"I'd love to see some of it sometime," he said simply. "I've got a few pieces from local artists. I think art keeps a space alive."
It was such a quiet thing to say, but Shannon felt it land. Not as a flirtation -- just a thought she didn't expect to hear from a man like him. That kind of contrast stuck in the mind.
Ron stood, collecting the glasses. "Well," he said, "if you two want the place, it's yours."
Craig blinked. "Just like that?"
"You're the right fit. I trust my gut."
Shannon looked at Craig, then back to Ron. Her chest lifted with something soft and warm -- like stepping into hot water. Like falling into luck.
"We'd love to," she said.
Craig squeezed her hand.
Ron smiled.
And deep in her belly -- low and silent -- something fluttered.
--------
The heat was different
