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But here’s the fun part. Because the Visit was over, alcohol was allowed.

Lunch was very boisterous indeed.

The party lasted late into the night, from what I could tell. I can’t know for sure, because Coop and I decided to spend the night in the guest house away from all interruptions. I chose one of the smaller rooms because it was the most secluded corner of the house, and also because I knew I had to clean it in the morning.

When Olivia and Wren found out what I had planned, they snuck in and littered the bed with leftover flower petals from the wedding, and left an iced bottle of Prosecco and a bowl of strawberries.

I have no idea what the chocolate syrup and whipped cream were supposed to be for, but I know how we used them.

This was the best night yet.

Breakfast the next morning was quiet. Everyone was thinking about what was next for them. So I wasn’t alone in that. I sat next to Coop at the table, enjoying his warmth as we all ate.

Of course, I was preoccupied. With myself.

I realized that these were probably my last few minutes with my staff, and as frustrating as this week had been, I’d come to really care about them all.

“So, Olivia,” I said. “What are your plans now?”

She froze and then looked at me with wide eyes. “Management training?” It was a question. It shouldn’t have been.

“Good. You’ll be great in that program.” I turned to Wren. “And how about you?”

“I’m thinking about that, but I’m also enrolled in a community college class in business starting in January.”

“Awesome. Jed?”

He grinned. It was a crooked grin. “Right after this, I’m going snowboarding with my buds.” Okay. I tried. Can’t win ’em all.

“I have another Visit in the Bahamas,” Ken said, chop-sticking a California roll into his mouth.

“At the new property?” I asked. How exciting. Eden’s Emerald Isles had just opened there. “I’d love to get that gig.”

Ben was planning to hit the slopes for a couple days and Coop’s team was returning to their base in Seattle.

It seemed like everyone had something planned.

All but me.

I hadn’t really wanted to think about it until now, and now, thoughts were flooding my head. Too many to make any real sense of it. I didn’t really know what I wanted, but I knew I wanted it to be with Coop.

“How about you, Vic?” Olivia asked, and I stilled.

“Uh, heading back to LA I guess.”

For some reason, everyone looked at Coop. It was almost a challenge. Are you going to let her do that?

Apparently. Because he said, “And I’m heading home as well.” But then he paused, and added, to me, “Unless I get a better offer.”

Oh. So the ball was in my proverbial court.

All right. Fine.

“Do you want to talk?” I asked him. He stood and took my hand before all the words were out.

He led me to the living room, where we could be private. Sort of. I saw Jed leaning over in his chair so he could see what we were doing around the doorjamb.

For some reason, Coop took the single seat, so I sat on the sofa. We kind of looked at each other for a moment. Neither of us knew where to start. A sudden panic rose in my gullet, flooding my mouth with bitterness. What if, after all he’d said and done, he’d decided all those one-night-stands we’d had—as well as a couple in the afternoon and early morning and middle of the night—had been enough for him?