. “You and Duke are worth the wait.”

A silence settles between us, but there’s no hint of hesitation in Thatcher’s eyes—only tenderness and resolve. “I loved Jenna, that’s no secret,” he says, his voice cutting through my doubt with gentle force. “I will always love her.But she’s gone. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned in the past few weeks, it’s that life is too short not to take chances on what’s right in front of you.”

His face softens and he squeezes my hand tighter, as if willing his warmth and certainty into me. “I’ve loved, and I’ve lost. But what I want now…is to live. Jenna would want me to live and be happy. Withyou. Fully and completely.” He tips up my chin so I can see the raw honesty in his eyes. “I love you, Allie Larsen.”

Joy bursts through me like a thousand sunbeams cutting through clouds. “Thatcher,” I breathe against him, “I love you. So much. And I love Duke, too.”

I swallow back a lump of emotion, desperate to have him hear me properly. “I’m not going to replace Duke’s mother. I could never. But I can be something else for him. Something special. He already has a mother—I know that—but trust me… I’m going to love him like he’s my own.”

Thatcher grins and pulls me closer until there’s no space left between us. My heart speeds up and slows down all at once as he leans across the small table and presses his lips to mine.

His breaths are ragged against my lips, heavy with relief and happiness. “Do you have any idea how long I’ve wanted to hear you say that? Even before I could admit that I wanted this… I knew you were it for me.”

“Probably about as long as I’ve been afraid to ask it.”

“Longer.” He smiles through a rough laugh, then kisses me again.

“We’re going to make a cute family of three,” I say when we finally come up for air.

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