Page 54 of Wish You Were Mine

But that didn’t mean she was right.

“No,” I said. “I’m sure someone has just been spraying their garden.”

She looked doubtful. “Or putting down bait for rats? This was more that kind of poison than the type you’d use to deal with bugs.”

“Plenty of people have rat problems. Especially in winter when it gets cold outside.”

“Maybe. But does Cookie go inside anyone else’s house? Because I can’t imagine most people put bait for rats outside. What would be the point? They’re only an issue when they come into the house.”

I shrugged. “So she went into someone’s home. Stranger things have happened.”

That made more sense than an unknown person trying to poison my cat. Who the hell would do that? No one had ever taken a dislike to Cookie, and only a sick bastard would take out their anger at a person on their pet.

No, this must be just a coincidence.

Although…I recalled how poorly I’d felt that morning, and the fact I hadn’t thought I’d drunk enough to be so wrecked. If Cookie had been poisoned, was it possible I had been too?

I shook my head. No, I was being paranoid.

“It must have been an accident,” I reiterated.

Summer’s eyes narrowed, and her chin adopted a familiar stubborn tilt. I almost groaned. Damn, I’d upset her.

“I appreciate you being concerned for me,” I added. “Why don’t you come and keep me safe in person this weekend? I’m going cycling on Saturday and I’d love to have company.”

Her nostrils flared, and her eyes narrowed even further. “I know what you’re doing, Asher Heaton, but I’ll let you get away with it this once. We’ll have to go somewhere tame though because my mountain biking skills are rusty.”

I stood and wheeled the chair back to the desk I’d taken it from. “I will. I’ll message you the details.” I paused, recognizing that I needed to say something else, but uncertain what. “Thank you for caring so much about Cookie. I promise, I’ll ask around and I’ll be careful with when and where I let her go.”

I backed toward the door, still facing her.

“Be careful yourself too,” she said. “Take precautions.”

I nodded as I turned away. A lump formed in the base of my gut. I wanted to dismiss her words, but I couldn’t completely, because as far-fetched as her ideas were, I couldn’t deny the fact that something felt off. I just didn’t know why.

26

SUMMER

I sat opposite Bailey, shivering as the door opened behind me and another customer entered Taste of Destiny, bringing a chill breeze with them.

“What is it you need to talk about?” Bailey asked, sipping a bright purple smoothie.

I inhaled the delicious savory scent of the warm cheese scone I’d bought for lunch, then glanced at the salad in front of Bailey and felt a stab of guilt. I should probably be eating salad too, but with the morning I’d had—having to euthanize a family’s beloved pet—I needed the carbs.

I looked around to make sure no one was listening to her, then leaned across the table and said, “Asher kissed me after my set with Blair the other night.”

“What?” she squealed, attracting the eyes of every single person in the cafe.

“Shush,” I hissed.

“Sorry.” She looked sheepish. “I’m just so excited for you. Was it good?”

I nodded. “It was sweet. Nothing heavy, but that made it feel more real.”

Her eyes crinkled at the corners, and she scrunched up her nose. I could tell she was doing her best not to squeal again. “Tell me everything.”

I did, starting with when Asher approached me while I was talking to those other men, and ending with his invitation to go cycling with him on Saturday.

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