Page 67 of Keep It

“I helped an hour ago when you were deep cleaning the kitchen, and I’ve dusted and vacuumed everywhere. Which I’m pretty proud of because that French vacuum cleaner was a very difficult contraption.” He steps towards me and takes my marigold clad hand. “I think you need to relax, freckles. They’re normal people.”

I sigh. “You’re right.” I drop my sponge. “You’re right. I’m just stress cleaning.”

Danny presses a kiss to my forehead and grabs his phone to check the time. “Pip texted saying they’re on their way.”

“What?” I blurt, “but I’m not ready.”

“You look fine!” Danny says as I start to push him out of the bathroom.

I huff. “You are such a man.”

He allows me to push him into the hall with a laugh. “I’m going to order the food,” he says through the door.

I don’t respond, instead ripping my clothes off and stepping into my nice clean shower.

I don’t think I’ve ever got ready so fast in my whole life. Which is probably a good thing, as I have no time to panic about a supermodel, a pop star and my maybe-boyfriend eating dinner in my apartment.

Boyfriend? Where did that come from?

I have no time to dwell on the thought. I can hear Danny greet them at the door, welcoming them in as if he’s done it thousands of times. By the time I emerge from my bedroom, dressed casually in jeans and a t-shirt, my palms are sweating as I approach the group.

Pip spots me first, swallowing a sip of wine. “There you are!” She hugs me as if we’ve known each other for years and not a number of hours. “This is Cassie.” She gestures to Cassandra, who is already sitting on the couch and chomping on chips and dip. I wave awkwardly, unsure what to do with my hands.

Pip separates from me and I gravitate to Danny’s side. He wordlessly hands me a glass of wine before I sit next to him. I take a large sip to cool my nerves.

“I was just telling the guys about Aunt Claudette.”

“Yeah, we spotted the fertility statue,” Cassie laughs.

I giggle. “Yeah, hopefully that’s a dud.” I freeze. Please say I didn’t just reference having sex with my secret maybe-boyfriend.

I turn, wide eyed to Danny who, quite rudely, laughs at my expense. Taking pity on me, he presses a kiss to my palm and says, “We’ve ordered Chinese.”

I take another gulp of wine.

“I’m dying for a duck roll.” Cassie groans. “My mother hasn’t let any food touch my hand unless it’s made out of water or lettuce.” She raises her glass and takes a sip.

Pip and Danny share a loaded look. “How long is your mother here for?”

Cassie leans back in her seat. “Same as me. The only reason I was able to get away from her tonight is because I said I was meeting up with you guys. She just doesn’t know we’re having a greasy takeaway instead of a five-star meal at Le Cinq.”

I feel my cheeks pink. Maybe I should have let Danny go without me to a posh restaurant, instead of hiding away inside drinking store-bought wine.

Pip nudges Cassie. “You don’t even like Le Cinq. You said the shellfish was gross.”

Cassie waves her hand, the wine sloshing in her glass. “Which is why this is so much better.”

Danny’s palm finds my knee and squeezes. It’s strange letting him touch me so casually when we’ve been monitoring every glance as if someone will jump out and point at us accusingly. The warmth of his palm makes me curse the jeans I’m wearing for providing a barrier between his skin and mine. My gaze follows his arm up to his strong bicep to see his blue eyes staring at me with a wink. I get lost in them for moments before Cassie’s voice snaps me out of my trance.

“How’s it going with McBride?”

Everyone tenses. I know Danny has a history with Callum, which is pretty obvious from every interaction they’ve ever had and his vague warning to stay away from him, but I didn’t think Cassie would bring it up.

Danny pulls his hand from my knee and reaches for the wine. “As you would expect.” He takes a swig.

Pip runs her hand through her hair. “Just leave it alone, Danny.”

Danny raises his hands innocently. “I wish I could but he’s like a bad smell. Always hanging around.”

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