Page 90 of The Prince Who Loved Me

His response was immediate.I love you.

Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, but even typing the words were hard. “I love you,” she said to her car.

It was a start.

She arrived at Belle’s, ignoring the padlocked building that held her failed experiment. Ona was at the mixer when Brandi pulled up, checking the gages and making notes on the clipboard. She was the best choice. Brandi might be dubious about her own future, but this was a concrete decision.

“Ona, you have a minute?”

“Sure thing.” She put the clipboard back into place and followed Brandi to the office.

“Here. I need you to sign this.” Brandi handed her the letter outlining the offer of her new job title and salary.

“For real?” Ona gasped.

“You were the natural choice.” And she was. Once Brandi had conducted interviews and sorted through Jordan’s notes, it was clear Ona fit all the right boxes. She had started at Belle’s in distribution, then moved to maintenance, learning about Belle’s history as she went. She’d been Gerald’s assistant for the past few years. There was no one better. “Congratulations.”

“Can I have time to think about it?”

Brandi managed to stifle a gasp of disappointment. “Of course.”

“Kidding!” Ona grabbed a pen and signed her name. “I’m all in.”

“Welcome aboard.” Brandi sat at her desk and turned on her computer. “Let’s get started.”

A couple of hours later, Ona was working her way through the online tutorial for the scheduling software. Brandi stoppedby her desk. “I’m out for the day. Do you have any questions before I go?”

“Not yet.” Ona’s tongue peeked out of the corner of her mouth as she clicked something with her mouse. Her face broke into a smile. “Sweet. This software is pretty easy.”

“I knew I made the right decision in promoting you.” Brandi gave her a fist bump. “Call if you need anything.”

“I’m just going to schedule my five-week vacation now…” Ona pretended to type while Brandi laughed.

There wasn’t enough time for Brandi to change out of her work clothes by the time she got back to the Hall to meet her friends, but she pulled her tucked shirt out of her jeans for a more casual look. Eulalee had cooked up some fried chicken with a peach glaze and some fresh biscuits for lunch. Mac was taste-testing at the kitchen island.

Brandi inhaled deeply. “This smells incredible, Aunt Eulalee. Thanks for making it.”

“Happy to help, honey.”

“We can’t wait to meet your new friends,” Mac said.

Brandi checked her phone. “They’ll be here in a few minutes.”

As she shoved her phone in her pocket, a knock sounded on the kitchen door. Brandi had told Charlotte and Paisley to come around the back, so she wasn’t surprised to hear it.

Charlotte entered, still looking chic in a casual red shirt and jeans, and gave Brandi an embrace. “Your house is fantastic. I can’t believe you live at a bed and breakfast.”

“It’s not much, but it’s home.” Brandi grinned. “This is my aunt, Eulalee, and this is Mac.”

“My gentleman friend,” Eulalee added.

Even though the couple had been together for about six months, including traveling to Paris together, Brandi sometimes had a hard time thinking about their produce man as her aunt’sspecial friend.

“It’s nice to meet you, ma’am, sir,” Charlotte said. Brandi stifled a laugh. Charlotte was not a ma’am and sir-type person, but maybe octogenarians warranted that kind of address.

“You, too, honey,” Eulalee said.

Another knock sounded, this time revealing Paisley. After Brandi did the introductions, they settled down to eat. Seeing her friends in casual clothes instead of ones for a manhunt was interesting. Paisley wore a nice pastel sweater set, her brown hair neatly combed and pinned back. Brandi was still wearing her work shirt. The three of them definitely had different styles. It was fun to see.