Page 32 of Hired Help

“A pleasure to meet you,” he says in a voice so warm it could melt the polar icecaps.

“This is my friend, Floss,” I explain to him, then have to expand that as her brother joins her, glaring. “And this is Kaden.”

“Who’s apparently not friend status,” he says with a bubble of laughter before curling his arm around Floss and dragging her away. “Stop drooling over other people’s dates and concentrate on your own.”

She seems oblivious to the scolding, eyes still drinking in Daegan’s lean form. “What table are you seated at?” she asks, wriggling free of her stepbrother. When he glares, she skips over to Dex and hauls him back to our group, then mugs Kaden. “Apparently, there’s a cool outdoor balcony we can use.” She glances around, then leans in, dropping her voice to a whisper. “Last year, some boy got himself stabbed out there. They had to call an ambulance for him and the whole dance ended hours early.”

She shivers with the joy of excellent gossip while I stare at her, vaguely alarmed. “That’s not the attraction you seem to think it is.”

“What? You don’t want to get stabbed on a private balcony,” she scoffs. “Where’s your sense of adventure? You’re in, aren’t you, Daegan?”

“That’s up to Brooke. This is her night.”

Floss appears to be melting.

I push past her on the pretence of studying the table chart. We’re right by the dancefloor. Great for visibility. Less great for deep and meaningful conversation but I’m sure I’ll live.

“We’re over here,” I tell Daegan, pointing the way. He takes over, striding fast enough that I have to scurry to keep up, something he notices and adjusts his pace to avoid.

When we reach the table, he pulls out a chair for me and I sit with a grateful sigh, rolling my eyes when Floss follows and quickly exchanges the seating cards with her assigned place two tables over. “That’s better,” she says, taking a seat beside me. “So, Daegan. How did you two meet?”

“Would you like a drink?” he asks, acknowledging Floss’s question with a nod but not answering.

“Gin and tonic, please.”

“And you?” he asks Floss.

“Won’t be drinking,” I interject as she goes to reply. “Because she doesn’t have a valid 18+ card.”

“I do so,” she retorts, indignant. “It’s just not in my name, that’s all.” She goes back to making eye contact with Daegan. “A minor oversight that you’re safe to ignore. I’ll have a vodka lemonade, thanks.”

“I’ll get that for you,” Dex says, looking pleased to have something to do. He scampers off before Floss can say another word, and she settles back in her chair, biting her lip as Kaden takes his place at the table next door.

“Hilly looks ecstatic,” I whisper as Daegan leaves to fetch our drinks. “Has Kaden been going out with her long?”

She dismisses the couple with a flick of her fingers. “Who knows? I don’t keep tabs on who he dates.” Then her eyes gleam. “You, though. Dark horse. I wouldn’t mind keeping tabs all over your date.”

“Fingers to yourself, girl. He’s all mine.”

“Hm.” She taps her finger against her lips for a few seconds. “This wouldn’t be a brazen attempt to show Harrison exactly what he’s missing by dragging a hottie around all night, would it?”

“If it was, would you blame me?”

“No.” She manages a smile as Dex places a drink in front of her. Before she can even take a sip, Daegan steals it away, replacing it with one from his tray.

“I think you’ll find this more appropriate.”

She takes a sip and crinkles her face in disgust. “This is straight lemonade.”

“And isn’t it refreshing?” He taps his own glass against hers. “Cheers.”

I take a cautious sip of mine, relaxing as I taste the gin. Too much will have me wailing in the little girls’ room, but right now it hits the spot.

We stay at the table for another hour, talking, Floss spreading gossip faster than a wildfire. She swaps her drink back to the one Dex bought her and grows noticeably more cheerful.

“No sign of your ex,” she says, taking another survey of the room. “Guess that means he’s not coming.”

Daegan smiles beside me but he doesn’t ask and there’s no way in hell I’m volunteering.

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