I held up a hand and plastered on a big smile. “It’s fine. You apologized already. Have a good day, Champ.”
After breezing out of the small space, I waved a quick hello-goodbye to the Drakes and rushed out to my car.
I was halfway to the office before I remembered what he’d said right before we had sex.
It’s only you.
What the hell had he meant by that?
My mood was not improved when I saw the man waiting for me outside my shop.
“Agent Parler,” I said with a polite nod before unlocking the door, stepping inside, and pushing it shut behind me.
Unfortunately, Vince didn’t take the unwelcoming hint. He grabbed the door with his hand and let himself in. “I was actually coming to check on you, Mr. Taffet. Heard you had quite a night last night.”
I glanced over my shoulder suspiciously. “Yes, the SnoBall was lovely. I can’t take credit for any of it, though. I was just a last-minute substitute for Lorraine Peevey—”
Vince’s mouth pinched in a pitying frown. “I’m not talking about that,” he said softly. “I’m talking about Percy being… well, Percy. I heard that he abandoned you at the party.”
I felt my face go hot. Fucking Thicket gossip mavens. Was I really sure I wanted to make my home in a place where my business was no longer my own damned business?
“I’m doing just fine,” I assured him. I bumped up the heat on the thermostat and headed for the back room. “But I do have a client meeting, and I’m running late, so—”
“Mr. Taffet… Quinn… forgive me, but you don’t look fine. You look…” His eyes ran up and down me, taking in my wrinkled shirt and pants, which probably looked a little worse for wear after being on the floor of the pantry. “A little heartbroken. And maybe hungover.”
“Heartbroken?” I echoed. I turned around to face him, arms folded over my chest. There was no way that would have been in the Thicket gossip, not after the rumors of our engagement were flying here and there and everywhere. “Not at all.”
“Forgive me. I know you and I aren’t friends yet.” He held up both hands innocently, and one corner of his mouth lifted in a hopeful smile. “But I hope we can be. After all, nobody understands what it feels like to be in love with Percy Champion quite like you and I do.”
I blinked and frowned. “You’re mistaken. I’m not—”
“No, I imagine after last night you’re not feeling very loving at all. Honestly, I don’t know what Percy was thinking.” Vince made a disgusted noise. “A handsome, intelligent man like you should come first.”
“I… yes,” I agreed weakly. I shook my head to clear it. “Look, Agent Parler, now’s not a good time—”
“Of course, of course. But have you given any more thought to what we discussed the other day? About you helping me?”
“Not really,” I lied. I shrugged. “I’ve been focused on my work and the SnoBall—”
“And conflicted about what Percy will think?” Vince sighed. “I understand all too well. Which is why I hate to point this out to you, but you need to understand. Quinn, if Percy comes under investigation—and he will, if Tommy doesn’t catch him first—what do you think are the chances that your involvement in this won’t become front-page news? I would hate to see this affect your business.”
My eyes widened. “Excuse me? I don’t take kindly to threats—”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake. It’s not a threat!” He heaved a put-upon sigh. “I’m really tired of always playing the role of the mustache-twirling bad guy in Champ’s narrative. He needs to make me the asshole so he can feel better about his own failings, just like he tells himself his mother is this evil social climber when she’s actually quite nice. I’m trying to look out for you here. I might be the only one looking out for you.”
I stared at Vince, wishing I could read his mind. He was right. Bunny wasn’t nearly as bad as Champ had led me to believe. Was it possible Champ had been wrong about Vince also? Had he been trying to circumvent Vince all this time when he should’ve been trusting him and working with him? The only thing more impossible than figuring Champ out was figuring out his ex-boyfriend.
“Quinn, I respect you, but you’re blind right now, just like I used to be. Percy Champion is never going to love you back, just like he’ll never apologize for what he did to you last night. Just like he’ll never make you his first priority.” He patted me on the shoulder. “When you’re ready to get real and protect yourself, call me.”
Vince turned and walked out the door, and I stared after him, long after he’d turned and strolled up the street. I probably should have been considering the points he’d made and pondering how I could protect myself and my business.