Page 98 of Jael

“Well, no one’s perfect— What’s he doing here?”

“Who?” Jael looked across the room. But she already knew who it was. “Danny? I invited him.”

“Why?”

“He’s a longstanding friend of the family.”

“I wish you wouldn’t have.”

She pressed a comforting hand against his chest. “I know you don’t like him, but he and my father were close, and I’m sure ifDad was here, he would want Danny to come. It would have been rude to leave him off the guest list.”

“Who cares about being rude to a guy like that?”

“I do. Please don’t make a scene.”

“I’m not going to do anything, but I can’t promise the same if I find him in the parking lot. He’s not planning on staying in town, is he?”

“I have no idea what his plans are. I haven’t really talked to him about it.”

“Whatdoyou two talk about?”

“Nothing,” Jael said. “I’ve barely spoken to him.”

“And yet you saw fit to invite him?”

“I told you?—”

“I know. I know. We all have to make concessions.”

“Thank you for understanding.” She noticed Hannah arrive. “Oh, look. Hannah’s here.”

“Hannah?”

“Yeah, you’ve met her. She works for the foundation.”

“More concessions.”

“She’s a good friend of mine.”

“But she’ll be a fish out of water in this company. It will be the highlight of her year, I imagine. Being around all of this opulence.”

“I doubt it. But if you’ll excuse me for a moment, I’ll go say hi.”

“Drop her on Danny. He can look after her, and it will keep him preoccupied. I don’t want him mingling too much.”

“Why not?”

“Because he doesn’t belong here.”

“And neither does Hannah, according to you.”

“Exactly.”

She didn’t want to rise to the bait but couldn’t help it. “Then maybe neither do I.”

“Jael, my dear.” He ran his hand down her back and pulled her close. “You’re one of us, whether you like it or not. You always have been.”

All she could see was the black in his eyes. She swallowed. “I better find Hannah.”

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