I scrunch my nose. “Why?”
“If things go wrong, call me, and I’ll come along and pretend to be your boyfriend and punch him in the face or something.”
I smile gratefully at him. “That’s sweet of you, but he’s kind of a big guy.”
He glances toward his shop. “I have a wrench or two hanging around.”
I laugh. Then I study him, not sure I want to ask him this. It’s too important not to, so I ask. “Are you doing this because you like me?”
He bumps his shoulder against mine. “I’m doing this because we’re friends and I think you’re a good person. Between losing my dad, looking out for my mom, and dealing with this shop, I have neither the time nor the mental capacity to want to be in a romantic relationship with anyone.”
“Okay then.”
His green eyes sparkle as he quips. “Shall I arm myself with a wrench, ready to charge down the street to save you?”
I laugh, though I can’t imagine Jack doing any such thing. He’d probably ask Oscar to leave me alone, and if he didn’t, he’d do the sensible thing and call the cops.
“You probably won’t need to arm yourself with anything,” I say with a smile. “Have you got your phone? I’ll give you my number, and you can call me. Then I’ll have your number. If thisguy turns out to be a creep, you can come save me with a big wrench from your shop.”
After I’ve typed my number into his phone, I surprise him with a hug. “Thanks, Jack.”
He’s turned into one of the few bright spots in this new life I’ve built for myself.
“Anytime, June,” he says, closing his arms around me.
I hurry back to my apartment to let Lucia know her dress had the desired effect, and to finish getting ready for my date. Before I step into my building, a prickle of awareness warns me that someone is watching me. Twisting around, I scan both sides of the street.
Three kids kick a ball up and down the sidewalk; Simon, one of Gia’s sons, waves at me. I grin and wave back. Feet away, a car idles, the dark-haired driver hanging out of the window as he flirts with a girl who lives in a building across the street. Jack has returned to the shop. It’s a quiet, ordinary afternoon.
Quit being paranoid, June. No one is watching you.
Shaking off my unease, I push my apartment door open and step inside.
Chapter 24
Callum
Torin’s fingers are tight around the steering wheel, and I swear Archer hasn’t blinked since Juniper hugged the guy outside the hardware store.
“I’m going to kill him,” Torin hisses.
I grip Torin by the arm and yank him back, holding him to keep him in his seat. “Stop.”
“Hehuggedour mate,” he growls.
“Technically,sheinitiated the hug.” The guy looked startled when Juniper threw her arms around him, but he smiled and hugged her back.
Torin glares at me.
Archer is too busy staring at the hardware store, and the intensity of his stare has me concerned that he’s planning where to bury a body.
“Don’t, Archer,” I tell him quietly, waiting until I have his eyes. “We fucked up her life before. Let’s not do it again.”
He holds my gaze for a beat, then nods once, a jerky motion.
I’ll never get over my dad paying Archer to spy on me. I watched every word around him, kept my eyes and ears open, knowing he would report on me. Years later, he’s like a brother. Not in blood. By choice.
Torin squirms out of my grip while I’m distracted by my stare-off with Archer.
