A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust by Sally Garcia

Calliope and Silas walked into a cozy little diner on the corner, the kind with checkered tablecloths and the warm smell of coffee and pie in the air.

Once they slid into their booth, Calliope looked at Silas, a little suspicious. "I thought you said you had to go on a business trip. What are you doing here?"

Silas gave her a sheepish grin. "I pushed it back. Wasn't comfortable leaving you here alone."

He reached across the table, taking her hand for a second. "But after dinner, I really do have to go. Can't put it off much longer."

Calliope felt her heart swell a little. She knew the folks from the Jewell family couldn't really do anything to her, but Silas worrying anyway meant the world to her. It was nice, having someone who cared that much.

The waitress came by, and Silas ordered all Calliope's favorites-crispy fried chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy, and a slice of apple pie for dessert. He even poured her coffee just the way she liked it, with two sugars and a splash of cream, smiling at her like she was the only person in the room.

The more time she spent with Silas, the harder it was to resist his quiet charm.

"Go on, get out of

moment, but she waved him off, insisting she

running scared, not her. Truth was, she just didn't feel like stooping to their

bags in hand. They looked like they'd been having a pretty

quick once-over. Her eyes lingered

the first to speak up, her tone laced with her usual swagger. "Well,

drink. "Yeah." She shot a pointed look at Yvette's midsection. "Didn't

changed at that. Fleur's eyebrows shot

blurted, surprise written all over

know?"

eyebrow at

just by looking, but something about