Ivy has been texting me, but Santiago won’t let her come to the shop with the current threat looming over my head. He’s been extra careful with her since he almost lost her, and I don’t blame him. In a way, it’s actually kind of sweet, and Ivy doesn’t seem to mind. So we make plans to meet at the manor for lunch next week.

In the meantime, I’m fielding texts from both Judge and Clifton, who has oddly only grown more persistent. My approach to both is the same, although ignoring them doesn’t seem to be working. And while Judge’s texts make me homesick for a place I’m not even certain exists, Clifton is getting on my nerves.

“All I’m saying is he’s not buying what I’m selling.” Solana drags me back to the present conversation as she straightens the inventory on the shelves.

“You don’t have to text him back,” I answer absently, though I am curious to know what Judge has been asking her now that he’s texting her too.

“He’s worried about you.” She stops, tosses me a glance over her shoulder, and shrugs.

“He’s so worried he tried to throw money at the problem to fix it.” I glare down at the sprigs of lavender I’ve been trying to arrange neatly in their buckets.

“I don’t think that’s how he meant it.”

My eyes snap up to her back, and Solana seems to sense my irritation as she turns and offers me an innocent smile.

“What happened to being team Mercedes?”

“I still am.” She presses a hand to her heart. “One thousand percent. But I can still be team Mercedes and feel a little bad for the guy, can’t I?”

“What would you have me do, Solana?” I grumble. “Let him toy with me for the rest of eternity, coming and going as he pleases? Using me whenever he sees fit?”

“No,” she answers carefully. “And I don’t think that’s what he’s doing. At least not intentionally. He’s like a caveman. He’s trying to figure this situation out with the only tools in his arsenal, which seems to be a lot of grunting and swinging his club around. In other words, I don’t think he knows how to navigate his emotions.”

“This sounds more and more like team Judge by the second.” I wipe my hands and start to return the buckets to the display case.

“All I’m saying is anyone can see he’s crazy about you, babe. But clearly, he’s terrified by the idea at the same time. Something inside him is holding him back, and it has nothing to do with you.”