Despite the early rush of business and a steady stream of customers after that, the morning passed so slowly, Lexie wondered if someone had tied cement on the movement of time. She had glanced at the clock for maybe the hundredth time when the jangling bell signaled the door opening again. She turned away from the back counter where she’d been restocking the machines in time to see Killian walk into the shop.

She felt as if the sun had come out, casting its golden glow on everything ...