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“Because I’m a moron.”
“Clearly, but that explains nothing.”
He slumps and rubs his jaw. “I went over there to make sure she was okay, and she was talking about a fiancé she has, which I know for a fact she doesn’t, and her ex was being pushy. Asking why she doesn’t have a ring. She started fumbling and getting anxious, and I—” He tosses up his hands, like he’s raging at the sky. “I lost my ever-loving mind and saidIwas her fiancé.”
I sputter out a half-choked laugh. Larkin can’t look at Jake without turning a vengeful shade of red. She’s the president, treasurer, and secretary of the I Hate Jake Bower club. “I’m guessing she didn’t take that well.”
“Depends if you consider Larkin digging her nails into my wrist until she drew blood well.” He holds up his arm to show off red welts. “Then her ex inviting us to his wedding.”
“But you said no, right? Made an excuse about being busy?”
“I panicked, okay? He was pissing me off and asked in a challenging way, like he knew we were lying, and I said yes before I could think straight.”
I blink at my idiot brother. “Do you have a death wish?”
“Apparently,” he mutters and curses the sky again.
“We could call our US Marshal handler,” I say, amusement overtaking my shock. “Ask him to reinstate you in WITSEC.”
He jabs my chest, no smile in sight. “This is your fault.”
“How is thismyfault?”
“You told me to drive Larkin home that night. Put this whole mess in motion.”
“Care to tell me what exactly this mess is that I created? Because I’m on pins and fucking needles over the mystery.”
He growls and bares his teeth.
Not bothering to reply, he blows past me, hops into his truck, and drives off in a screech of tires.
“Cal?” Jolene hurries to my side, watching the last of Jake’s truck disappear. “What the heck is going on? Larkin tore into the kitchen and tossed a ladle across the room.”
“A ladle?”
“It was the first thing she could grab.”
Yep, Jake needs to relocate. “You won’t believe what Jake did, and I need alcohol to bring you up to speed. But we’ll save it for later. Tonight’s about you and your booming business. Let’s go in so I can tell anyone who will listen that the brilliant co-owner of this jam-packed bar is the love of my life.”
She takes my hand, leading me back to the door. “You’re my personal cheering squad.”
“Damn straight.”
She gives me a sweet smile over her shoulder, and I think for the millionth time how goddamn lucky I am that this woman is mine to love.
epilogue
TWELVE YEARS AGO
Jake
Being the only sober person at a party blows. Cheers ring out from the beer-pong table, reminding me that tossing a ping-pong ball into a cup is only fun when you’re three sheets to the wind. A chick bumps into me and laughs. Someone spills their drink on my boots without so much as asorry, and if Katy Perry’s “Firework” plays one more time, I might place an anonymous call to the cops. End this fucking misery.
“Isn’t this party thebest?” Jolene’s words run into each other, her brown eyes glazed with happiness and beer. “I’m so glad we came.”
“Yeah,” I reply, annoyed with myself for my mood.
Even sober, I should be happy. I have a beautiful, sweet girlfriend at my side bopping to this awful song. Makers Construction just gave me a raise, and I love the carpentry work I do. But I’ve felt out of sorts lately. Less in sync with Jolene. Distant from my brother Callahan, who’s been acting weird too. Or maybe I’ve been the weird one, edgy for reasons I can’t explain.
