Page 76 of The Main Event

“So, breakfast and then back to your place?” Jax asked. “I don’t have to be in the office until later and you’re not reporting until this afternoon because you have a party tonight.”

“You read my mind.”

“Funny how that worked out.”

“I was just thinking the same thing.”

19

NINETEEN

“Um … what is that?”

Three days after our first night together, I found myself seeking Daisy out at work. We’d spent every night together since, and I’d made a genuine attempt to keep my distance when we were in the hotel, but it wasn’t going very well.

“That is a sword,” Daisy replied. She was at her usual table in the bar—she’d been spending more time in the building, supposedly because of what I’d said about her working from home too much when we first met—but because I was happy about the turn of events, I didn’t tell her she could go back to her usual schedule.

I wanted her close. Apparently, I was a masochist.

“Why do you have a sword?” I sat down across from her. If I sat in the chair next to her, I would end up touching her. That had become almost impossible to stop myself from doing.

“Well, Bill Winchester stopped by.” Her gaze was dark as she stared at the sword. “Apparently, his thirteen-year-old son wants to have a very specific party.”

“Lord of the Rings?” It was the first thing that popped into my head.

“Dungeons and Dragons.”

“Do people still playDungeons and Dragons?”

“I guess so.” She lifted her shoulders in a shrug. “I guess the movie is popular…andStranger Things…and the game itself has some sort of underground movement or something.”

I picked up the sword. It wasn’t plastic, which would’ve been easier to swallow. Instead, it was some form of resin. “Well, they can’t run around here with these.” I swung the sword over my head, earning a smirk from Daisy. “They might not be able to cut anybody, but they’re heavy enough that it’s a concussion waiting to happen.”

“I don’t disagree. Bill says that his precious Dominic wants sword fights, though. Of course, my head immediately went to a dirty place, and I think he realized that.”

“Just tell him no.” That seemed like a reasonable enough response to me. “If the kids want to take over the ballroom and playDungeons and Dragons—even in costumes—I’m not opposed to it. They can’t slap each other over the head with swords, though.”

“Maybe you should be the one to explain that to Bill.” Her smile was rueful.

“I have no problem with that.” I was curious, though. “You don’t usually shy away from this stuff. Why don’t you want to tell Bill the truth?”

It was impossible to miss the look Daisy shot Levi. For the first time since I’d met her, she seemed afraid. I didn’t like it. “What’s going on?” I demanded of Levi.

“Bill is … not a nice guy,” Daisy explained.

“He’s a tool,” Levi countered. “He’s always been a tool.”

“I think I’m going to need more than that,” I pressed.

Daisy let loose a long-suffering sigh but didn’t say anything.

Levi never had that problem. “When we were kids, Bill—he’s an insurance agent who has an office over on Derby Street—usedto give Daisy a hard time. We would always go to Salem Witch Village in the fall because we absolutely loved it.” He cast a fond look toward Daisy. “We haven’t been this year. We should try to make a trip.”

“What’s Salem Witch Village?” I was at a loss.

“It’s like the carnival area of Salem in a weird way,” Daisy replied. “It’s hokey, but I happen to love fried dough.”

“There’s also the worst wax museum you’ve ever seen,” Levi added. “It’s just … there are no words.”

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