Her phone vanished into her bag like a magician’s sleight of hand. She turned to James like he was a life raft. “Hi, Mr. Horton!”
Damien gave a brief nod, eyes narrowed.
James—ever the buffer—stepped in smoothly. “Heading home, Ms. Lin?”
“Oh, not yet!” Harper said, still catching her breath. “I’m stopping by the hospital to visit Maya. We’ve been texting all afternoon, and she said Ms. Janice is bringing her famous lasagna for dinner—ugh, that woman’s cooking should be illegal. I had her casserole last week and nearly proposed to her. Like, full-on ring and everything.” She made a dramatic chef’s kiss gesture. “Ten outta ten.”
Damien said nothing—but one brow twitched, the only visible sign of disbelief.
James, ever the composed one, coughed softly into his fist. “That… sounds promisi
