A colossal misstep. His rough calluses scrape my sensitive palm, thumb sweeping over the ridge of my knuckles, heat infusing my body. His fingers grip me tighter.
"Oh!" I breathe sharply as he tugs me in close.
In a low murmur that falls over me, he says, "I do not hate love, Sunshine. But I do hate the man you're marrying."
Then he drops my hand, takes two steps away and hops into his truck.
"What did Penn tell you about Duke?" I half-yell, but it doesn't matter. He closes the door, starts the engine, then drives away with a single wave in my direction.
I trudge back into the house, more confused than ever.
Chapter 16
Daisy
"Peter saidwhat?"Vivi exclaims, licking the smoked salt rim from her blood orange margarita.
I look around King's Ransom, the secret speakeasy located behind a false wall of trophy bass fish in Lunker, the bait and tackle shop. Dark and cozy, with velvet textured wallpaper and walnut tables, King's Ransom fits my mood.
Taking a long sip from my second mango margarita, I let the sting soothe my confused soul. It's a drink that isn't on the menu, but the bartender makes it for me because I'm not adventurous enough to try the eclectic drink menu. "Peter said he hates Duke."
"But, how?" Vivi swipes her tongue from one corner of her lip to the other. "He doesn't know the guy."
"That's what I thought, but Penn must've been telling him things when they were serving together. How else could he possibly know anything about Duke?"
Vivi purses her lips and nods. "That must be what it is." She takes another sip, looking thoughtful. "But why tell you?"
I shrug. "I think I poked him until he gave in."
"Poked him about what?"
"Well," I falter, trying to decide how to word it. "He acts different when I talk about Duke, or my engagement. Like he's upset or frustrated or, I don't know, angry."
"Because he was hurt in the past and thinks love is stupid," Vivi says in a way that also saysduh. "Takes one to know one."
"That's what I assumed, but it turns out I was very wrong. He does not hate love, but he does hate Duke."
Vivi drums her peach iridescent nails on the lacquered table top, eyebrows tugged in consternation. "Have you asked Duke?"
I shake my head, focusing my gaze on the far wall with its gallery of old-timey Western paintings. "What am I supposed to say? Hey Duke, why does the new guy hate you?"
"Well, umm, yes. Something along those lines."
"I kind of don't want to," I admit, tearing my gaze from a charcoal painting of an old, grizzled cowboy coming from an out house with his pants around his ankles.
"I get that," Vivi nods. "It would probably make things awkward when they don't really need to be. How long is this Peter Bravo guy going to be here? Three more weeks? Four, tops? Why even start something between the two of them, right?"
"Exactly," I nod. But not totally. The other reason is that I don't want to cause trouble for Peter, but buried under that is the truth of the matter: I don't want to cause trouble for Penn.
It might be nothing. Or it might be something, but if Penn has chosen to stay gone, I doubt he wants his old life reaching into his present one. It's best for everyone if I don't repeat what Peter said.
Vivi takes another sip of her drink. "I am curious about something." She lifts her drink in the air, tongue darting out to swipe over the smoky salt. "Why didn't you defend Duke?"
"What do you mean?" Guilt creeps in around the edges. I hate keeping a secret from Vivi. Duke had stressed itwas imperative to keep our agreement between us, and he specifically urged me not to tell Vivi.The fewer people who know, the fewer opportunities there will be for word to get out.I'd agreed, but I'm starting to wish I'd insisted Vivi be my exception. Keeping this big of a secret from my best friend is beginning to make me feel ill.
"Well, some guy who is mostly a stranger just said he hates your fiancé. I think that warranted afuck youat the very least."
"And what did it warrant at the very most?"
