Chapter 192

Claire Richards’s hum suddenly went off-key. She was tipsy at noon and pretty out of it all afternoon. Julian Archer had told her to rest in his office, and when she stopped by again before clocking out, he just said, “You can go now.” She honestly thought that was the end of it for the day. Grabbing the shopping bag from the front passenger seat, she got out of the car and started walking over. "Mr. Archer, what's got you out here at this hour?" She stopped in front of him, her tone as casual as it could get. Like running into a boss on the street—it’s all smiles, but most of it’s just polite fluff. The lighting under the tree was dim, though thankfully there was a streetlamp nearby. It cast just enough of a glow for them to see each other’s faces. Claire’s eyes crinkled with a smile. Julian’s sharp gaze drifted from her face to her hands. “You sober now?” “Yeah, I’m good,” she nodded. “I actually handle alcohol pretty well—gets me fast, but I bounce back just as quick.” “Yeah, notice