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Ivy scooped some Manchego onto her plate, and Bennett took a suggestive sip of his wine, eyes gleaming at me.

“Well,” I said, clearing my throat, “then I guess I should announce my news. I got an interview to work for the city today.”

Each of them stilled. Beside me, Cam’s sudden tension seeped into my own muscles. Bennett lowered his wineglass to the table. Ivy stared, mouth half-open. Both turned their attention to Cam.

“I—I didn’t realize you’d applied,” he said.

A chill chased itself down my arms at his polite tone—distant and careful. “It was before I started at Henley. They finally got back to me today.”

He nodded, quiet.

“I think it’s great timing, since Gray-Freeman is back in the game,” I said, keeping my voice heinously perky. “Looks like my job’s coming to an end.”

A strained silence followed.

“I already told you your job is there as long as you want it,” Cam murmured.

I met those silvery blue eyes and laid my hand over his on the table. “I know, but your dad really doesn’t want me around, Cam. It’s uncomfortable.”

His next nod was a jerky, irritated affair. “You don’t have to serve his silly whims, Shay. The man needs to learn to let things go.”

Ivy busied herself with the cheese on her plate, and Bennett’s deceptively inward stare focused on the middle of the table.

I lowered my voice, even though it was impossible to keep them from overhearing. “I don’t think I’m the person to teach him that lesson. Besides, breaking the no-dating rule is making me itchy.”

A subtle pang of hurt flashed in Cam’s eyes before he pasted on his polite smile. “I understand.” He lifted his glass. “Then I suppose congratulations are in order.”

“Felicitations, sweetheart,” Bennett said, offering me a genuine smile and a toast.

I laughed. “I just got an interview, not the job.”

He shrugged and glanced at Cam. “It’s in the bag. I’m sure of it.”

“I’m happy for you, I s’pose,” Ivy said, “but I don’t think you should leave. I’m attached.”

With a grin, I thrust my hand across the table, which she took at once. “We’ll still be friends.”

“Kinda feels like you’re moving on to bigger and better things, Shay Honeycutt.”

I thought she was joking, but none of them laughed, and an awkward hush fell over the table.

“I didn’t mean to upset y’all,” I said, trying to take up the least amount of space in my corner of the booth.

“Not at all,” Cam said with a small smile, giving my shoulder a brief squeeze. “We’re just sad to lose you.”

“Who else will I bother when I’m bored?” Bennett asked, as though the question was of great import.

The moment passed as Ivy turned the conversation elsewhere, though an unspoken stiffness I didn’t fully understand still lingered between us. When Bennett dropped us off at the distillery later that evening, Ivy gave me a long hug in the chilly evening air, standing beside her parked car.

“You drive safe, darlin’. And think long and hard about your choices.”

My confused look when she pulled away only made her smile.

“You’ll figure it out.” She drifted away, leaving me alone with Cam.

I strayed toward him. He stood bathed in a circle of light from the lamppost. It cast an ominous pall over the sharp contours of his face.

“Did I do something wrong?” I asked.