DEAN

I caught the stunned look on Lilith’s face after I finished speaking, frowned faintly, and set the plate I was scrubbing down.

Then I rinsed my hands, dried them with a towel and turned to her.

“What’s with that look? You weren’t expecting us to be in a long-distance relationship, were you?”

She didn’t answer, but she didn’t need to. The press of her lips, the flutter of her lashes, the way her gaze skittered away — it was all the confirmation I needed.

The crease between my brows deepened.

“I thought I made it clear I’d be setting up a new branch here. Doesn’t that already tell you...