The Fidelity Files (Jennifer Hunter #1)(110)

But he stepped in front of us again. He eyed Jamie warily, as if to warn him with a look. Beware, this girl isn't who she says she is.

"Ashlyn, isn't it?" the man asked.

Oh, holy shit.

Jamie looked from me to the man and then back at me again. The curiosity on his face was hard to miss.

I tried to take deep, steady breaths as I plastered a look of unfamiliarity on my face. As if the name Ashlyn was as foreign to me as the name of an unknown Russian ballerina listed in the program for Swan Lake.

"Sorry," I said with an apologetic smile. "You must have me confused with someone else."

I took another step toward the safety of the front door. Jamie followed quickly behind, clearly a little thrown off by the whole situation and probably eager to get the hell out of there so he could question me about it.

"I don't think so," the man said, taking hold of my arm.

I closed my eyes in silent defeat. This was it. The end was here. Haku Sushi on Main Street would forever be known as my Waterloo.

He looked toward Jamie. "I'm sorry to be the one who has to tell you this, but—"

And then, unexpectedly, Jamie's hand landed directly on top of his and he proceeded to "gently" remove it from my arm. "I think you have the wrong person," Jamie repeated, looking the man sternly in the eyes. "Why don't you leave her alone."

The man took a step back and threw his arms up in the air. "All right, man. It's your funeral. But don't say no one tried to warn ya."

And with that he turned around, shoved his hands in his pockets, and walked back to his table.

"Wow, the fresh air feels nice. I feel better already," I said to Jamie, after we exited the restaurant and strolled through the parking lot. I was kind of hoping there might be a small, tiny, minuscule chance that he might not ask...

"So what was that about back there?"

Yeah, I knew it was a long shot.

I looked into his eyes, so filled with innocent curiosity. So longing to know everything and anything about me. Especially the things that explained why someone would mistake me for a girl named Ashlyn, and then try to deliver some type of warning about me. I felt a pang of guilt, followed by a very unavoidable realization.

I had to tell him.

If this were going to continue, if I were really going to give this thing a chance, he would have to know. I would have to be 100 percent honest with him.

I swallowed hard and leaned against the side of his car. "Jamie..." I began. I could feel the truth welling up inside of me. It was time. Time to come clean. Time to reveal everything and finally begin the truthful and trusting relationship I knew we could have if we were only given the chance.

"I honestly have no idea who that was," I finished with a sigh.

Okay, so maybe not quite yet.

"It's true. I do have one of those faces. People confuse me for other people all the time." I looked to him for a sign that he was buying it.

Jamie was either satisfied with my shameless lie or he didn't feel like pressing the issue. "Hmm," he responded. "Interesting. So how are you feeling? Do you want me to take you home?"

As much as I hated thinking about ending my night with Jamie early, I decided it would be smart to continue with the "coming down with something" charade, so as not to give him any other reasons to be suspicious of me. I nodded weakly and said, "I think that would be a good idea."

He gave me a quick kiss on the cheek and touched my face. "Okay, cutie. But I have something to ask you first."

Oh, great, I thought. He's not going to let it go. He's going to keep drilling me until I crack. Until I crumble under the pressure and spill everything right here and now.

"What's that?" I asked casually.

"Well, my company's sending me to Paris in a couple of weeks and..."

"And you want me to water your plants?" I asked with a mocking smirk.

He laughed. "No. But wouldn't it be awkward if I did?"

I smiled, suddenly feeling very comforted by the light change in topic.

"Actually...I want you to come with me."

These are the moments in life when you would expect the expression on your face to be something along the lines of enthusiasm, excitement, exhilaration, one of those E words. But not for me. No, for me it was actually more of a muted stun. One of those jaw-dropping, not-quite-sure-if-it's-really-a-joke, waiting-for-the-punchline-to-come moments.

"C-c-come with you to Paris?" I finally got out.

He smiled and nodded his head with excitement. "Oui."

"You're serious?" My tone was overflowing with doubt.

"Yes, I'm serious. Will you come?"

"Um, yeah!" I immediately responded, without thinking. Without reflecting. Without doing anything, really. And suddenly, my maladie imaginaire was nowhere to be found. I jumped up and down ecstatically like a little girl just told she was going to Disney World for the first time. And frankly, I couldn't remember the last time I had actually jumped up and down...well, without an aerobic jump rope in my hands.

"I can't believe this! Paris?"

"I'm glad you're so excited," Jamie mused.

"Are you kidding? It's Paris! I love Paris!"

Translation: I love Paris when I'm not there with someone else's husband.