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“Yeah, her grandpa. That’s why she needed the job. To pay his bill at the assisted living facility. You didn’t know that? I probably shouldn’t have said anything. Please don’t say anything.” She looks concerned.

“No, it’s fine. I won’t say anything.”

My heart burns hearing this. Harry is Paige’s grandfather. It all makes sense now. I freeze as all the pieces click together.

Allie places the sandwiches in the signature Baked Inn Love blue bag and hands it to me. “Tell your assistant I said hi.”

“Will do. Thanks.” I turn to leave.

“Wait!” she calls as she rounds the corner and reaches into the bone-shaped glass container on the counter. She gives Theo a dog bone cookie. “Bye, Theo,” she calls, scratching his head as he eats his treat.

Back at the office, Paige is away from her desk, so I set down her iced tea and sandwich and head back to my office. When she returns, she steps around me nervously.

I clear my throat, also nervously. “I left you lunch.”

She eyes me, clearly suspicious. “Did you, now?”

I swiftly turn and set my sandwich and drink down and switch them out for hers. “There, see? I did nothing to the food. It’s a peace offering.”

Her cheeks turn pink, and she looks like she’s at a loss for words, which seems unusual for Paige. The vulnerability in her face is new, and it makes me want to pull her into a hug and tell her everything is okay. She still looks weary about what happened with my brother and Olivia.

And she looks ambivalent about the sandwich. So, I unwrap it and take a bite, then hand it back to her. “See? Not poisoned.”

I head back to my office. But when I pull out my desk chair and sit down, the legs fall off and I flop to the ground. Damn it, Paige!

“I hate you,” I call back cheerfully.

“Hate you more!”

20. paige

Silver Springs

Preston:I’m still stuck in Boston. Can you go by my house and feed Theo?

Paige: Yes, DW. Anything for you.

Preston: The spare key is in the dish on my desk. His food is in the pantry. He gets one scoop for dinner. ONE! And stop giving him snacks!

Paige: You let him have tons of snacks. I don’t want to hear it!

Preston: I’m his dad. I can do what I want.

Paige: Eye roll emoji

Preston: I’ll be back late. I’ll swing by and pick him up when I get back.

Paige: Don’t bother. I’ll just bring him in to work in the morning.

Preston: And for the last time, stop calling me Daddy Warbucks!

Paige: Fine, Satan.

Interesting that he’s asking me to go to his house to feed Theo. I tap my rainbow pen on my desk and grin at my favorite dog. “Just think of all the pranks we can pull with access to your daddy’s crib,” I say, grinning wickedly.

I would never do anything to his house, but it will be interesting to see where Preston lives. I know he renovated an older home in town and recently moved into it. I eye the clock and see that we still have about ten minutes. I stand, stretch, tidy up my desk, and grab the key.

Preston’s desk is minimalist and freakishly tidy. Everything in his office is black, white, or beige. Snoozefest. Not a bit of color. Nothing is out of place. No personal effects anywhere to be seen. Not even a picture of Theo. Very strange. His chair is neatly pushed in. I notice he fixed the wheels.