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“That smile.”

I roll my eyes and reach into the arrangement to straighten one of the roses. “You’re imagining things.”

“Yeah right. Come on, who sent them?”

Heat creeps into my cheeks despite every effort to hide it.

She folds her arms with a satisfied grin. “I’m guessing his name starts with a B.”

I busy myself setting the card beside the vase. “You’re making wild assumptions.”

“I’m making educated ones.” She heads for the door before glancing back over her shoulder. “Just remember me when you need someone to plan the engagement party.”

“Get back to work.”

“I am. I’m investing in office morale.”

She disappears before I can answer, leaving me alone with flowers that suddenly seem even larger than they did five minutes ago.

My gaze falls to the card again.

For making me smile.

The words feel like Bane. Simple. Thoughtful. Exactly the kind of thing he’d write.

Before I can talk myself out of it, I grab my phone.

Emma: The flowers are beautiful, but you really didn’t have to send them to the office.

Bane: Flowers?

My smile widens.

Emma: The enormous arrangement currently taking over my office.

This time the reply takes longer.

Bane: Emma, I didn’t send you flowers.

I stare at the message, then at the vase sitting beside my desk.

Emma: Very funny.

Instead of another text, my phone rings.

I answer with a smile. “Trying to avoid admitting you embarrassed me in front of half the company? Leaving me with way too many questions.”

“I’m trying to convince you I had nothing to do with those flowers,” Bane says, sounding more confused than amused. “Tell me exactly what arrived.”

I read him the note, describe the arrangement, and mention the lack of signature.

By the time I finish, the smile has disappeared from both my face and the conversation.

“Emma,” he says after a thoughtful pause, “this sounds a lot like the packages.”

I sink into my chair, looking across at the flowers with fresh eyes. “The gifts for the girls?” My fingers brush the edge of the card. “But why send flowers to me?”

“I don’t know yet.” Papers shuffle on his end of the call. “Who accepted the delivery?”