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“Come on. You promised me a dance.”

“I don’t remember. Are you lying to me because I’m drunk? You can’t trick me, Sheriff Bricks.” I smiled as he took my hand. We moved to the song.

“I don’t lie,” he said with a grin.

“Oh, I met Jonah. I missed the restroom, and he found me wandering.”

He went rigid.

When the song changed into something soft, I pulled back from him. He looked at me for a second before he nodded as if he knew exactly what was going on in my head.

“Falling in love with your patient is forbidden, is it not?” Vincent said, eyes sharp, knowing. “What happens if someone finds out?”

“Are we doing this now, Vincent? Again?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“What do you want?”

“I want you to be safe, and you won’t be when you’re with Asher. You’ll get hurt, Diya.”

“Asher and I are…”

“Don’t tell me there’s nothing between you, because I saw what I saw. He’s obsessed with you, and he’ll destroy you.”

I grabbed the wine from Vincent and chugged it down.

“What if… I might enjoy the destruction. What if I even need it?”

“Then you need to get the fuck out of here and find a good doctor.”

“It was great up until…” I sighed. “Can we not?”

“Well, can you not get distracted by him just because he’s sexy?”

“You think Asher is sexy?” I grinned, and Vincent looked like he had eaten a rotten lemon.

“No. But I know what women think about him. He has always been the center of attention, even at school. He’s charming enough to get any girl, but…”

“But?”

“But you should know better. You’re a psychiatrist. You do this for a living.”

“I do this for a living, and that’s why I trust Asher. You’d need to read Riley’s letters to…”

“I can’t.”

“Now you just sound like an obstinate child who doesn’t want broccoli on their plate.” I pursed my lips. “I know what I told you was hard to digest, but—”

I was interrupted when Mayor Bricks walked toward us.

“Hi, Doctor Sharma. I’m glad you came,” he said, shaking my hand.

“Thank you, Mayor Bricks.”

“I hope you’re enjoying the party.”

“Of course. It’s been a while since I attended any parties.”