Would he be at his place when I got there?
As if reading my mind, Teller leaned a hand against the bar and propped his other on his hip. “Tenor said he left his door unlocked.” He tapped his fingers on the countertop. “Everything okay between you two?”
Alarm flooded into my veins. Why would Teller be worried? “Did he say something?”
“He’s been in his head more than usual.”
I ran through the events of last weekend. The barbecue at Mae’s had been fun. We’d eaten next to each other, I’d chatted more with his sisters and Mae, and then I had headed home. Like most weeks, we hadn’t messaged each other. I spent Monday through Friday a single gal. Perhaps a little melancholy. I might’ve missed Tenor. I might also have interpreted his weekday radio silence as proof he wasn’t into me.
Overall, things between us were normal for a couple who was fake dating. “I can’t think of what might be bothering him. Thewedding maybe? We haven’t made a big splash in public yet and he hates attention.”
The wedding or our nondate tomorrow night. If either was the case, we didn’t have to go. That’d be the end of us, but as much as I wanted Tenor—a lot—I wanted a man who couldn’t get enough of me.
“He does hate it.” Teller’s gaze went icy. “That jackass in school really did a number on him.” He gave me a sharp look. “Did he tell you about Bobby?”
I shook my head. “No details. But he spoke a bit about what it was like for him.”
“Tate and I tried to interfere. The asshole was in my grade even though he was older than me, but he was good at getting to Tenor when he was alone. Nasty kid.”
“Poor Tenor,” I murmured. “I’m sure he didn’t fight back.”
“Tenor always makes sure he’s the bigger guy. It’s why the breakup with Katrina was so hard on him.” Teller swiped a hand down his beard. “He tried to be the best guy she could dream of. He was everything but himself.”
“I doubt that.” Distaste for the conversation danced on my tongue, leaving a sour tang. “Tenor is always himself. She just didn’t look very hard.”
Teller barked out a laugh. “It’s nice to see he’s gotten better taste since then. Just don’t let him scare himself off. You’re good for him. We can all see it.”
“He’s been good for me too.” There’d be no scaring him off. I hadn’t gotten him in the first place.
Teller didn’t go for the door. “Wynter also asked some probing questions. About how Junie shouldn’t be the only face of Copper Summit anymore. Asking if I’d like my picture taken.”
“Oh.” I couldn’t decipher his tone. Was he unhappy with the idea? “Yes. I can crop out your face. Blur it or get angles that preserve your anonymity.”
“No one wants to see my face.”
I rolled my eyes. “I had this same talk with Tenor. People very much do want to see your face.” I made a frame with my hands and he was at the center. “The whole plaid-and-bearded thing? Catnip. People who never thought to sample bourbon will be thinking about it after seeing you with a glass.” I dropped my arms.
He tugged at his polo. “I’m not wearing plaid.”
“You wear it enough.”
His brows drew together. “I still don’t see it.”
“I’dgetthem to see it.” Just a picture of him the way he was now would make a good post. “But like I said, I’d work in your comfort zone.”
“I don’t need to be targeted as the last single guy in a bourbon empire.”
Some guys would be on board. Snagging women who came for tours with hearts in their eyes? Not Teller, apparently. I respected him for it. “I’d keep that in mind.”
He considered me for a moment. “If you can talk the others into it, then I’ll think about it.”
“Are you saying that because you’re sure Tenor won’t agree?”
His smirk told me I had busted him. “How long have you been going out?”
“A few—” I almost said weeks, but we’d told them... what again? “Months. A couple of months.” I managed not to make it sound like a question.
“And I haven’t seen him pop up anywhere in a photo. If he’s on board, then I’ll do it. How’d the meeting with Madison go?” My surprise must have been obvious because he winced. “Sorry. We’re a family company, so that means we’re in everyone’s business.”
