He laughs, then takes out his phone to scroll through some of the comments of the posts we’re tagged in.

Commenter #1: Whoa! Chef Vic is such a hot dad!

Commenter #2: I stan Chef Vic for dating regular folk. I think I want him even more!

Commenter #3: Forget the chef. I want Kerry Kind!

I steal his phone from his hand, scanning the comments myself. “Well, well, well. Looks like the internet thinks I’m the prize in this relationship,” I tease, nudging his knee with mine.

He huffs out a laugh, taking a slow sip of his whiskey before settling deeper into the couch. “Because you are.”

The words come out so casually, so effortlessly, that for a second, I think I imagined them. But then I look up, and Vic is watching me. His expression is unreadable, but his fingers idly trace the rim of his glass.

His playfulness lingers, but underneath it, there’s something else. Something heavier. Something that makes my skin prickle with curiosity.

I swallow, then grip his phone tighter and shift the conversation. “You know… PR-wise, this is all good news. People are loving the idea of us. I mean, the Hot Chef and Small-Town Sweetheart is trending.

He hums; his gaze still locked on mine. “And how do you feel about that?”

I shrug indifferently. “It’s fine, I guess. Though, I wish people would stop calling me a sweetheart! I’m not that innocent. I can get pretty wild, if you know what I mean.”

The words are out before I can snatch them back.

Vic’s brow lifts, slow and knowing. The smirk that follows is pure trouble. “Oh?” His voice is rich and teasing yet laced with something deeper, something that makes my stomach flip.

Damn you, wine.

I stare at him, silently trying to figure out if I can just disappear into thin air. Instead, I throw back the rest of my drink and point at his glass. “You should drink more. You look thirsty.”

“Well, maybe it’s because I am.” His grin widens.

Lowering my head to hide my nerves, I deflect. “So, are you ready for tomorrow night? You and your mom have been talking about this dinner with the City Manager for months.”

He sighs, his energy now shifting again. “I’m definitely not ready, but I really need to get him on my side. I messed up when surveying the land for the restaurant.”

I lift my head, catching the tension in his voice.

“How bad?” I ask, instinctively reaching for his hand in support as he rubs his thumb over the top of mine in return.