Page 65 of Drawn to You

“You know, this could be reverse nepotism,” Savannah says as she loads Dane’s plate up with lasagna. “I saw a psychiatrist being interviewed about it a few weeks ago. It was fascinating. It’s where family members treat family who work for them extra harshly to avoid the appearance of special treatment.”

I’ve always thought of my relationship with my aunt as complicated, but I’m not so sure it is. Jane is my father’s sister and she always hated my mom because my mom left my dad when I was little because his drinking had become a problem. We moved far away from him and his family and he drank himself to death a few years after. My mom told me we could go to his funeral if I wanted to, but she was honest with me that his family blamed her for his death and it could be uncomfortable. I chose not to go.

Dane puts a hand on my knee beneath the table, meeting his mom’s gaze as she sets my plate back down in front of me.

“What’s new with you, Mom?” he asks. “Did you find anything when you went shopping today?”

I give him a grateful glance as Savannah excitedly tells him about a vase she bought from a downtown art gallery. Even though I don’t want to talk about not getting the promotion, being in his parents’ company feels as comforting as the food Dane’s mom made for us. They’re parental like my mom was, but alsonotso parental in ways that make me laugh inwardly.

“Sweetie, why was that young woman on Twitter saying you anal shamed her?” Savannah asks as we’re all cleaning up after dinner.

My eyes widen, but I don’t let my reaction show. My mother never would have said the wordanalto me.

“I think it’s called X now, dear,” Stan says.

“Because she offered me anal sex and I said no, Mom.”

“Well, I hope you saidno, thank you. And you didn’t really shame her about it, did you?”

A corner of Dane’s mouth curves up as he meets my gaze. He’s loading clean silverware into a drawer while I wipe off the table.

“You have to be firm with puck bunnies,” he says. “I accidentally left my car unlocked in the player lot one time and there was a naked woman in my back seat after a game. She sent her clothes with a friend, so I’d look like an asshole if I just kicked her out into the cold.”

I gape at him, imagining that scene playing out. Being naked in a stranger’s car sounds hellish to me.

“What did you do?” Stan asks.

“I called security. They brought out a blanket and dragged her out of my car.”

Savannah starts loading dishes into the dishwasher, shaking her head in disbelief. “Let’s talk about something more pleasant. How did the two of you meet?”

Dane closes the drawer and turns to face me, grinning as he crosses his arms. “Josie was hired as my personal bodyguard.”

Stan frowns. “Your what now?”

I smile at him. “I’m a publicist. Dane’s team owner thought he could use some...individual oversight.”

That makes Stan laugh heartily. “I like her, Dane.”

“She’s pretty damn likable.”

Dane’s eyes are warm as he looks at me, making Monica and the promotion feel like less of a thing. Not making it to senior publicist means I’m still broke, but other than that, it doesn’t mean as much to me as I thought it would. Now that I have more in my life than just my job—so much more because of Dane—I know I’ll be okay, senior publicist or not.

“I think Josie should start her own business,” Dane says. “She’s got a great mind for it.”

“I think that’s an excellent idea,” Stan says. “Especially now.”

I shake my head. “Dane’s overestimating me. I wouldn’t know where to begin.”

“You’ve already got a top-tier client on your roster.” He winks at me.

I raise my index finger and point it at him. “Actually, I don’t. My aunt’s firm does, and I’m the employee she assigned.”

Dane considers. “A technicality. I’m sure Arnold will hire Josie Garver PR if you keep giving him the same results.”

I laugh. “So I’ll have one client that I work for around the clock? Who is also...” I can’t bring myself to say the wordsmy boyfriend. “...more than just a client.”

“I might be able to behave myself without you for a few hours a day while you do other work.”

---