Page 9 of Drawn to You

My stubbornness won’t allow it, though. I tuck my paperback, wallet and phone against my waist and walk inside the restaurant.

CHAPTER FOUR

Josie

When I stepinside the upscale steak house, I’m surprised to find Dane waiting for me.

“Look, you don’t need to sit at the bar,” he says. “Just don’t hang on me and make us look like a couple.”

His efforts to be nice fall short, to say the least. I could nod to keep the peace, but that’s just not me.

“I don’t want to touch you,” I say in my most professional tone. “Not even a little bit. Believe me when I tell you my actions willnevermake people think I’m with you or trying to get with you.”

“What, like I’m so awful?” He lowers his brows, offended.

Yes. Yes, he is. But I’m saved from answering that impossible question when someone comes up from behind Dane and puts an arm around his shoulders.

“Hey, now we can start the party!” he says, grinning widely.

Dane’s friend sees me and offers a hand.

“Hi, I’m Aaron Parker.”

“Parker, this is Nosy,” Dane says. “Arnold hired her to babysit me for the rest of the season.”

I shoot Dane a glare and then shake Aaron’s hand. “I’m Josie, nice to meet you.”

Aaron shakes my hand, still smiling. He has warm eyes and seems friendly.

“Likewise, Josie. And good luck keeping this one in line. Once he gets a few drinks in him, he turns into a werewolf.” He claps Dane on the back. “Should we go join the party?”

My heart races nervously as I follow the men to a back room of the steak house. I’ve never felt so out of place. When I work for top-tier clients, I’m part of a team and we’re talking public relations.

Here, I don’t know anyone except Dane who would rather hang out with anyone but me. I fight my urge to slip off to the bar and read my book because I can’t keep an eye on him from there.

There are around twenty-five people in the room, some standing and talking with drinks in hand and others seated at the long table set for around forty people.

I make eye contact with a woman talking to two other women, and she smiles, so I walk over.

“Hi, I’m Josie Garver.”

“Hey Josie, I’m Jenn Rogers, Aiden’s wife. This is my sister Carrie and this is Elena Parker, Aaron Parker’s wife.”

“Nice to meet you guys.”

They’re all beautiful. Jenn and Carrie both have long blond hair, blue eyes and are tall and lean. Elena is biracial, her eyes a beautiful coffee brown and her hair a mass of thick, tightly coiled black curls that look like they belong in a hair product commercial.

“Did you come with Dane?” Jenn asks.

I have to be quick on my feet to answer the question diplomatically.

“I did, but in a strictly professional capacity. I just started working for the team.”

Jenn’s expression brightens. “Oh! Welcome to the family. Are you a trainer?”

“No, I work in public relations. I’m more of an assistant to Dane.”

Elena bursts out laughing. “Say no more, sis. That one needs all the help he can get.”

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