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This time, Charlie didn’t do as he was told.

He had to stop for pants, but the second he was decent he took off at a run.

“Jean!”

She spun to face him, barely slowing as she speed walked backward. Curving her fingers into fangs, she hissed at him before shaking her wrist to rattle her bracelets. Whipping around again, Jean broke into a run.

Charlie started to give chase, faltering when one of Adriana’s roadies wolf-whistled at him.

He couldn’t go charging after her barefoot and shirtless, not with every booze bigwig from here to Tokyo on the premises.

If he could wave a wand and send them all home, he would do it without a second thought.

He needed time alone with Jean to explain, and none of these people were helping.

On second thought, if he had access to magic, Charlie would zap the two of them back to their cottage, before everything got twisted and confusing.

“Uh, Charlie?” Mugsy had emerged from her workshop, followed by Emma Koenig. “What’s going on? Did you find the snake?”

“Not exactly.”

She frowned at his bare chest. “Did you try to catch it with your shirt?”

“That’s sort of a long story. But I do have some other exciting news.”

“About snakes?” she asked, with a certain fatalism.

“No, this is about people. One person in particular. Although technically she’s been two people, but not anymore.”

Mugsy blinked at him. “You lost me, buddy.”

“It’s Jean. She’s here!”

“Where?” Mugsy was already digging out her phone. “I’ll get security.”

He touched her shoulder. “She’s been here all along. You’ve seen her! It’s Eve .”

“The girl you met in Hawaii is Sockless Tommy’s niece?”

“No, Jean is Jean. Eve was more of a character she was playing.”

“You mean she was in disguise?” Emma asked.

“Sort of.” Maybe he should have rehearsed this part. Or at least put on a shirt, so he’d know what to do with his arms.

“She is the girl I saw that night.” Mugsy’s frown intensified. “And you knew who she was all along. Why didn’t you say something, Charlie?”

“Because I was happy to see her.” And I didn’t want you to scare her off, he silently added.

“She must have followed you here,” Mugsy said, piecing it together. “Hoping for another score.”

Emma Koenig gave her a significant look. “The past has a way of returning.”

“You mean people make choices. All by themselves, without asking permission.” For some reason, Mugsy sounded defensive. “It doesn’t mean we have to repeat the same mistakes.”

“It wasn’t a mistake,” Charlie assured her. “She’s the best thing that ever happened to me.”

Too late, he noticed the new addition to their party. Adriana Asebedo had come up behind Mugsy in time to hear Charlie’s last remark.

“Am I interrupting something?” Adriana asked.

“Minor security issue,” Mugsy replied.

Adriana looked at Charlie. “The snake?”

“You could say that,” Mugsy muttered. “In the low-down, good-for-nothing sense.”

“That’s unfair,” Charlie protested. “To both of them.”

“You mean her multiple identities?”

“No! Jean and Emma. The snake.”

Mugsy turned to Adriana. “It’s under control.”

“Okay. I trust you.” She hit Mugsy with both dimples.

“Actually, I’ll take care of it.” Charlie realized he had his hand raised like they were in a classroom and quickly lowered it.

Mugsy shook her head. “I don’t think so.”

His father waved at him from the patio. “Come over here, son.”

Charlie sighed. “Promise me you won’t do anything without me, Mugsy.”

“This feels messy. I don’t like it.”

“Sometimes life is messy. You taught me that.” She’d been talking about a spilled glass of orange juice, but the principle was sound.

Mugsy still looked like she had a mouthful of vinegar. “There’s something else I need to tell you.”

“If it’s about Jean, don’t bother. I know what you’re going to say, and I’ve made up my mind. Some risks are worth taking.”

“And some things are too important to gamble on a passing fancy.”

“I don’t think we’re talking about the same thing.

” Charlie tried to read Mugsy’s expression, which was locked down even tighter than usual.

When he glanced at Emma and Adriana to see if they understood, he got the distinct impression there was another storyline playing in the background, and he’d missed the first four episodes.

“ I’m talking about using your head,” Mugsy said. “Considering the long-term consequences and making sensible choices.”

He was pretty sure that was in reference to the family business, and Charlie’s duty to keep it going. But even if his future was here, he wasn’t going to give all of himself to Pike’s Pale Ale. Not tonight, anyway.

“I need to lead with my heart,” he told Mugsy. From the corner of his eye, he saw his father beckoning. “Just as soon as I figure out what Dad wants.”