Faux Vows, True Desires

Owen had been lingering in the Serendipity Cafe for the better part of half an hour, nursing a cup of joe when Cecilia, the charming waitress with a glint of mischief in her eyes, nudged him to get a move on his workday.

He dragged his feet, secretly wishing for a torrential downpour to give him the excuse to play hooky. Unfortunately, as he escorted Cecilia back inside, the rain came to an abrupt halt.

"Cecilia, come on, see me off, will ya?" he pleaded with a grin.

She chuckled in response. "You don't know your way? It's just a few steps from the door. You really need me to walk you?"

Though she teased him, Cecilia turned around, heading back inside. Moments later, she emerged with a box of pastries, freshly baked by Basil, the cafe's renowned pastry chef. Tucking the box into a bag, she handed it to Owen. "You barely touched your breakfast rolls. I don't want you to starve, so here's a little something to tie you over."

"No charge, consider it a gift," she added with a wink.

Owen felt a warm buzz in his heart but couldn't resist a playful jab: "These are just for me, right? Not like those two boxes you gave to Ike Moore on the house."

He hadn't forgotten how Cecilia had once favored Ike with her generosity.

Cecilia's laughter filled the air. "Still clinging to that old story? You've got a heart smaller than a needle's eye. Now scoot, off to work with you!"

Yet, she couldn't resist walking him to his car.

As Owen reluctantly rolled down his window, he made one last request: "Cecilia, it's gonna be hours before I see you again. How about a couple of pecks to keep the longing at bay and spare me the pangs of lovesickness?"

amusement and embarrassment. They were in the middle of the street, for goodness' sake, and he had the audacity to ask for a

if he seemed to have left his

public, Owen was merely stirring the pot. He glanced at Jay and Rex, ensuring Cecilia would have their assistance whenever needed, before reluctantly rolling up his window and driving off.

taken aback, realizing only then that Owen's entourage had been nearby all along. He was still the same Owen,

then turned back to the cafe, asking Jay and Rex to stay

and a customer entered a woman dressed to the nines, her belly slightly

and

right?" the woman asked, her tone suggesting

eyed her guardedly. "May I ask

waiting for a proper introduction, the woman pulled out a document from her stylish tote and slapped it on the counter in front

Cecilia

a medical

me your pregnancy test?

chuckle; the

woman dropped the bombshell: "Cecilia, I'm

silent, and the

Owen? He must have just gotten back to the office," Rex suggested, sensing the gravity

dialing Owen, who answered promptly. "Is Cecilia

murmured, trying to keep the situation under wraps. "It's

perfectly