Chapter 29

Lexie poured fresh coffee into the mug on the counter and took a sip. She’d been drinking coffee since Killian left and by now probably had a caffeine high she’d never come down from. But at least she wasn’t crying any more. She’d pulled on shorts and an old shirt five sizes too big for her, pulled her hair into a ponytail, and cleaned up the kitchen. Later, before she opened the shop, she’d clean up the mess from the flowers, but at the moment, she hadn’t been able to tackle it. Then, with her first cup of coffee, she’d gone to work on Killian’s portrait.

Maybe it was a form of self-punishment for deluding herself into thinking they had something together. She probably would have been a lot better off finishing the painting of the stallion she’d started, but working on Killian was a form of self-flagellation. Now, hours later, the portrait was almost done, and the sight of it made her heart hurt and tears come to her eyes.