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Daniel
Turns out firing someone for attempted sabotage requires more paperwork than setting up a damn company.
By the time Thursday rolls around, I’m ready to forget this week altogether, pretend it didn’t exist. Solving everything this week is imperative because I have a tour on Monday, and I’m flying out to Sydney next Tuesday, where I’ll be closing a business deal. I have a hearing tomorrow morning for Justin’s case, but as I pull my car in my parents’ driveway, I’m determined to let loose, enjoy Thanksgiving dinner.
A flurry of voices echo in the house when I step inside. Everyone is sitting on the various armchairs and couches in the enormous living room, a drink in hand. After greeting my parents and Martin, I head straight to Caroline, who is sitting on a sofa, talking to Landon Connor, a cousin from my mom’s side of the family.
“Landon, good to see you, man.” I shake his hand, kissing Caroline on the forehead, then sitting on the armrest. “I didn’t know you were coming tonight.”
“Wanted to head out to LA, but didn’t work out time wise.”
The Connor clan resides in LA, but Landon moved to San Jose years ago with his wife, Rachel. Unfortunately, since she passed away, my cousin seems to be spending every waking moment working.
“Ouch, I bet Valentina has put a ransom on your head,” I say, referring to his twin sister who likes to organize family events as much as Mom.
“I’m waiting for ‘Wanted’ signs to pop up any second now,” Landon replies. Caroline grins, wrapping an arm around mine.
“Val needs to come to San Francisco more often. I need someone to teach me how to properly perform Irish dances. I can’t believe she’s so much better at it than I am. You lot are only half-Irish!” she says.
“Ah, my dad took his dancing seriously,” Landon says. His father emigrated from Ireland to America around the same time Caroline’s parents did. “And Val’s the only one who can dance out of the lot of us.”
Caroline sighs wistfully. “I’ll be happy if I can evolve to the point where I’m not stepping on my own toes anymore.”
“Or mine,” I supply.
She jabs me playfully with her elbow. “I did not step on yours.”
Landon winks. “I can confidently say you step on your dancing partner’s toes too. Had a black toe or two myself after Blake’s wedding.”
Caroline folds her arms, glancing from Landon to me. “You’re banding against me. That’s unfair.”
Landon holds up his hands in defense. “Just presenting evidence.”
“Sorry to interrupt,” Summer calls, approaching us. “I need to steal my favorite cousin for a bit.”
As Landon rises from the couch, I warn him. “Don’t believe her. She plays the favorites game with all of us.”
Landon laughs, lacing an arm around Summer’s shoulders. “I’m the only cousin here tonight. I’m the favorite by default.”
“He still looks so sad even though it’s been a while since Rachel passed away,” Caroline says in a low, wistful voice. To me, Landon looks just fine, but I’ll admit I don’t pick up on these things like my sisters or Caroline do.
“She was his wife,” I say simply. If something happened to Caroline, I don’t think I’d ever recover.
“I know, but I was hoping he’d catch the Bennettitis virus too. He is related to you, after all.”
“Blake’s been giving you ideas, huh?” I ask with a grin. Ever since our eldest siblings fell in love one after the other, Blake declared the Bennettitis virus is ravaging our family.
“He has. And by the way, Blake was saying something about a guy’s night out tomorrow evening.”
Just then, Mom announces the turkey’s ready, and we can all head to the dining table. Taking Caroline’s hand, I lead the way.
“Speaking of brothers, I talked to Niall today,” I say, pulling out the chair for her.
Caroline groans. “He gave you the talk, didn’t he?”
“Yeah, but he was more laid-back about it than I expected.”
She cocks a brow as I sit next to her. “Define laid-back.”
