“I know how to read people.” Setting her purse on one of the empty chairs, she undid her coat and draped it on top before taking her seat. “You going to tell me what’s going on?”
“Yes,” he said without any hesitation as he took his seat again. “It’s why I’m at Winners Inc.”
“That’s not surprising.”
“You’ll need a drink for this. Or maybe I need another one.” He caught their waiter’s attention.
The guy came right over. Jules quickly ordered whiskey too and then turned her full attention back to him. “Tell me.”
“I have a pest problem,” he said, swirling his drink in its glass.
She tipped her head, studying him. “The two-legged sort of pests?”
“Yes.” He took a deep breath. “This is hard to admit, because it’s my fault that I’ve backed myself into this corner. But I can’t seem to figure out a way out without destroying some relationships I want to keep intact.”
Their waiter returned with her drink. Jules nodded at him in thanks before giving Danny her full attention again. “Which relationships?”
“With my dad.” He thought he saw her wince, but maybe he was mistaken. “And one of my half brothers.”
“You have more than one half brother?” she asked as she lifted her drink to her lips.
“I have more than I know.” He observed her expression, surprised that there was no change. “You don’t find that weird.”
She snorted. “I’m hardly one to judge family dynamics.” She leaned in toward him, lowering her voice. “Do you know why I’m at Winners Inc.?”
“No.”
“I’m up against my biological father in a court case.” She got closer, her voice even softer. “No one knows that he’s my father, except him and me.”
Danny frowned, trying to imagine being up against his dad. The thought made him sick to his stomach. “Why don’t you have someone else do the case?”
“Because I need to get past this,” she said, sitting back. She took a healthy swig of her whiskey. “Why a pest problem?”
“My dad invited some people to stay in my flat in London, and they won’t leave.”
She frowned. “Can’t you have them evicted?”
“Not unless I want to never speak to my dad again.” He played with his drink. He debated telling her about the drugs, but taking their first date there seemed like a misstep. So he moved the conversation into a different direction. “What do you think MacNiven would say if he knew we were out on a date together?”
Jules arched her brow. “Two clients fraternizing?”
He nodded. “He’d probably rip me a new one, telling me to get my head in the game or I’d be out.”
She smiled. “He’s not that militant.”
“Yes, he is.” He finished his whiskey and then motioned to the menu. “Wine? Are you hungry? Should we order?”
She flashed him a half smile. “Are you having second thoughts about this?”
He looked at her caramel-streaked hair and frank eyes, the way they watched him so attentively. “Not at all,” he said with certainty. “Are you?”
“I’ve been thinking about this all day,” she admitted, setting her menu down. She glanced at his mouth. “We barely know each other…”
“And if MacNiven found out about us—”
“He’d probably scold us,” she concluded for him. “But if we’re discreet, and Jamie doesn’t find out, it’ll be okay.”
Discreet? Danny stared at her lips, her neck, the hint of curves her blouse revealed. He wanted to taste every inch of her. He didn’t think he was a good enough actor to hide that. “I hope so,” he said with a half smile. “He’d probably terminate my contract. He and I have a past.”