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“You’re not liking it anymore?”

Did I ever like it? “It’s just really time-consuming and stressful.”

“You’re not making a case for it.”

“I bet Tess would make it worth it.”

“Maybe.”

“Ladies and gentlemen?” Lisa’s voice rings out from the microphone at the small stage near the front of the room. “If you can take your seats, dinner will be served soon.”

I make my way with Luke to the head table where Dad’s already seated. There, I greet Ann, Tom, Lisa, Mr. Sharrow—Dad’s advisor—and a few others who work for his office.

“Luke,” Dad greets. “There’s one more spot next to Juliet. We’d love to have you join us.”

Luke and I share a knowing look. Dad has never been inconspicuous about trying to set us up.

Still, I’m not mad about Luke sitting next to me. He’ll make for more interesting conversation than the office workers will provide.

Mr. Sharrow speaks from the stage before dinner begins, welcoming everyone to the party and praising Dad for his work and service over the years, then we settle into our seats and dinner is served.

As we eat filet mignon, steamed asparagus, and garlic mashed potatoes, my attention is mostly taken by Luke talking about the latest happenings in Autumn Ridge, but a lull in the conversation occurs, and I catch Dad’s eyes centered across the room, unmoving.

I follow his gaze, shifting back and forth before Archer appears in plain view, and my stomach dips.

Juliet

Archer’s here. I didn’t even have the thought to look for him.

“Did you know he was coming tonight?” Dad asks in an undertone, ducking his head to smooth the napkin on his lap.

“Nope.”

Dad’s frown grows. Does he really dislike Archer that much?

Lisa asks him a question with batting eyelashes, and he pulls up his mayoral smile in response, leaving me to wonder alone about Archer’s unexpected presence. Did he come tonight to prove he wasn’t afraid of my dad? Something tells me it wasn’t to support the mayor.

Archer leans to the side, and I catch sight of the woman next to him. Sadie Stevenson, his date.

I’m thrown back to high school. My friends and I are watching a movie. Eating popcorn and enjoying ourselves. Then I find Archer, holding hands with a blonde bombshell. Mature, regal, beautiful.

My teenage heart had been embarrassingly crushed. It’s teetering on the verge now.

It’s always the same with me. Ludicrous fantasies. No thought grounded in reality. Archer doesn’t even know me. Why would he ever need to prove he wasn’t afraid of Dad?

Letting go of the stranglehold that crush had on me for two years is exactly what I need so this kind of stuff doesn’t affect me anymore. Then I wouldn’t have to worry about his date or why he chose to come to this birthday celebration.

As if the cowboy could hear my thoughts, his dark eyes flash toward mine, and we lock onto each other for a tense moment, neither moving, neither blinking until I look away with a tight stomach.

“Why do you think he came?” Dad whispers to me, his conversation with Lisa over.

“Everyone was invited, right?” I soothe, swallowing my bite of mashed potatoes. “Maybe he wants to join in the festivities. And look, he has a date so you don’t have to worry about that either.”

“Sadie Stevenson,” Dad says. “She’s still at Keller’s.”

That’s the thing about being the mayor of a small town and his daughter. We know almost everyone in town.

“She’s really nice,” I say to combat any jealousy I might feel.