Page 4

Bennett: Make up your mind. Is her name Daisy, or is it douche canoe?

I swear he’s being obtuse, just to push my buttons.

Me: Daisy … you’re the douche canoe.

Bennett: Daisy … hmm.

Me: Yeah, you got a problem with that?

A smile tugs at my lips when I read his reply. Goading him never gets old.

Bennett: Why the fuck would I have a problem with her name?

Me: Since your fiancée is named after a flower, actually two, I don’t see the issue here.

Bennett: I never said there was an issue, dickhead.

I bark out a laugh because he bites every time.

Bennett: Does she want to press charges? I’m talking to a cop now. The she-devil is squawking like a banshee at the other officer, and I’m pretty sure that poor guy is reconsidering his career choice. He looks like he’s about two seconds away from arresting her.

I glance up from my screen in time to see Daisy quickly turning her face to the side, pretending she wasn’t just staring. But the flush creeping across her cheeks betrays her, and I can’t stop the small smile tugging at my mouth.

“Do you want to press charges?” I ask.

Her brow furrows. “Against you? For what? The unsolicited kiss or the forced trip to the hospital?”

I bite back a chuckle. “I was thinking more along the lines of Amanda pushing you.”

“Right.” She nods slowly. “Because for a second, I thought you were worried I’d report you for your questionable decision-making skills.”

“Darlin’, the way I see it, I saved your life.”

“Huh,” she scoffs. “And who’s Amanda?”

I roll my eyes. “The woman who pushed you, obviously. I hope you didn’t think that was me.”

“How do you know her name?” Her eyes narrow slightly. “Is she a friend of yours?”

This time, I’m the one who scoffs. “Hardly.” But when her scrutinising gaze lingers, I find myself looking away.

“She means something to you,” Daisy accuses, her voice quieter. “Or at least she used to.” Her eyes widen when I don’t answer quickly enough. “Oh my god, I’m right. A disgruntled one-night stand?”

Despite myself, I laugh. “No. Definitely not that.”

“Then who is she?”

I sigh. “My ex-fiancée. We broke up ten months ago, a few days before our wedding.”

“Why?” she asks with scepticism.

“Because I came home early and found her screwing the help.”

When Daisy’s pretty mouth gapes open in shock, I clear my throat and scrub a hand down my face. I’ve been over Amanda for a long time, but what she did still cuts deeper than I’d like to admit. Not because I want her back, but because she took everything I thought I knew about us and proved I’d been wrong all along.

“She cheated on you?”

“Yeah.”