Page 34 of Falling for the Enemy

She pulled her gaze back to him slowly. “About what?”

“Joce, I had no idea she would be here⁠—”

“I don’t care, Soren.”

But she did. “I feel terrible⁠—”

“Don’t.”

“Joce—”

“You should go. You’ve got to get King home, and then you have your date tonight.”

“Don’t be like that⁠—”

“Go, Soren. I really don’t care.” It sounded like she was excusing him, but he heard the slight tremor in her voice.

A lump formed in his throat and he nodded, regretting that he’d upset her. “Maybe tonight⁠—”

“I have plans tonight, so save yourself a trip. I won’t be home until morning.”

His brow creased when something sour burned in his gut. “Where are you going?”

She stood and tidied a stack of papers as if trying to avoid eye contact. “My personal life doesn’t concern you any more than yours concerns me.”

Yeah, he got that. But where the fuck was she spending the night? And with who?

A group of kids rushed up to the table begging for lollipops, and Jocelyn put on a brave face, smiling and handing out candy as she pretended he no longer existed.

That fiery sensation in his stomach flooded his chest, and he stepped back—dismissed. “Come on, King.”

The Great Dane looked up at him, confused. He’d found a cozy spot on the grass to lie, and Cordelia perched on his foot as if it were her personal throne. Soren leaned down to scoot her away, but she snapped at his fingers.

“Damn it. Get.” He gave King’s leash a soft pull. “Come on, boy.”

The dog stood like a long-legged giraffe and obediently followed him back to the car. When Soren looked back at Jocelyn, she held his stare with a knowing one of her own and scooped up her dog.

CHAPTER 4

“FRIDAY I’M IN LOVE”

The sun was setting on Main Street, and Jocelyn was beyond ready to call it a day. As the festival wound down, vendors packed up their goods and emptied the thoroughfare. She was just about to escape when Wren and Greyson returned.

“Hey, Joce.”

“I thought you guys left.”

“We caught a movie.”

“Oh. Nice.”

Wren rubbed her belly. “There was a musician playing guitar by my aunt’s store. I got her business card for you.”

Jocelyn took the card. “Awesome. I’ll give her a call.”

Wren studied her for a quiet moment. “What are you doing tonight?”

“Me? Nothing. Probably just writing.”