Chapter 43

He was all packed and ready to leave at first light tomorrow morning, but Val was actually nervous when it came time to pick Cora up that evening. Since their flight was early, they'd decided it would be smarter to spend the night together at his place.

Yeah, even he knew that was a lame excuse. But he did want Cora to see his loft and he didn't want to spend the night alone. So, he was having dinner at her place, meeting her roommate, and then taking her home with him afterward. From what she'd said, her roommate was the closest thing she had to a family, so he figured he'd better make a good impression. He stopped for flowers and a bottle of wine along the way.

Cora answered the door, all smiles and rosy cheeks in jeans, heeled boots and a fluffy pink sweater. She'd put on makeup, he noticed, and even a tiny pair of silver heart-shaped earrings. Something in his chest clenched that she'd gone to such effort just for him. Mindful of the other woman looking on, he settled for a quick