“You don’t need to explain yourself to me. I’m glad you weren’t caught up in what must’ve been a case of mistaken identity.”
“Mistaken identity,” I echo.
“I didn’t know the guy. Did you?”
I stare at my refrigerator, unsure how to answer that question.The truth, June. You wouldn’t like it if he lied to you. Maybe don’t lie to him.“He was an ex.”
“Ah, an ex who wants you back and isn’t happy you’ve moved on?”
My tension levels decrease substantially, and I smile as I loosen my tight grip on my phone. “Yeah. It was exactly like that. I’m sorry you got punched in the face.”
“It wasn’t your fault. I have a good doctor, so my broken nose is healing fast.”
I wince.
He continues in the same calm, unaffected tone. “That’s why I held off on calling. My assistant told me I sounded like a chipmunk on the phone, so…”
He surprises a laugh out of me. “I’m sure you didn’t sound like a chipmunk.”
“I did.” He chuckles. “Anyway, now that I no longer sound like a chipmunk, I wanted to call and find out if you were okay, and…”
“And…?” I prompt when he tails off.
“To make things up to you. How about we try again?”
I bite my lip, torn with indecision.
“You’re allowed to say no,” he says, sensing my hesitation. His voice is warm with amusement when he adds, “Our first datewent so spectacularly badly, I won’t blame you if you wanted to run.”
Despite myself, my lips twitch into a brief smile. “It was a pretty surreal moment.”
“How about dinner? I know a great restaurant. Spanish tapas. Lots of tiny little plates. We’ll order more than we can eat, try out a bunch of food, talk about the worst first date in history, and I’ll call you a cab. Just a good meal and conversation. And this place is reservation-only, so no drama. What do you say?”
I say it’s exactly what I need.
My mind flashes back to Torin’s threat. He doesn’t wantme. Only when Garrison tried to take me away did he try to stop me from leaving. He’s jealous, that’s all this is.
“What time?” I ask Oscar.
Chapter 26
Archer
I’m only half listening to Torin when he says, “Juniper doesn’t believe me about Wilkes.”
With my phone against my ear, my eyes track the dark blue Nissan slowing down as it heads toward me. The driver parks outside the hardware store, cuts the engine, and climbs out, slamming the door behind him.
“I’ll call you back,” I tell Torin and hang up on him mid-sentence. Whatever he’s talking about can wait. I have someone to deal with.
Unsnapping my seatbelt, I climb out of my car and shut the door, hurrying to catch the man before he can finish unlocking the hardware store. I grab the door before he can close it.
Jumping, he turns to face me. “We’re not open yet.”
“I’m not here to buy anything.” I shove him into the store, and as he stumbles backward, I shut the door and lock it.
Ever since Juniper hugged him, I’ve wanted to kill him.
Callum stopped me before. He’s meeting with his dad to warn him away from Juniper. Torin is hanging out near Juniper’s apartment, hoping to convince her that Wilkes Booth isn’t who he says he is. Which leaves me to make it clear to the hardware store owner that Juniper is ours.
