I wasn't even lying. At the moment, a distraction –anydistraction –would be a very good thing.
"Sorry, but I was hoping you could tellme." He chuckled. "I only caught the tail end."
"Oh." Now I hardly knew what to say. "Gosh, that's too bad."
He frowned. "But thatwasthe joke. Get it? Tail end? Because dogs have tails?"
"Ohhhhh." I forced a laugh. "Yeah. I haven't heard that one before."
And yet, from the table behind me, I was hearing plenty.
"But wait," Darbie was saying. "My name–I think you made a tiny little mistake."
I gave a derisive snort.What, not enough e's?
At the table, Jack told her, "No mistake here."
"See, but, actually…" Darbie lowered her voice to nearly a whisper. "That's not my name."
Jack said, "Sorry, no do-overs."
Again, I turned to look. Darbie had retrieved the paperback and was studying its opening pages. She looked up, and her eyebrows furrowed. "ButI'mnot Becka."
Chapter 27
Jack
Right.Shewasn'tBecka.
Unlike Anna's little sister, Darbie – however the hell she spelled it – was a star-fucker if I'd ever met one. And that went double if I included her friend.
I said, "And your point is…?"
She turned the signature page outward so I could see it. "It's the wrong name." She smiled like she wasn't getting the hint. "Mine's Darbie, with two e's, remember?"
I didn't smile back. "Want to know what I remember?"
"What?'
"You giving my assistant a hard time."
Darbie's smile faded. "But she was totally rude to us."
Next to her, the brunette added, "Yeah. And she's a total psycho."
My gaze shifted to Becka. She was talking to the next guy in line, but I'd be a fool to think she wasn't listening.
I looked back to Darbie. "Maybe," I said. "But she'smypsycho, so take your party somewhere else." I looked toward the paperback I'd just signed. "And leave the book."
"But it's mine!" Darbie protested.
I knew better. "You sure about that?"
She lifted her chin. "Well, it's minenow."
"We'll see."
"What doesthatmean?" Darbie asked.
