"No."The word shoots out like a bullet—and just as deadly."No.I'll...I'll handle it."
"Luke—"
"Where is she?"
"Powder room, I think.But?—"
I'm already walking away, my mind a chaos of data points and betrayal.
Fifteen times.
She accessed my profile fifteen times.
Studied me like I was a mark, not a person.
The warmth from the terrace feels like mockery now.
Every kiss, every touch, every breathy sound.
Was any of it real?Or was it all just part of her fucked-up plan to save her inn?
I find myself at the bar, ordering whiskey I don't want, trying to process how I let this happen again.
"You okay?"Connor appears beside me."You look like someone just told you Santa isn't real."
"Something like that," I mutter.
"Where's Sage?You two disappeared earlier."
"She's..."I spot her emerging from the powder room, looking radiant and slightly flushed.
Our eyes meet across the room, and she smiles.
Bright.And sexy.
And utterly false.
Or is it?
I don't know anymore.
"Luke?"Connor's watching me with concern."What's wrong?"
"I think," I say slowly, "I've made a terrible mistake."
The shields are going up now, brick by brick, mortared with data and doubt.By the time Sage reaches us, I'm fully armored.
"Hi," she says, slightly breathless."Sorry, there was a line.Did I miss anything?"
"No," I lie, my voice already cooling."Nothing important."
Her smile falters slightly at my tone."Luke?Is everything okay?"
No, I think.
Nothing is okay.Because you hacked your way into my life, and I was too stupid to see it.
"Everything's fine," I say instead."Would you like champagne?"
