common name. He might find that he has to answer a lot of uncomfortable questions later.” Dane combed his fingers through my hair, admiring the blonde strands. “I like that you wore it down for me.”
I felt my brow crease. “I only left it down because I didn’t have the time to pin it up.”
One corner of his mouth hitched up. “Ah, I see.” He didn’t sound as though he believed me. “Have you told your family about us yet?”
“I told my foster parents and their daughter.” I lowered my voice, adding, “They bought the story a lot easier than I thought they would.”
“It’ll be best if you introduce me to them soon.” Before I propose, he didn’t add but I heard.
Spotting a mood-plummeting sight in my peripheral vision, I sighed. “Speaking of relatives …” I pasted a polite smile on my face when Kent, Travis, and their wives appeared at the table moments later.
Dane stood to shake hands with his brothers. Kent’s greeting was one of genuine warmth, but Travis’s was somewhat stilted. Hope merely smiled at Dane, but Kent’s wife stepped forward and offered Dane her cheek. He gave it an obliging peck and went to introduce me, but she touched his arm to get his attention and tried drawing him into conversation. Rude.
Dane ignored her attempt and then offered me his hand. Once I took it and stood, he said, “Kent, Travis, Hope, I believe you’ve all already met Vienna.” He looked at me. “Beside Kent is his wife, Jen.”
Kent’s genuine smile didn’t falter. “It’s a pleasure to see you again, Vienna.”
“Same to you,” I told him.
Travis merely inclined his head while Hope offered me a weak smile.
Jen lifted her chin and gave me a condescending head-to-toe look. “I don’t often have the chance to meet one of Dane’s women.”
Dane stilled, seeming a little surprised by her attitude. He shifted closer to me and away from her. She noticed his withdrawal and didn’t appear to like it. I had no idea what her deal was, but I suspected she’d voice it at some point. Snobs usually did.
Dane sank back into his chair and again hung his arm over the back of mine. The others took their own seats … which sadly placed Jen next to me. Ugh. A waiter quickly appeared and poured drinks before melting away.
Travis looked from me to Dane. “So, you two are an item now,” he said, his voice carefully even. But I detected the hint of skepticism there.
“We are,” confirmed Dane.
“How long has it been going on?” asked Kent, seeming rather pleased.
“A few months,” replied Dane.
Travis’s brows dipped. “Really? I wouldn’t have guessed. You did well to keep that under wraps.” His eyes slid to me. “No wonder you turned my friend down. You were secretly after my brother.”
I’d turned down his friend because, like Travis, he was a fucking tool. And I wasn’t “after” Dane at all.
Seeing that Dane had stiffened, Travis lifted a placatory hand. “I know, I know, I’m not supposed to let my friends hit on your employees. He and I were a little drunk at the bar that night.”
“Wait,” said Jen. “She works for you, Dane?”
“She’s his PA,” Hope told her.
Jen’s brow furrowed as she stared at him. “I thought you didn’t get involved with your employees.”
“Obviously I made an exception,” said Dane, picking up his champagne flute.
“Well,” began Hope, “you should consider yourself lucky that Vienna’s willing to overlook your many … exploits, Dane. I mean, she was the one who ordered the flowers for those women and booked your dinner reservations, so she knows you’ve been around the block quite a few times.”
I almost rolled my eyes at the non-too-subtle reminder of Dane’s past.
“Speaking of those exploits, some of them are here.” Travis turned to me. “If they do anything petty like shoot you little smirks or try to flirt with him, just ignore them.”
I hated that his comment twisted my gut, but I really did despise the idea of being around Dane’s exes. They were all grace and elegance and chic designer clothes. Still, I didn’t let Travis see that his verbal arrow had hit its mark. “Petty people are easy to ignore.” Him included.
He narrowed his eyes, clearly picking up on my insinuation.
“Enough, Travis,” said Dane, dancing his fingers over the side of my upper arm.
Travis lifted his shoulders, all innocence. “What?”
“You’re trying to make Vienna feel uncomfortable—I don’t fucking like it,” said Dane, his voice low and dripping with frost.