Page 86 of The Huckleberry Bookshop

“Thank you.” She gave him a hug, and he risked dropping a kiss on her lips in front of everyone. To his surprise, she kissed him back all sexy and slow.

“Hey,” she said, breaking the kiss to gaze up at him curiously. “I thought you had a thing tonight. A commercial to film or something?”

“Nope. Just this.”

“You’re good,” she said, patting his chest. “Really good.”

“I like to think so.”

“By the way, I found a local tattoo artist who’s willing to add a little ink.” Her hand rested above his tattoo, and an eagle of hope soared through him.

“Yeah? What do you want to add?”

“A name.”

“Whose name?”

“Tina. Ever heard of her?”

He tossed his head back and laughed. Tina. “Is that her real name? Or is some jerk calling her that to get under her skin?”

“Well, he might be, but she’s totally crushing on him.”

“Is she?”

“She is. And while the nickname used to annoy her, she now realizes that he was just too afraid to show her how he really felt.”

“And how’s that?”

“That he loved her?”

“He does?”

“Yes, but it all works out because she loves him, too.”

“I should plan surprise parties more often,” he whispered when she snuggled in his arms, kissing him lightly and ignoring everyone around them. “Either that or you must have seen the release-day numbers for your cookbook.”

“That bestseller has nothing to do with my good mood. It’s all about the hunk on the book’s cover.”

He gave her another kiss, already wishing for a time when he could call her his wife and add many new branches to his tattoo.

“Come on, let the poor man breathe, Athena.” Mrs. Gavras tugged her away. “Let’s cut the cake.”

She was out of her wheelchair today, walking with her cane, her free arm looped through her daughter’s, both their smiles bright with love and happiness.

It was a good day.

One of many more to come.

One More Epilogue…

Jenny Oliver…

* * *

Jenny inhaled, shoulders high as she danced with her excitement. She lowered the thick stack of sealed invitations onto the counter.

“This them?” Dylan confirmed.

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