“I was nice to her, but I’m nice to all the girls I meet. She wasn’t anything special, or at least I didn’t think she was until she decided she loved me. Then she wouldn’t leave me alone. I tried telling her that we were just friends, but she wouldn’t accept that. She started talking about getting married, so I decided I should just avoid her.”

“How did she know you were here, then?”

“I have no idea. She must have followed me, like she said. I certainly didn’t tell her where I’d be.”

“Are you sure you aren’t, uh, involved with that girl? She seems awfully possessive for someone you hardly know.”

“I swear, I only met her a few weeks ago. I think she might be . . . crazy,” he admitted reluctantly.

Persephone’s eyes widened. “If she’s crazy, she could be dangerous.”

Jake couldn’t help but chuckle at such a thought. “I’m sure she’s not dangerous, just annoying.”

“Are you really going to see her later?”

He shook his head vehemently. “Oh no, I just said that to make her leave. If I did go see her, it would just encourage her, I think. She won’t listen to reason anyway. Maybe seeing me with another girl will convince her to leave me alone, though.”

Persephone wasn’t convinced. “But you told her I was a client and we were meeting for business.”

“Did I?” He scratched his head. “I guess maybe I did. I was just trying to calm her down so she wouldn’t make a scene, but that probably wasn’t the best thing to say.”

“It was if it keeps her from being mad at me,” Persephone said primly.

“I’m really sorry you got caught up in all this. I wish I could convince you that I was never seriously involved with that girl.”

“It doesn’t really matter, since you aren’t seriously involved with me, either.”

Jake tried his charming smile. “Maybe not yet, but I was hoping to be.”

Persephone didn’t smile back. “Were you? Or are you just trying to get close to me because of Madame Ophelia?”

“If that’s what I wanted, I would have taken Madame Ophelia to dinner,” he said, affronted.

At least that made her smile. “She wouldn’t have gone.”

“You underestimate my charms,” he said provocatively, aware that he was quoting Freddie. Good thing Persephone didn’t know that.

“But you understand that I must be careful where clients are concerned.”

“I know. You also can’t afford to show favoritism. Does Madame Ophelia even know that you’ve been seeing me?”

She dropped her gaze to the tablecloth. “Uh, no, I haven’t mentioned it to her.”

“Would she forbid you to see me?”

“I don’t know.”

“But why take a chance, eh?”

She smiled at that. “Exactly.”