Page 9 of Puck and Prejudice

I quickly search the perimeter for Jane’s secret fiancé. I bet he’s seen Jane dance before, but if he hasn’t, he’s going to fall even harder for her. She’s mesmerizing. I spot him right at the edge of the performance area, and next to him, Jackson Darcy.

Jane and the other dancers get into their positions, and when the music starts, they begin moving. All the dancers are playing castanets, which makes everything more enthralling. I wish I was a better dancer, because flamenco issobeautiful.

I watch Jane perform for only a few minutes. I know the performance will go on for another twenty, and Paco isn’t paying me to watch my sister dance. Before I resume my duties, though, I spare another glance toward Chad. He only has eyes for my sister and doesn’t notice me staring. His friend, however, does. Our gazes connect and, despite the distance, I know he recognizes me, because he’s glaring in my direction.

Fucking fantastic.

I return to our mobile kitchen, which is hidden from view from the main party area. It’s a modular construction that can be assembled for events and contains everything a catering company needs. It was provided by the client. Usually, we would work from the house’s kitchen, but it’s too far from the party area, and by the time we’d reach the guests, the appetizers would be cold.

Paco put Lydia and Mari Carmen in charge of refilling the trays, but I don’t see either of them in the kitchen.

“Where are the girls?” I ask.

Head chef Julio replies, “They went to watch the flamenco performance.”

Shit. There’s the opportunity Lydia was waiting for. There’s nothing to be done about it now. I have to keep working. I take a refilled tray and return to the party. While I serve guests with a fake smile on my face, I search for my sister. Unfortunately, I don’t see her or Mari Carmen anywhere.

My tray is almost empty, and I’ve begun to walk back to the kitchen when a tall and attractive man draws my attention. “Miss, don’t go yet.”

I stop. “Sorry. I didn’t see you.”

“It’s all right. I haven’t eaten all night, so I figured if hovered near the path to the kitchen, I’d increase my chances.” He scoops up the last canapé from the tray and swallows it one bite.

“I’m sorry we’ve missed you.”

“No worries. It’s my fault. I was busy networking. Would it be considered a faux pax if I followed you?”

“Uh… you can follow me, but my boss probably won’t like it if you come into the kitchen with me.”

“Right. Well, maybe I can wait outside?” He gives me puppy dog eyes, which makes me smile.

“Sure.”

“So, do you do this often?” He walks next to me.

“Work events? No. I usually bartend at Triana.”

“We were just there the other night.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, after we won the Eastern Conference Cup.”

Realization dawns on me. “Oh, you’re a hockey player.”

“Yes. You don’t sound impressed.” He laughs.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to sound judgmental.”

“Hmm… it seems to me like you’ve had a bad experience with a hockey player in the past.”

I really don’t want to talk about Jackson Darcy with this guy. He seems nice and all, but Darcy is his captain.

“I plead the fifth.”

He throws his head back and laughs. “Oh my God. I know exactly who pissed you off. It was Jackson Darcy, wasn’t it?”

“No one pissed me off,” I lie.

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