CHAPTER 18
MY FINGERS TREMBLED as I dialled Eli. What if he was upset I hadn’t answered his calls? The cold dread crawling up my throat said just how much that worried me, and guilt prickled at my insides. I’d barely thought of Eli at all yesterday evening, and now that felt like a betrayal.
He picked up on the second ring.
“Ashlyn?”
Dammit, I still hadn’t told him my real name, probably because he kept calling me sugar, which I’ll admit I liked more than I should.
“Yes, it’s me, but...”
“Sugar, I was so worried when you didn’t answer. I know it’s irrational, and I don’t want to come across all stalker-like…”
“You don’t, not at all. It’s my fault. I fell asleep and left my phone in my coat pocket.”
“Everything’s okay, then?”
“I had a small recipe-related disaster, but apart from t
