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“I’ll make sure she’s there.” Bastian nodded.
“I need you to also keep an eye on her while I’m out of town, Bastian.” Henry shook his head solemnly. “She’s hellbent on getting on stage, and if I’m not here, she may see it as her opportunity. Chad wouldn’t approve.”
“I’m sure she won’t be a problem.” Bolts on her bedroom door would be the easiest way to keep the girl from causing trouble while her father was gone. A hard ass belting would work, too.
“Hmm, you and I both know that’s not true. But I trust you to keep her safe and out of as much trouble as you can.” Henry tapped his fingertips on his desk. “And if you can manage, keep her away from my sister. Don’t be obvious about it, but keep them apart. Ursa didn’t tell me she was coming to town. She just appeared on the doorstep this afternoon.”
“I will do what I can.” Whenever Ursa blew into town without notice, it was rarely a sign of good to come.
“Good.” Henry picked up his cell phone. An obvious sign the meeting was over.
“Night.” Bastian turned on his heel and left his boss to his business.
When he stepped out into the hall, he found Finn showing Ariella something on his phone. Her hair was swept to the side in a long braid. Wisps of her deep red hair were as disobedient as her, sticking out every which way down the braid.
“Oh, Bastian.” Ariella put her hand over Finn’s phone and pushed it back at him. “Is my father in there?” She pointed a finger at the closed door.
“He was just about to make a phone call.” He gave a pointed look at the phone. “What are you two looking at?”
“Nothing,” Ariella said quickly.
“Just some pictures of the Seaside Club. They renovated the bar.” Finn answered at the same time.
Ariella’s sharp blue eyes rolled at his accidental tattling.
“Now, why would you be interested in that?” Bastian folded his arms over his chest and raised his eyebrow.
“It was just a picture.” Ariella raised her chin. “If you see my father after his call, can you please just tell him I’m home and went to bed?”
“I can.” Bastian gave a deliberate nod. “Oh, by the way, I’ll be taking you to the Faulkins’ party tomorrow night, so make sure you’re ready to leave by seven thirty. I don’t want to have to go looking for you.”
A hint of pink touched her cheeks. “Seven forty-five.” She negotiated.
“It will take at least a half hour to get across town.”
“Seven forty-five, Bastian.” She wiggled her fingers at him as she walked away down the hall. “I want to make an entrance, and you can’t do that if you’re on time.”
Bastian growled internally. The woman needed a firm hand.
“Don’t make me look for you!” He called down the hall after her.
She raised her hand and flashed him a thumbs-up without looking back at him.
Finn chuckled.
“You shouldn’t encourage her.” Bastian barked at him. “You’re just filling her head with ideas.”
Finn shrugged. “Better than being the asshole that bursts her bubble.”
Bastian took a step toward him. Being friends was one thing, but if he thought he would be anything other than that with Ariella, he’d have a whole world of hurt coming his way. “You aren’t bursting anything with her.”
Finn’s eyes widened. “Dude. No worries here, man. She’s not my type. All that red hair? No thanks. But she’s a sweet girl.”
“Sweet girl?” Bastian looked back down the hallway where she’d just disappeared around the corner. “She’s a brat,” he muttered.
CHAPTER3
Ariella
