Page 15 of Gin & Trouble

Julia swallowed hard.

I ran my hand across the back of my neck. “Is everything all right? You haven’t been answering my texts.”

She opened her mouth as if to speak, but snapped it shut when Zach walked by, clucking like a chicken.

I loved all of my nephews and nieces, but he’d always been my favorite. Until then.

Julia stared at him and the color drained from her face.

I had no idea what was going on with her. First date sex regrets? Was I not what she’d expected? Did the seemingly random teen’s poultry imitation weird her out?

“I should go. My…um… My boss cut my break short.” Her left eye twitched as if she’d tried to wink, but it’d turned into a wince.

“No. Wait. I have a surprise for you.” Panicking, I shot to my feet. “You can’t go yet.”

“Okay?” She stared at something or someone behind me and dipped her chin like a starlet hiding her face from the paparazzi.

Freaking Zach. He’s probably recording this.

I didn’t have time to look, nor did I want to assault a minor in front of the woman I was desperately trying to impress. Reaching over my shoulder, I tugged and pulled at the zipper, but the damned thing wouldn’t give. “Shit. Give me a second.”

“I really do have to go…” She reached for her helmet.

“Please, give me two minutes, and I’ll walk you back to the photobooth.” I’d pay for a thousand pictures if it meant spending more time with her.

Snickering and clammy hands told me myformerfavorite nephew had stepped closer. Zach gave the zipper a hard yank and cold air hit my skin.

Here goes nothing.

I reached down and unsnapped the fur boot covers and the back of the costume came loose, exposing me from shoulder to my spandex-covered ass.

Beneath the Chewbacca get up, I wore the iconic gold bikini and scarves Princess Leia had worn while enslaved to Jabba the Hutt. Yes, folks. I’d dressed as the male version of Slave Leia.

Julia gasped, and I don’t mean in a good way.

The poor woman sounded as if she was being strangled.

When I finally got the balls to meet her gaze, I wished I hadn’t. She wore an expression of sheer horror. Worse still, the people around us had noticed me in all my half-naked glory and whipped out their cameras.

Zach, likely sensing my plan had gone horribly wrong, lowered his phone and stepped between me and Julia. “This is all my fault. Dante didn’t want to do this. I egged him on.”

She glanced between us as if unsure how to respond.

I gave him a shut-the-hell-up look. “This is Zach, my nephew. I’d planned to tell you myself…when we met face to face… My first name is Dante.

Julia narrowed her eyes. “I know who you are. I recognized you yesterday morning. You’re Dante Marchionni.”

Shit. So that’s it. She realized I lied to her.

“I’m sorry, Julia. I’d planned to tell you last night, but—”

“You look really familiar.” Zach seemed oblivious to the fact he’d interrupted us. “Where do you work? Besides here, I mean.”

Way to read the room, kid.

“I can’t do this. Please don’t call or text me again.” Julia rushed away before I could find the words to stop her.

Stunned speechless, I watched her disappear into the crowd.

---