Chapter 4

Sophie's question made the whole table go quiet.

I reached down and scratched under Oreo's chin.

He tilted into my palm, letting out a low, satisfied rumble from his chest.

"Yeah. That's Oreo."

The month before, the company's team retreat had been at a countryside inn. I'd been stuck with my cast, unable to join most of the activities.

The inn's husky had somehow zeroed in on me — the one idle person — and showed up every day dragging a ball in his mouth.

Daniel told me later that Oreo didn't usually warm up to guests. Clingy like this was something he'd never seen.

"Is this your restaurant too?"

Daniel nodded.

"I was taking Oreo to the groomer and thought I'd swing by. I wondered why he bolted for the door the second I parked — now I get it."

Sophie clapped her hands together.

"Since you already know each other, you should all get together this weekend."

Daniel smiled.

"My treat. I was actually hoping to ask your advice on something."

Jason scoffed under his breath. "You're a guy who studied in France. What could she possibly advise you on?"

Daniel looked at me — completely ignoring Jason's remark.

"That pitch concept you floated at the retreat, Vivian — it was genuinely brilliant. The inn team ran a teaser campaign on social media and the phones haven't stopped ringing since."

"The manager keeps talking about you. He wants to bring you in for a consulting session, and he said you can name your rate."

Something shifted in Jason's face. The version of me that other people described wasn't the one he'd built in his head.

After the party, Daniel walked me to the door.

"We're launching a fall menu at the restaurant soon."

"The head chef's been looking for someone with a real palate to do a tasting session."

"Would you honor us with your presence, Ms. Hartley?"

I pulled my coat collar up against the evening chill.

"I'd love that. I'm in for a treat."

Without warning, a hand shot out from behind me and locked around my wrist.

Jason yanked me backward, hard.

"She's not going."

"She can't even tell the difference between average takeout. You'd be wasting perfectly good food on her."

"Save your chef's best dishes, Mr. Ashford."

I pulled against him. His grip tightened.

"Jason. Let go."

He ducked close, his voice low in my ear.

"Are you done with the act?"

"You don't need to dig up some random guy just to get at me."

"This is too transparent."

Daniel's gaze dropped to Jason's hand locked around my wrist.

"Mr. Calloway," he said quietly. "Mind your hands."

Jason laughed, cold and short, and stepped toward Daniel.

"This is between her and me. You're not part of this."

"I know her better than you ever will."

One by one, Daniel pried Jason's fingers off.

The neon sign above the restaurant entrance flickered.

Red light fell across Daniel's face, steady and unreadable.

"I don't know who you are or what happened between you two."

"But my friend just asked you to let go, and you refused. That's not very gentlemanly."

Jason's mouth fell open. His outstretched hand trembled slightly.

"You've got nerve, Vivian."

"You think he actually sees something in you?"

"He's just chasing a novelty."

Daniel turned to me, meeting my eyes.

"It's my honor to know you, Vivian."

"You're a genuinely interesting person. You're worth getting to know."

Jason's breathing turned ragged. He stared Daniel down, but found nothing to say.

I didn't look back at Jason.

"Daniel — shall we?"

Oreo let out a happy bark and trotted ahead to lead the way.

Behind us came the dull thud of something heavy kicking a metal bin, followed by the clatter of a can rolling away.

I didn't turn around.