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She lets out a giggle and I can’t help but smile. Ben starts to open the door for me, pausing with his hand on the chrome. “Sorry in advance if she gets drunk,” he whispers.
I tap him on the nose. “Don’t apologize for what someone else might do.”
“You’re a wise woman, Tove.”
“On rare occasions.”
He opens the door and I slide into the passenger seat, bringing the seat belt around as he walks to the driver’s side. Frenchie is sitting behind him and I see her reach over across the seat, but I don’t see why until I lower the visor to look at whatever damage has been done to my lipstick in the mirror.
And low and behold, who do I see right behind me but his nephew.
“Put your seatbelt on, Danny,” Frenchie says, tapping her son on the leg.
“It’s not fucking required by law to have it on in the back seat.”
Ben gets in the car and jabs his keys in the ignition. “Everybody ready?”
“I asked you to watch your mouth,” Frenchie grits out. “And say hi to Tove.”
I force a smile and twist my head around. Holy shit, if looks could kill, I’d be deader than hell with the way he’s glaring. “Hey, Danny. How’s it going?”
“It’s going, I guess.” His face softens a little bit.
“That’s good. You only have to worry if things stop going.”
I don’t know why that dumb sentence comes out of my mouth, but it does. Hell, I’ve said dumber shit.
“I think it’d be nice if things stopped going for just a little while.” I see a sadness move across his face. It tugs at me.
“Yeah, I know what you mean.”
On the way to the restaurant, Frenchie talks about her work and the meeting in Tempe she had to go to today. She and Danny are staying with Ben tonight then heading to Flagstaff first thing in the morning for another meeting. When we get to the restaurant we have to wait a few minutes for a table. Ben pulls me aside and kisses me below the ear, sending tingles down my body.
“Thanks for being here. I know you probably didn’t plan to hang out with a highly dysfunctional family tonight.”
“No family is perfect. And I understand Danny more than most, for obvious reasons. I didn’t know he was coming, though. Kinda threw me for a loop, seeing him in the back seat.”
“Sorry. I thought I mentioned it. She didn’t want to leave him alone. He’s been … troubled.”
“No shit,” I mouth, making a face.
Ben laughs softly, patting me on the ass right as the hostess calls his name.
Dinner is mostly uneventful. Danny is quiet. Frenchie talks about her job and how annoying her boss is. Ben talks about his renovation work. They ask how my work is going but there isn’t much to talk about, other than Greer and our random encounter today. And then something weird comes up. Specifically, from Danny.
“So. Your dad is Stig Nilssen, the famous fashion designer?” he asks with a hint of salt.
“That’s him.”
He stabs the ice in his drink with a straw. “What kind of man gets into that sort of thing?”
“Danny!” Frenchie spins to face him. “That’s incredibly rude.”
“How is it rude? I’m just curious about what kind of man likes designing clothes for women.”
Ben leans forward and my body grows tight all over. “An intelligent, disciplined one who knows he can make a fortune,” he grits out. “That’s what kind of man.”
“Really?” Danny says, crossing his arms. “That’s an interesting observation considering what you were saying about him earlier.”
